Jefferson County Humane Society

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Lost a pet?

If you came home and  found your pet missing, assume it has strayed from home and immediately begin working to find your animal.  Below is a comprehensive list of proven techniques that will increase the chance of a happy reunion.  It's unlikely that your pet was stolen, but if you have reason to believe it was stolen, report your suspicion to local law enforcement.

Report a Lost Pet - Online Form
 

Contact~  
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~Area Shelters

Contact area shelters.  Be prepared to answer questions like species, breed, age, color, distinguishing marks, neutered/spayed, were they wearing a collar or tags, is your pet microchipped, where and when they went missing, your name - address - phone number(s).

Jefferson County Humane Society                               785-945-6600
Helping Hands Humane Society (Topeka)                    785-233-7325  
Heart of Jackson County Humane Society (Holton)       785-364-5156
Atchison Humane Society                                           913-367-3647 
Click here for address and website information for these shelters.

~Your Neighbors

Contact your neighbors, they may have seen your lost pet or might be caring for it.  Take of photo of your pet and ask them to keep their eyes peeled.  

Keep an Eye On~  
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Found Pets page   Our "Found Pets page" lists stray animals admitted to the shelter within the last ten days.  This page also list animals reported stray by individuals within the community. 

Craigslist Lost/Found for Topeka

Craigslist Lost/Found for Lawrence

Topeka Capital Journal Lost/Found Classifieds

Lawrence Journal World Lost/Found Classifieds

Search~
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~Look high and low

Physically looking for your pet is one of the most important and time consuming things that must be done.  Looking for a dog requires a very different strategy than looking for your lost cat.  Maximize your efforts by taking a minute to learn the best ways and places to look for your lost pet from the pet search and rescue professionals.  The links below will help you understand how dogs and cats react to lost/displaced situations and suggest the best search strategy to bring them back home.

~Cats

Recovery Tips - Probability Categories  What happened to your cat?  Start here to learn about the possibilities vs. the probabilities of what happened to your cat and start learning recovery tips based on what probably happened.

Recovery Tips - Lost Cat Behavior   Learn about the difference between a lost cat and a displaced cat behaviors and how that should affect your search strategy.  Also learn about the all important "Silence Factor" and "Threshold Factor" that plays into most missing cat scenarios.

Recovery Tips - Lost Cat Tip Sheet   As a final measure learn how your cats' specific personality affects how they probably reacted to the situation they found themselves in. 
 
~Dogs

Recovery Tips - Lost Dog Behavior  Reasons why dogs leave, factors that influence distances traveled, owner behaviors that create problems, rescuer behaviors that create problems.   

Advertise~
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~Become an Advertising Expert Fast
You are your pets best chance of coming home.  Your goal is to let as many people as possible know that your pet is missing.  More people knowing = more eyes looking = a greater chance of your pet being recognized as yours.

Most people who find a wandering dog or cat assume that the animal was dumped, not lost.  This thinking is your worst enemy.  Battle this misconception by getting the word out.  Here are some tried and true methods to spread the word and tips on how to do it effectively.

Tag your car    Your car windows are a perfect travelling advertisement for your lost pet.  Learn tips and tricks to maximize your efforts.

Posters and Flyers   Great tips on how to make and place the most effective posters and flyers.  Minimally flyers need to be posted in the places where a lot of people go - grocery store, post office, gas station, vet, restaurants.

Intersection Alerts  Especially important tip for lost dogs.

Place an ad on Craigslist Lost/Found Topeka and Craigslist Lost/Found Lawrence.

Place a lost ad in your local paper.  Oskaloosa Independent and Valley Falls Vindicator.

Jefferson County Humane Society ~ 15295 K-4 Highway ~ Valley Falls, KS 66088 ~ 785-945-6600 ~ jfcountypets@gmail.com