Based on 7,100 cases in three years of operation, National Pet Recovery (a private pet recovery company) found that:

• Less than 2 percent of all missing pets NPR recovered wore identification tags.

• At least 95 percent of the families that reported a missing pet within two weeks of the animal’s disappearance were reunited.

• More than 83 percent of missing dogs NPR recovered were retrieved more than 30 miles away from the spot where they disappeared.

• At least 200 posters (sometimes up to 1,500) are needed to locate a missing dog.

• Stolen dogs make up 41 percent of the cases.

• 67 percent of those dogs were stolen from a secured area for personal use and medical laboratory testing.

• 17 percent of stolen dogs were stolen from their owner’s homes.

• 14 percent were stolen from vehicles.

• Of the stolen dogs, 23 percent were taken by someone the pet owner knows.

• Dogs allowed to run loose make up 47 percent of the cases.

• Dogs that escape from their homes or a secured area make up 12 percent of the cases.

Lost and Found Tips

The most effective means of ensuring that your missing pet is returned to you safely is to provide it with a collar and current license and identification tags. And that goes for cats too! A meager 2 percent of all cats that find themselves in shelters are ever reclaimed by their owners. An identification tag is a ticket home for your pet! (Some means of providing permanent identification include microchipping and tattooing.)

If your pet is missing, follow these steps immediately:

• File lost or found reports with animal shelters in your area.

• Place and check lost or found ads with newspapers and cable TV stations.

• Place posters in your neighborhood (or the area where your pet was lost) which include a thorough description of your pet along with photo. Keep a recent photo of your pet on hand in the event that he becomes lost. (Some experts suggest that you withhold one element of the dog’s description so you can outwit callers who pretend to have your dog, but do not.)

• Alert neighbors, delivery people, and your mail carrier to be on the lookout for your pet.

• Visit the animal shelters regularly. Shelter staff turns over frequently and it is up to you, not them, to find your dog.

• Check with local police or the health department.

Websites To Help Find Your Dog

If you have ever lost a pet, you should know about the following free services available on the world wide web:

• missingpet.net
• Findfido.com
• petfinder.com
• petshelter.net

The sites allow anyone to post a virtual flyer or a listing on the world's largest bulletin board. If you have lost a dog, you can post your pet's information on the sites. If you have found a pet, you can do the same. Search capabilities vary from site to site and the sites are not comprehensive, but they offer a terrific public service.

If you know of any other services which should be listed here, please send us an email.

Notice To YGRR Golden Owners

If your Rescue Golden gets lost or is missing for several hours, please call the hotline. Let us know when and where the dog was last seen. We often receive calls from people who have found Goldens and we may be able to reunite you and your dog quickly. Make sure that your Rescue Golden is wearing his YGRR tag AND a tag with your name and telephone number. Order forms for such tags are readily available at pet supply stores and veterinarians.

Medical Identification Pet Tags

Special new tags ($4.95) which identify your pet’s medical condition could save your pet’s life. The stainless steel tags are available from SAVE-A-PET, P. 0. Box 912, Cheshire, CT 06410. The following conditions are available: Diabetes (Insulin Dependent), Cardiac Dysrhythmia, Hearing-Impaired, Hypertension, Leukemia, Seizure Disorder, Kidney Disease, Asthma, Penicillin Allergy, Tetracycline Allergy, Keflex Allergy. If your pet has a condition that is not listed, the company will do its best to accommodate you. Contact them directly for more information.


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This information is made available to you by the efforts of YGRR volunteers. To join them in helping our homeless Goldens, please consider becoming a member or making a donation.

Thank you.

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