Lost Pets

If your pet is lost, don't delay. Take the following steps to help bring your companion animal home to safety.

• Act fast! Don't waste days hoping your pet will come home. The sooner you begin your search, the better the odds of finding him.
• Search your neighborhood or the area where your pet was lost and let people know she's missing.
• Call your pet's name and check any places she could have become trapped, such as in basements or garages or under vehicles. A lost pet often will hide during the day, so be sure to go out again at night with a flashlight and call for her.
• Sometimes a can of food can lure a hungry and scared pet to you.
• Check with your local shelters every day. Don't just call -- also visit the shelters to search for your pet. Many animals are difficult to describe over the phone, and only you really know what your pet looks like.
• Call all animal control agencies in your town and surrounding areas. Animal control officers work through the police department and pick up stray animals. Call them or check their shelters at least every two days.
• Use your pet's photo to make "lost pet" signs. Put them up in your neighborhood and in post offices, libraries, pet supply stores, veterinary offices, and grocery stores. Inform your veterinarian and groomer that your pet is lost in case they receive a call.
• Place ads in local newspapers and offer a reward in case someone found your untagged pet and was thinking of keeping her.
• Watch the found ads. Respond to any that might be close to your pet's description. A week of wandering the streets can make white pets look drab gray, and the ad's description might not exactly fit.
• Call local radio stations. Some radio stations will broadcast lost pet information for free. Give them very detailed information on where your pet was lost, his description, and how to contact you.
• Visit the websites of national locator services http://www.petfinder.com/ and http://www.1888pets911.org/.
• Remember that pets wearing ID tags increase their chances of finding their way back home.

Thanks to Petsmart for this information.

Check our pictures of animals below to see if you recognize your pet. If we have your animal at Madison ARF, please contact us at adopt@madisonarf.org. If the animal is at Madison Animal Control or the Athens Dog Pound, please contact them as soon as possible.

	Male Dog Small White Poodle Mix This Dog is at Madison Animal Control. It will be held until the morning of 2010-09-14.
	Male Dog Small Black Pug This Dog is at Madison Animal Control. It will be held until the morning of 2010-09-14.
	Female Dog Small Gray Schnauzer This Dog is at Madison Animal Control. It will be held until the morning of 2010-09-13.
	Female Dog Small black and white lab mix Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Dog Small black and tan shep/lab mix Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Dog Small 5/6 year old black and white pomeranian. Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Male Dog Large shepherd mix Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Dog Medium size Shepherd/Shar Pei mix. Black and red/tan. Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Male Cat large size gray & white tabby wih extra toes Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Male Dog Medium size lab mix Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Dog Medium size boxer/lab mix Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Unknown Dog large Bird Dog/Spaniel mix Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Dog Medium size Beagle/Hound mix Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Dog large 1.5 year old brindle pit mix. Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Male Cat Small Orange Tabby Kitten Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Cat Small Gray Torti kitten Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Male Dog Medium Tan cur/shepherd mix Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Unknown Dog Small Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Male Cat Medium size white and black Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Dog 28 lbs. brindle Boxer/Terrier mix Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	female Cat Small Black with white feet, chin and whiskers. Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	male Cat Small Black with white on chest. Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	female Cat Small Solid black with a touch of white on chest.. Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Dog Small beautiful white Spitz mix Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Dog Medium size Lab and American pit bull terrier mix Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Cat Small tan and black tabby Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Male Dog 22 lb White & Tan Rat Terrier/Jack Russel Mix Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Cat Small tabby Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Cat Small Black and White bobtail Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Dog Small lhasa apso Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Cat Small orange tabby Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Cat torti Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Dog Medium size American pit bull terrier mix Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	male Cat Small black kitten with bit of white on chest Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Cat torti Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Male Cat gray Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Cat small cream with tortie points Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Unknown Cat Small black and white, medium length hair, fluffy tail Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Unknown Cat Small black & white with white face, white tip on tail Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Cat Small light gray tabby with white tuxedo Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Cat Small Tortishell Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Dog Medium size Black and white blue heeler mix. Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Male Dog Medium size Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Male Dog Medium chocolate brown pit Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Cat black & white kitten Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.
	Female Dog Small 2/3 year old beagle Rescued by Madison ARF. In need of Adoption.

Madison Animal Control is located at the Municipal Complex, 100 Hughes Road in Madison, Alabama. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Their telephone is 256-772-5694, but it is best to go by the office, and talk with an officer. Leave a picture if possible, as descriptions may be confusing.

When the volume of lost pets is high, animals may be transferred from Madison Animal Control to the Athens Dog Pound, located on Highway 72 West in Athens. Their telephone is 256-771-7889. Office hours and directions may be obtained from their website.