I lost my pet during a disaster, what do I do?

A pet that goes missing is scary enough as it is, let alone after a natural disaster. Anxiety and stress are at an all-time high, we aren’t thinking our clearest — the last thing we need is to frantically figure out how to find our pet with no guidance.

The best thing you can do for yourself, and for your pet, is to be prepared in the face of an emergency like a natural disaster. Knowing what to do and where to look will give you the upper hand you need when looking for a missing pet.

Be proactive before an emergency strikes

Having all your i’s dotted and t’s crossed before an emergency takes place will put you one step ahead if the time comes. Here are ways to be prepared in helping your pet during a disaster.

• Make your pet identifiable — Get your pet microchipped and have an ID tag made to put on their collar. It should have your information on it so whoever finds your pet can contact you quickly.
• Become familiar with the area — Learn about the area you live in. Are there woods around the neighborhood? Do the houses have decks they could hide under? Does your pet like to go to certain spots while on walks? Knowing where your pet might find shelter during a disaster is a helpful place to start your search.
• Have updated photos and descriptions — Keep recent photos of your pet readily available to use for “lost pet” ads and flyers. Also have a thorough description of what your pet looks like to give to shelters and vets should they have a pet come in that resembles yours.
• Know where the shelters and vets are — The first place people look for their lost pet is the local shelter or vet. Know which ones are around you and mark them as a place your pet may have been dropped off after a disaster. Include shelters and vets a few miles away, too. Pets can travel several miles in a day when lost.

How to find a lost animal after a disaster

Search the immediate area regularly

Once the area is safe and clear, start searching the area right away. Your pet may not have gotten far at this point and you have the best chance of finding them. Be careful when navigating the debris post-storm — contaminated water and dangerous objects could be strewn about which can lead to injury or infection.

Check local vets and shelters

Find your list of local shelters and veterinary clinics in the area and start calling to ask if your pet has been dropped off. Give them a thorough description and, if possible, email them a photo of your pet. If your pet loses their ID tag or collar, a shelter or vet is usually the first place a good samaritan will take the animal when found. If your pet is microchipped, vets and shelters can scan for them and get into contact with you.

Utilize pet recovery resources

Having additional recovery resources available, such as signing your pet up for FidoAlert or TabbyAlert, using a pet recovery service, or attaching a GPS tag to your pet’s collar (like an AirTag) can all help find your pet more quickly. However, most of these take setup before a situation occurs, so be sure to take advantage and prepare ahead of time in case of emergency.

Leverage social media

Put up posts on social media that your pet is lost (with recent photos) so your friends and family are aware. There are also pet lost and found groups for different cities and counties around the country, specifically for people to post in if they’ve lost a pet or found one without any identification.

Hang up flyers

Create and print out flyers with photos of your pet and your contact information to hang around the immediate area. This lets neighbors know to keep an eye out for your pet and call you if they’ve spotted them.

Natural disasters are scary and stressful, and losing a pet in the midst of one makes things that much worse. Stay calm, search the area safely, reach out to shelters and vets, advertise your pet on social media and with flyers, and utilize other pet recovery resources like FidoAlert or pet search services. Whether looking for your pet or someone else’s, knowing the next steps in the search will help the pet be reunited with their owners as quickly as possible.