Top End Lost and Found

An alarming number of ‘stray’ animals pass through animal shelters each year. Losing a companion animal is a very distressing time for the owner as well as the animal. The wider and sooner you search the better your chances of being reunited. You can try a number of tactics to find your non human friend. Please read the strategies below and try as many of them as possible. To help us to keep this web site up to date please e mail us at sideon@internode.on.net (please copy the e mail address into your e mail system - we are still trying to get the link to work!) when you find your pet and we will remove your entry.

Register his/her loss with:

• this web site – see ‘report an animal’
• Local vets (see contact details below)
• RSPCA
• Territory FM 104.1 Pet Patrol with Geoff Cannon on Territory Breakfast - Weekdays 6am - 8.30am
• Darwin or Palmerston City Councils (for dogs)
  

• Inform your neighbours that your pet is lost and ask if they have had any recent sightings of him. Check under bushes, in sheds etc, especially if they have been closed up. Cats can easily get locked in with the owner of the shed unaware that they are there.

• Walk around your neighbourhood and call your pet’s name, or what she normally answers to.

• If you have lost a dog, concentrate on the areas you have taken him walking or visited regularly.

• Do a letterbox drop around your neighbourhood. Print a picture of your pet so people know what to look for

• If you can afford to, offer a reward.

• Print up fliers with a picture and distribute them around your neighbourhood shopping centres, vets and RSPCA

Details to include:

• A contact name and number.

• When and where your pet went missing from.

• A detailed description of your pet (approx age, colour, size, collars or other distinct ID, whole or desexed etc)

• What name your pet answers to.

• A photograph (colour if possible).

• Include a reward (if possible)

• Contact McMahons rubbish removals, they keep a record of animals who have been killed on the road and they are most helpful. It’s often the ‘not knowing’ that is so painful

• Put an ad in your local newspaper or the NT News.

• Some radio/TV stations will advertise for lost animals.

• If your pet is microchipped ensure the microchipping company has your correct contact details.

• If you have recently moved go back to your old address, and ask the new occupiers to keep an eye open for your pet

Don’t restrict yourself to your local area. Many animals hitch a ride, or are stolen and later dumped, many kms from their original homes. Cats in particular can stow away in cars/boats etc. unknown to the driver, and be transported thousands of kms from their home. Cats can travel hundreds of kms back to their old territory. Check every few days at the RSPCA or local animal shelter and local pound (for dogs). Only you really know what your pet looks like. Identifying an animal over the phone can be difficult. Your pet may be brought into the RSPCA at any time after he is lost. Some people can take the animal home for a few days/weeks prior to contacting the RSPCA or pound. Some animals may be roaming the streets for days, even months or years in the case of cats, prior to being picked up. Your pet may have sustained an injury (car accident, dog attack, human cruelty) and have holed up somewhere so don’t assume he will bounce up to you if you call his name. Your pet may be distressed and therefore uncooperative.

Who to Contact:

RSPCA Berrimah - 8984 3795.
Palmerston City Council - 8945 9977
Darwin City Council - 8930 0300
McMahons Rubbish removal - 8935 1111
Territory FM 104.1 - 8946 6266

Local Vets

Darwin Vet Hospital 8927 9033.
All Pets 8948 0056
Parap Vets 8981 9767
Winnellie Vets 8947 2533
University Ave. Vets 8931 0455
Coolalinga 8983 1473
Howard Springs Vets 8983 1458
Litchfield Vets 8983 2838
Palmerston Vets 8932 2344
Palm City Vets 8947 3463
Arc Animal Hospital 8932 9738

It is important to note that even if your pet was wearing identification, don’t assume that you will be notified. The collar and tag may have become lost, or the animal may not have been scanned for a microchip. However microchipping can be extremely useful in reuniting you with your pet in as short a time as possible. One cat recently in Qld was reunited with his owners after 10 years!! Back to report an animal

If your pet is microchipped please notify the central data base whenever you change your address/phone details.

Do all you can to prevent your pet getting lost
You can reduce your pet’s chances of getting lost by:

• Providing secure fencing

• Keeping your pet in during storms and fireworks

• Keeping your cat inside from dusk to dawn

• Providing plenty of shelter

• Desexing your pet (wandering to find a mate or fight over territory will be eliminated)

• Providing entertainment (toys) if you are out a lot.

• Losing a pet is distressing to everyone involved. It is vital you do all you can to avoid them getting lost such as making sure your pet is protected within your property at all times, with secure fencing around the boundary of your property, locked gates and plenty of shelter to avoid the weather.

The task of reuniting pets with their owners is always made easier if the pet has proper identification. All pet owners should ensure that their pet is microchipped, properly tagged and registered with their local council.

DON’T GIVE UP HOPE!
The longer your pet is missing, the more despondent you will feel. However, everybit of effort you put into trying to find your pet is a step in the right direction.Keep talking to people and searching - your pet is a family member - don’t give up, some pets do get reunited with their owners years after separation. Great persistence may be necessary.

If you have found a lost companion animal:
Check for Identification
If you have found a stray dog, cat, or other animal it is important that you first check for any ID. If the animal has identification, please contact the owner as soon as possible. Most vets and the RSPCA have microchip scanners. A quick scan will soon tell if the animal you have found has been microchipped. If so it should be easy to contact the owners.

If the pet does not have ID then register your find with this web site, RSPCA or other local animal shelter, vets and local pounds (for dogs). You may want to take the pet to the local animal shelter or you may prefer to keep her until somebody contacts you. Please note that shelters often have limited space and may not be able to keep the animal for more than a few days depending on their policies.

Injured animals
If you come across an animal that has been injured it is important to remember the following points: Approach an injured animal carefully. Fear and pain can induce aggressive and unpredictable behaviour, even in your own pet Call for professional assistance as soon as you have assessed the situation Where possible and safe to do so, confine the animal / and or stay with it, keeping it quiet, still and warm If the animal is badly hurt, do not try to move it unless it is in a dangerous place such as on a busy road. Do not panic. Always put your own safety first

• If you need to move a badly injured animal, use a blanket or coat to form a stretcher

• Do not attempt to feed or give water to an injured animal

• Remember that the best way you can help an injured animal is to call for professional help immediately.

• Do not attempt to administer any medication to the animal.

Back to report an animal