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FOUND A PET?
HERE’S WHAT TO DO NEXT

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Take a few careful steps to help reunite the pet with its owner safely.

STEP 1: SECURE THE PET SAFELY

  • Keep the pet in a safe, contained area if you can do so safely.
  • Offer water. Food can be tricky if they have stomach issues, so wait with that for the first 24 hours.
  • Avoid crowding, chasing, or overwhelming the animal.
  • If the pet seems injured, scared, or aggressive, call animal services for help.

STEP 2: CHECK FOR IDENTIFICATION

  • Look for a collar, ID tag, rabies tag, or license tag.
  • Call the number on any tag right away.
  • Take the pet to a vet, shelter, or animal services office to scan for a microchip.
  • Microchip scanning is usually free.

STEP 3: POST IMMEDIATELY (IN THIS ORDER)

  1. PawBoost – https://www.pawboost.com
  2. Nextdoor – https://www.nextdoor.com
  3. NCPetLove – https://www.ncpetlove.com
  4. Facebook – https://www.facebook.com

Include:

  • A clear photo
  • Location found
  • Date and time found
  • General description
  • Your contact information

Important: Do not include every identifying detail. Keep one or two details private so the real owner can prove the pet is theirs. This is extremely important because evil people claim lost pets and use them in illegal dog-fighting schemes. Please err on the side of pet safety. For more information review How to Prove Ownership in our Guidance Section on NCPetLove.com.

STEP 4: CONTACT LOCAL SHELTERS

STEP 5: VERIFY OWNERSHIP BEFORE RETURNING

  • Ask for photos of the pet.
  • Ask for vet records, adoption records, or microchip information, if available.
  • Ask the owner to describe something not shown in your post.
  • Meet in a safe public place if you are unsure. Never release a dog that clearly displays fear.

STEP 6: KEEP WATCHING

  • Check PawBoost, Nextdoor, NCPetLove, and Facebook for lost pet posts.
  • Watch for flyers in the area where the pet was found.
  • Update your post if the pet is reunited.

Report and connect locally at:
https://ncpetlove.com
A Triad community hub helping neighbors reunite pets safely.

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