REPORT YOUR LOST PET TO ANIMAL CONTROL

Lost pets can travel many miles in one day; for example, a small dog can travel 25 miles in a day. Be sure to report the lost pet to Animal Controls in surrounding counties. You should go in person to Animal Control as soon as possible. Animal Control in Savannah/Chatham is only required to hold a pet for 5 days before euthanizing. Bring a photo to show the staff and a flyer that can be left with the staff. The flyer should have a picture of the pet with a brief description, your contact information, and the location and date when pet was last seen. Just describing your animal over the phone may not be enough for staff to correctly identify your pet. Be sure to go to animal control every few days until your pet is found. Remember: you must wear closed toe shoes when visiting animal control. See https://animalservices.chathamcountyga.gov/Services/LostPets/ for tips on searching for a lost pet.

Contacts for Chatham County Animal Control are:

912 351-6750
https://animalservices.chathamcountyga.gov/Services/LostPets/

Contacts for other local animal controls are:

Effingham County Animal Shelter – 912-754-2109
Liberty County Animal Control – 912-876-9191
Bryan County Animal Control
Richmond Hill-912-727-3884
Pembroke-912-653-3816

POST THE PET ON THE INTERNET

Savannah Lost and Found Pets Facebook Page
Craig’s List: http://savannah.craigslist.org/search/laf

Use social media including Facebook and blogs to circulate information about your lost pet. Note: When posting your animal use “common sense” in how much personal information you give out and be sure to meet anyone in a public spot with a friend. Do not give your pet’s name in the posting.

PLACE AN AD IN PRINT PUBLICATIONS

These publications will run free ads if they are short in length.

The Savannah Morning News. (912) 236-9511
Pennysaver (912) 238-2040
Tell-N-Sell (912) 927-7731
The Spirit of the Westside (912) 748-3567

MAKE A REPORT TO THE FOLLOWING RADIO STATIONS

WRHQ Pet Patrol

98.7 The River Pet Central

MAKE A REPORT TO ANIMAL RESCUE GROUPS

Make a report with Save-A-Life and call other local adoption agencies to see if you can make a report with them. Other agencies’ phone numbers are:

Humane Society of Chatham County – 912-354-9515

PAWS – 912-754-6033

Coastal Pet Rescue – 912-351-4151

Bryan Animal Caregivers – 912-727-2694

2nd Chance Purebred Rescue – 912-748-6097

Georgia Rescue, Rehabilitation and Relocation– 912-656-9792

One Love Animal Rescue– 912.572.1251

CALL OR GO TO YOUR LOCAL VETERINARIAN CLINIC

Call the Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Referral Center at 912 355-6113 and VCA Greater Savannah Animal Hospital at 912 355-8898 since Savannah Chatham Animal Control takes sick or injured pets to these clinics.
Also check with other local veterinarians. In-person-visits are best (and take a photo and flyer of the pet)

ANIMAL RESCUE GROUPS MAY NOT TAKE STRAY ANIMALS DIRECTLY INTO FOSTER CARE DUE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE REGULATIONS.

If you find a stray there are two options:

Strays may be taken to the animal control facility in the county in which the pet was found. Remember that Animal Control in Savannah/Chatham gets many pets and is only required to keep them 5 days before they may euthanize them
Citizens may also keep the pet while actively trying to find the owner. After two weeks of caring for the pet and active pursuit to find the owner, the pet may be re-homed through Save-A-Life’s Pet Placement Program.

IF YOU WISH TO KEEP THE STRAY, YOU MUST AT THE MINIMUM:

• Report it immediately to the Animal Control Facility in the county the pet was found. See the Lost Pets section for contact numbers for animal controls.
• Take the pet to a veterinary clinic or animal control to check for a microchip
• Continuously and actively seek the owner by advertising at least in the local paper, listing it on Craig’s List and Savannah Lost and
• