Saskatoon SPCA Lost and Found

Lost & Found

Each year thousands of dogs and cats are reported as lost to local animal control agencies. Of those reported lost, occasionally an animal may be impounded, legally held, and destroyed. Lost animal reports can help to prevent this tragedy, if such reports are compared with impounded, injured, or dead animals.

The Saskatoon SPCA recognizes that as an agency charged with handling large volumes of animals on a day-to-day basis, it is important to be able to compare every animal against every lost animal report. But if such reports are kept, it is important to require owners complete the form or report personally. As such, the Saskatoon SPCA will only hold a lost report for 24-hours without the personal registering of the animal lost by the owner.

All lost reports are to be categorized by breeds. If the owner is uncertain of the breed, provide a chart which will help the owner determine the breed the animal most resembles, mixed breed files could be categorize by color, sex, and size, if efforts to categorize by possible breed mixture are unsuccessful. Ultimately, large volume shelters must stress to owners the vital importance of personal visits to the shelter for the purpose of looking for lost pets. Visits should fall within the legal holding periods for unlicensed animals, without exception, all injured and dead animals should be compared against the reports. Reports should be updated daily.

Lost and Found Hours

You can come to the shelter and look for your pet during the hours that the SPCA is open, posted here. Please phone 374-7387 to report your pet missing.

Lost and Found Procedures and Fees

Effective February 10, 2003, the Saskatoon SPCA has a implemented a cost
recovery program for lost and found. The policy/procedure concerning of
filing a lost and report with the agency is as follows:

1. Individuals may file a lost report by telephone or in person. All
individuals are to be notified that the report is only temporary and held
for 72 hours for free. Owners are then required to come to the shelter and bring with them a current picture of their lost pet within 72-hour period, so that the picture
may accompany the report.

2. Owners are required to pay $10 to have their lost report held on file
for one year.

Cross Checking

SPCA staff are required to continuously cross-check each animal that is reported lost with the animals housed in the shelter. As well, SPCA strive to provide a comprehensive telephone listing of all animals housed in the shelter daily

Found Pets

When you do find your pet, please remember to cancel all reports that you have placed, especially at the Saskatoon SPCA. Take down all posters and advise other people/agencies who may be on the lookout for your pet that the search is over.

Tips to Help Find Your Lost Pet

• Contact local veterinary clinics to see if your lost pet has been taken there. This is sometimes the case if your pet has been injured or becomes sick.

• In your neighborhood and surrounding area, call and whistle to your pet or carry an object that normally attracts your pet’s attention (i.e. favorite squeaky toy, a can of treats that can be shaken or rattled, etc.). He may be injured, frightened or trapped and unable to come to you. Hearing your voice may encourage him to answer you.

• Recruit help and search for your pet. Look in garages, yards, under cars, in shrubbery and at neighbors’ homes as well as your own. Pay particular attention to animal “hangouts” such as playgrounds, parks and other homes with animals.

• Use the power of scent. Place a recently worn article of clothing in your yard if you have an indoor pet. Try placing your dog’s favorite blanket or toys and your cat’s litterbox outside. Familiar scents may attract your pet and lead him back to your home.

• Report your missing pet to Petland’s Lost & Found Registry at 978-6990.

• Place a “lost & found” ad in the classified section of the StarPhoenix newspaper at 653-2100. Write up a description of your pet that will distinguish it from others (i.e. breed, size, color, gender, collar & identification tags, coat length, eye color, name, scars, personality, etc.) Check “found” ads in the newspaper and respond to any that might POSSIBLY be your pet – a week wandering the streets can turn your white poodle into a “gray mutt”.

• Phone local radio stations to see if they broadcast “missing pet” announcements as a public service. One such station is CJWW, 244-1975.

• Alert the postal carrier, garbage collectors, meter readers, newspaper carriers and other delivery people who have routes in your neighborhood about your missing pet.

• Post “lost pet” notices on bulletin boards, on telephone poles, in stores, churches, libraries, and around your neighborhood. If possible, use a picture of your pet as that will attract attention.

DON’T GIVE UP!

Your pet’s life depends on your efforts, so keep trying even if your pet has been missing for more than a few days. Animals that have been lost for months have been reunited with their owners who diligently continued to search for their pet.