Always make certain your pet is wearing an I.D. tag with TWO current phone numbers including area code.  (For cats use only stretch collars in case they should become tangled).   Consider a microchip for your pet.  NOTE: Make certain with all ID tags to check the tags every few months to see if the information is wearing away. If so replace tags immediately. Many animals at shelters have tags but they are so worn that the tags canNOT be read and sadly the owner cannot be contacted!

Always have close-up, full-body color photos of your pet taken from the front and from the side.   (Keep negatives readily available or keep stored on your computer.)

If your beloved pet strays away from home, it can be a traumatic experience for both you and your pet.  It is extremely important to Act Immediately.  The longer you wait the further your pet can travel and the chances increase that they may become injured. 

	Post signs in the area where lost, at  traffic intersections,  grocery stores,  community centers,  pet stores, veterinary offices, churches and other locations.
	Advertise in BOTH Local and Main Newspapers.   Check thoroughly All columns dealing with animals as well as "Lost and Found". Do this for at least an entire month.
	Search the neighborhood.   Walk,  ride a bicycle  or  drive slowly through your neighborhood several times each day.   Whistle a few times,  then call your pet's name twice and then carefully 'listen' and look.  Do this OFTEN.  Your pet may be injured, frightened or trapped and unable to come to you.  Hearing your voice may encourage your pet to answer you.  After you call their name 2 or 3 times, remain in one place long enough for your pet to find you.
	Ask neighbors, letter carriers and delivery people if they have seen your pet.  Print and hand out lost pet sheets with your pet's photo and your phone number.
	Phone contact is Not enough.  Visit all animal shelters and animal-control agencies.  File a lost pet report with EVERY shelter in your city.  Provide these agencies with an accurate description and a recent photograph of your pet.  Check with the shelters every few days.  Notify the police if you believe that your pet may have been stolen.

	Contact Veterinary offices both in your area and surrounding areas.  An animal could be injured and picked up by car and taken out of the area in any direction for some distance.
	Leave items with a familiar scent outside your home.  A litter box, pet bed or a sweatshirt recently worn by a loved one can attract a pet who has strayed and become disorientated.
	If your animal is a purebred, contact the purebred rescue group in your area.

Don't give up your search - even when you have little hope.  Animals who have been lost for months have reunited with their owners.

We strongly advise you Check All Shelters in Person every few days.
LIST of Houston Area Shelters/Facilities
and Agencies to check for LOST Pets.

If you have a 'purebred' dog, check with breed rescue.

Nationwide LOST and Found PET Websites:

PHONE service.....Calls your neighbors (Charges a fee) 
www.FindToto.com

More Internet Listings:
www.petfinder.org
www.petharbor.com
wwwFidoFinder.com
AND 
thegreensheet.com (1 time, 3 areas)
hconline.com (Houston Community Newspapers)

Sherlock Bones - "Tracer of Missing Pets"  (Charges a fee.)
www.sherlockbones.com/html/advice.html

When and if you find your pet, make CERTAIN to Inform ALL places you contacted.
Otherwise, valuable time is wasted which could be used for animals who are still lost.
Also, Remove all flyers from places where you placed them.
Please be considerate of other lost animals.  Thank you.

NOTE:  This list in only to help you in your search.
It is YOUR responsibility to check the reliability of these companies/listings.
For places "charging you a fee" you might consider asking what is their "success rate"(percentage
of animals located BECAUSE of their paid service.).
and ask if their success rate is written on their website.

If  you  'FIND'  a  pet:
. Look for the next several days for any signs posted in the area where animal was found.
Place 'Found' signs in the area where you found the animal.
Check ALL Newspapers in the 'Lost and Found' section AND place an ad in Found section.
(Go back at least a week and check old newspapers.)
  Take the animal you found to a veterinarian to be scanned for a microchip.
Check the Lost and Found websites on the internet.  (See List Above.)
You may PHONE in a 'Found' Report to CAP Shelter at (281)-497-0591 but do NOT E-mail
unless you have a Photo.

 Horses