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The shelter is the only facility
in Lancaster County which accepts stray pets, from cats and
dogs to ferrets and chickens. Lost reports are held on file
for 6 months, and checked against reports of found animals
and the incoming stray animals.
Lost Dog? [ More
] Lost Cat? [ More
] Websites [ More
]
For more information, contact:
Lost Cat: 717-393-6551 ext. 303 or email: lostcat@humaneleague.com
Lost Dog: 717-393-6551 ext. 301 or email: lostdog@humaneleague.com
Below is a sample of the report we put on file when you contact us. Please provide all of this information so we can better help you find you missing pet.
LOST REPORT
Breed:__________________ Date Lost: ____/____/____
Color:__________________ Area Lost (township/boro):__________________
Collar/ID:____________ Pet Name:________________ Age: ________
Details/Features: Spayed/Neutered?:________
Declawed:_________(for cats, yes or no)
Eye Color:_________
Ears:_________
Coat Length:_________
Tail:_________
Small Medium Large
weight if known:________
Owners Name:_____________________________________________
Address:____________________________________________
Phone:________________Alternate Number:________________
I
LOST DOG?
The following are just a few pointers to get the search for
your missing friend started…
1. If you haven't done so already, please fill out a lost
dog card at the front office. Your card will be kept on display
for at least a month, then kept in a book for another two
months. (Don’t forget to let us know if you locate your
dog after filing a report with us!)
2. Pick up a copy of our lost dog poster, or make one of
your own at home whether you have a picture of your dog or
not. Keep in mind that the most important aspect of your poster
will be that it catches the eye of the person having information
about your lost dog. Print out at least 100 copies
of your sign and start posting!!! …It is very
important that this be your next step. You need to get the
word out as fast as possible. Your dog, or the person that
now has your dog could be on the move.
3. As soon as you can, visit neighboring
shelters and call animal control officers/
organizations relating to dogs in and out of county.
There is always a possibility that someone, after finding
your dog, traveled a great distance to his/her home or local
shelter…in other words, don’t hold off on calling
just because the shelter seems far away. Within 48 hours,
your dog could be adopted out or euthanized at a shelter out
of this county.
4. Place an ad in your local newspapers, running them for
as long as the papers allow. Make sure to check the papers
as well for anyone reporting a found dog. Keep in mind you
want to leave the descriptions of your dog as brief as possible.
You don’t want someone to decide not to call you because
one feature wasn’t quite exact. Be persistent
with checking, people have found their pets weeks after they
disappeared by continuing to run their ad.
5. Make a point to meet and speak with some of the people
that regularly work in your neighborhood. Examples are: postal
workers,(they see dogs in windows, in back yards, etc) garbage
collectors, (they catch dogs eating out of bags in
the wee hours of the morning) meter readers, newspaper
delivery people, construction workers, utility repairmen,
and anyone else you see outside on a regular basis. Give these
people a copy of your poster or picture. If you have a computer,
make small copies or business cards so that they can keep
them handy while on the job.
6. Mail your sign or information to the surrounding vets.
It is possible that someone has already called them with a
found report OR that your dog was brought in by ORCA or a
very nice person that found him/her injured on the road.
7. Don’t forget to change your answering machine message
to include an alternate phone number for where you can be
reached when you are not there to answer the phone. If you
do not have another # change the message expressing that you
are interested in hearing information in regards to your lost
dog. You don’t want someone to give up calling because
you weren’t there to pick up or for them to assume that
you already have your dog back.
If you don’t have and answering machine, get
one, or leave multiple #'s with people and on your posters.
PLEASE VISIT US REGULARLY!!!
We may label your dog as mix of a different breed than you
would or interpret patterns and/or colors differently than
stated on your report. The best eyes are yours when it comes
to identifying your pet.
LOST CAT?
FIRST THINGS FIRST: Are you sure your cat
is not lodged behind the dryer? Less specifically, have you
checked every possible nook and cranny of your home and areas
surrounding your home? So many times, we have done follow-ups
on lost reports only to hear the stories of "lost"
cats being found somewhere in the house days
after the search began. If you have looked already, re- check
the home and then proceed.
1. If you haven't done so already, please fill out a lost
cat card at the front office. Your card will be kept on display
for at least a month, then kept in a book for another two
months. (Don’t forget to let us know if you locate your
cat after filing a report with us!)
