Watonwan County Humane Society - St. James, MN
Have you lost your pet?
Strays in Watonwan County are held for 5 days. If you have lost your pet, please contact:
WCHS 507-942-7387
Your pet is missing. What should you do?
Quick action is the most important tool you have. Having family and friends help you look would be a great help. The more help the better. The longer your pet is gone, perhaps without food or water, the chances go down. Don't give up hope. Cats and dogs have turned up weeks/months later. Perhaps someone could have taken him/her in and first thinks it's just stray. Then by seeing a poster or ad in the newspaper, etc., they realize that it's your pet.
Below are some suggestions on what to do if you find/lose a pet.
If you could leave a door open so she could come in that would be great and you could put food/water inside the door for her. If she finds her way back, she very likely would go inside. She would be much safer waiting for you inside the house than outside somewhere.
• Check from the last place he/she was seen. If he/she slipped out of your house at some point, check first around your house and go out a radius around that location. If it's a cat, he/she could be hiding close-by but cats instinctively are silent so as not to attract predators so don't expect that your cat will come to your calling necessarily. Go out at night and call and check areas. Instinct may also take over and she may only venture out at night so make sure to have bowls of food and water around your house and at your neighbors so she can stay well while you continue to look for her. It's important to do a thorough search starting at around your house, in your garage and outbuildings and from there, continue to your neighbors' places. Ask if it is okay to check under porches, inside garages, other outbuildings, in boats if there's access under the cover, etc. A cat is small and can hide in small spaces. It's very possible that he/she is not far from your house--perhaps hiding under an enclosed porch, in your garage or your neighbor's garage and he/she could be trapped without food/water, etc. Put food and water around just in case he/she is too scared to come out during the day. Having a team of people looking...calling his/her name. Their temperament - shy/outgoing can play a role as well. Is he/she scared of strangers? If it's a cat, and he/she would come when you opened a can of cat food. Buy some inexpensive cat food and call him/her and start popping cans in nearby garages plus searching high and low. It is very important that your neighbors know that he/she could be hiding out at their place somewhere. Let them know that you'll let them know if he/she comes back or you find her. Keep in contact with them so that they know to continue to actively look.
• Make flyers and post in areas where the animal was lost/found. Be sure to use a picture of the pet.
• Call the veterinary offices in your area and give a description of the animal.
• Call your local cable company and place an ad on their reader board.
• Call local radio stations.
• Place an ad in local papers.
• For found animals, make arrangements for an appointment to have the animal scanned for microchip identification at a veterinarian's office.
• Call your local police department.
• Utilize social media.
• Call your local humane society
WCHS 507-942-7387
Your pet is missing. What should you do?
Quick action is the most important tool you have. Having family and friends help you look would be a great help. The more help the better. The longer your pet is gone, perhaps without food or water, the chances go down. Don't give up hope. Cats and dogs have turned up weeks/months later. Perhaps someone could have taken him/her in and first thinks it's just stray. Then by seeing a poster or ad in the newspaper, etc., they realize that it's your pet.
Below are some suggestions on what to do if you find/lose a pet.
If you could leave a door open so she could come in that would be great and you could put food/water inside the door for her. If she finds her way back, she very likely would go inside. She would be much safer waiting for you inside the house than outside somewhere.
• Check from the last place he/she was seen. If he/she slipped out of your house at some point, check first around your house and go out a radius around that location. If it's a cat, he/she could be hiding close-by but cats instinctively are silent so as not to attract predators so don't expect that your cat will come to your calling necessarily. Go out at night and call and check areas. Instinct may also take over and she may only venture out at night so make sure to have bowls of food and water around your house and at your neighbors so she can stay well while you continue to look for her. It's important to do a thorough search starting at around your house, in your garage and outbuildings and from there, continue to your neighbors' places. Ask if it is okay to check under porches, inside garages, other outbuildings, in boats if there's access under the cover, etc. A cat is small and can hide in small spaces. It's very possible that he/she is not far from your house--perhaps hiding under an enclosed porch, in your garage or your neighbor's garage and he/she could be trapped without food/water, etc. Put food and water around just in case he/she is too scared to come out during the day. Having a team of people looking...calling his/her name. Their temperament - shy/outgoing can play a role as well. Is he/she scared of strangers? If it's a cat, and he/she would come when you opened a can of cat food. Buy some inexpensive cat food and call him/her and start popping cans in nearby garages plus searching high and low. It is very important that your neighbors know that he/she could be hiding out at their place somewhere. Let them know that you'll let them know if he/she comes back or you find her. Keep in contact with them so that they know to continue to actively look.
• Make flyers and post in areas where the animal was lost/found. Be sure to use a picture of the pet.
• Call the veterinary offices in your area and give a description of the animal.
• Call your local cable company and place an ad on their reader board.
• Call local radio stations.
• Place an ad in local papers.
• For found animals, make arrangements for an appointment to have the animal scanned for microchip identification at a veterinarian's office.
• Call your local police department.
• Utilize social media.
• Call your local humane society