Summer time and the door gets opened...What to do when a pet is lost

It’s a pet owners nightmare–a guest leaves a door open and your dog bolts out. The kids run outside, and suddenly you can’t find your cat. A contractor is working in the house and leaves the backyard gate open–dogs are on the run. What can you do to help get your pet back?
First–take a current picture of your pet right now with your phone or camera so you have a photo to share.
Call your local animal control officer right away and notify them–they will need your contact information if your pet is spotted or picked up.
Use the power of social media–let us know–www.facebook.com/capitalvets–and we will post it out to the local organizations who help find missing pets. Steve Caparizzo’s Pet Connection, Lost Pets of the Hudson Valley, and 518LostPets are all great resources. Ask your friends to share widely and ask for help searching if it is appropriate–some pets are spooked by searchers so you will have to know what would be most helpful for your pet.
Let any local veterinarians, shelters,  and groomers close to where your pet went missing know you are looking. People will often bring pets they find into one of these locations because they can’t take the pet into their home.
If your pet is not microchipped, consider having it done–and keep your information up to date. Microchips have been crucial to reuniting folks with their pets in many situations. Veterinarians, shelters, and animal control officers will gladly scan any found pet for a microchip.
We hope you will never have to look for a lost pet–but it happens to many people because of simple accidents such as a gate or door accidentally left open. We will be happy to help.