2. Pick up a copy of our lost cat poster, or make one of
your own at home whether you have a picture of your cat or
not. Keep in mind that the most important aspect of your poster
will be that it catches the eye of the person having information
about your lost cat. Print out at least 100 copies
of your sign and start posting!!! It is very important
that this be your next step. Your cat, or the person that
found your cat could be on the move.
3. As soon as you can, visit neighboring
shelters and call the police or organizations
that are associated with felines in and out of this
county. There is always a possibility that someone,
after finding your cat, traveled a great distance to his/her
home or local shelter…in other words, don’t hold
off on calling just because the shelter or organization seems
far away. In the state of Pennsylvania, there are no laws
requiring an organization to hold your cat for any given time
before adopting him/her out or even euthanizing him/her for
ANY reason. This applies to cats even if they have a sign
of previous ownership.(Examples are flea collar, declawed,
neutered, etc.)
4. Place an ad in your local newspapers, running them for
as long as they allow. Make sure to check the paper as well
for anyone reporting a found cat in your area. Keep in mind
that you want to leave the physical description as brief as
possible. You don’t want someone to assume the cat that
has been visiting his or her house is not yours because one
specific feature is not exact. Be persistent with checking.
People have found their pets weeks after they have disappeared
by continuing to run their ad.
5. Make a point to meet and speak with your neighbors. MANY
people feed stray or feral cats and the first thing your straying
cat is going to be looking for, is a place to hide, and then
a place to eat. Try to get a picture of your cat copied onto
your missing cat poster, or just copied and handed out to
those that live around you.
6. Mail or hand deliver your posters to the vets in Lancaster
county, if not all of them, the ones within 20 miles of your
house. It is possible that someone has already called them
with a found report OR that your cat has been injured and
brought in to the clinic by ORCA or just a nice person.
7. After posting signs, don’t forget to change your
answering machine message to include an alternate phone number
for where you can be reached when you are not there to answer
the phone. If you do not have another #, change the message
expressing that you are interested in hearing information
in regards to your lost cat. You don’t want someone
to give up calling because you weren’t there to pick
up or for them to assume that you already have your cat back.
PLEASE VISIT US REGULARLY!
The Humane League is currently receiving over 6,897cats per
year! This means there are over 20 cats brought in EACH DAY!!!
We try our best to check the incoming strays against the lost
reports, but we are not perfect, especially when things are
hectic. Also, it would really help us to find your cat if
we have a picture. We often mark cats as a different color
or breed than you would think. If there is a picture to look
at, we can be sure we have your cat if he/she comes in.
Websites:
Here are some pretty good web sites that can aid you in your
search…
www.petfinder.com
This site is a resource page giving you information on rescues
in your area, shelters, as well as a place to list your dog
as missing/check the found pet listings.
www.dogfind.com Search
and submit dogs, dog find support, and other resources.
www.findfido.com File
a report / search reports, message board…
www.pets911.com Lost
and found, shelters and other resources, various information
on pets
www.humaneleague.com
On our website, you can print out a copy of our lost dog poster,
as well as view all the information in this packet on the
web.
www.petrescue.com/library/find-pet.htm
More tips on locating lost cats and ways to prevent this from
happening again
www.thecatsite.com/cat_care/care.php?a=lost
Helpful hints and information about what to do in various
situations
Important Info:
Shelter Hours | FAQ's | History | Membership Drive | Satellite Adoption Site |
Senior Citizen Adoption Program | Board of Directors | Adoption Process | Adoption Fees |
Contact a Staff Member | Dog Adoption Application | Cat Adoption Application | Directions to Shelter |
Pet Friendly Guide for Renters | Employment Opportunities | Donation Form |
Humane League Myths |
Services Provided:
Open Admission Animal Shelter
| Animal Abuse Investigation & Law
Enforcement |
Adoption Services (PHOTOS)
| Cremation Services |
Foster Care Program
| Educational Programs |
Working
with Rescue Groups | Cruelty and Neglect to Animals
(To report cruelty call (717) 393-6551)
The Humane
League of Lancaster County is an independent non-profit organization
for the prevention of cruelty
to animals and the care of stray and unwanted animals. We
are a 501(c)3 IRS Approved Charity.
2195 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 393- 6551 | Fax (717) 295-1391 | E-mail: info@humaneleague.com
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Copyright © 2005 Humane League of Lancaster County, All
Rights Reserved.
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