What to do when your pet runs away

It’s every pet parent’s worst nightmare—you’re out for a walk with your dog, they break their leash and they dash for it. Or you open the door to pick up a delivery and your cat streaks past you into the street; before you can look, before you can even guess what’s happening, your cat has disappeared.

If your heart is sinking just reading this, we don’t blame you. We once had our beloved Kafka slip out of his leash and disappear, and it was one of the most terrifying experiences of our lives. But it does happen, and when it does, it’s important to be prepared for it. In this article, we’ll explore what you need to know when your pet disappears and how to be prepared for it.

How you can be prepared: Name tags

None of us want to think of our pet running away, but it may happen—which is why it is best to be prepared. Both cats and dogs can disappear, and while cats are known to find their way back more easily, both cats and dogs can go missing for hours, sometimes days. One way in which you can help your pet find their way home are name tags.

Name tags are little pieces of metal that attach to your dog’s or cat’s collar and can have anything inscribed on them. It’s important to choose information that will help someone identify your pet and get in touch with you to get them home. So you can of course put your pet’s name on the tag if you like, but it’s far more important to put your name and either a number someone can call or an address that will help them return your pet to you.

A name tag accomplishes two purposes. First and foremost, it’s a clear symbol that your pet is not a stray and that they do not belong out on the street. That means if a stranger passes them or someone notices them from a window, they’re more likely to identify this as a unusual situation and recognize that your pet needs to find their way home. It also means there is less chance your pet will be taken to a shelter when they are found—basically, no one will consider them an ‘abandoned pet’.

The second purpose of a name tag is, of course, that it gives people the relevant information they need to get in touch with you and return your pet to you. It’ll save both you and your pet many sleepless nights, and will ensure your pet is returned to you sooner.

What to do if your pet runs away

There are many reasons why your pet may break their leash and take off, or slip out of the house. Dogs are known to make a run for it when they see a cat they want to chase or another dog they’re interested in. Sometimes, they may be running away from dogs—they may be being chased by a pack of stray dogs and may be scared. For cats, it could be anything from they smelt something interesting, or they wanted to go for a wander, or they felt threatened by another cat. It depends on how much of an indoor or outdoor cat you have.

The point is, there are plenty of reasons why your dog or cat may disappear; it’s important to remember that it’s not your fault. It’s just something that happens, and you need to work as carefully and calmly as possible to fix it. Here are a few steps to take if your pet has run away.

Don’t panic

We know this feels contrary to your instincts but it’s important to keep as calm and clear a head as possible. Don’t panic. If your dog is within sight and on a safe path, try calling to them to sit and lie down. That will have them stop in their tracks and keep them in one place as you work to get to them. Make sure you reward them with all the treats when you do find them, rather than punishing them; this way, they’ll know that obeying in such situations gets them better treatment.

If you’ve developed a recall word with your dog, use that. A recall word is a word that, when used, means your dog must instantly come to you; your dog has been trained to recognize and respond to it. If your dog is chasing something, a recall word may be more powerful than asking them to sit or lie down; they’re more likely to listen. Again, make sure the recall word is associated with delicious and rare treats, something they wouldn’t get ordinarily. They’re more likely to listen if they know the reward for listening is much better than what they’re chasing.

Check with the neighborhood, NGOs, shelters

If your dog or cat has run away and you no longer have sight of them, move slowly and carefully around the area to try and find them. Get friends to help. Spread out and cover as much ground as possible; call their name and be as enthusiastic as possible. Ask people if they’ve seen your pet, especially any shopkeepers in the area; they may be able to help spread the word. Also call up shelters and NGOs and check if anyone of your pet’s description has been brought in recently.

Signs and social media

One of the best ways to spread the word that your pet is missing is via signs in the neighborhood and through social media. The more people looking, the better, and you’re likely to get more leads if people know what to look for. Be sure to post pictures of your dog as well as updated contact information so that people can get in touch with you easily. If your dog has any identifying markers, make that clear on the social media post and on the signs.

Check the shelters personally

If you still haven’t got a lead on your pet, check the shelters personally and see if you can identify them. Sometimes people may not realize your pet fits the description floating around; a personal check will help.

Most pets that run off are found easily, so don’t worry; your pet will be returned to you soon enough. Make sure, though, that your pet does have a name tag and that they know a recall word (if you can teach them one). Remember, pets running away is rare but it does happen and it isn’t your fault; you just need to stay calm and focus all your energy on finding them.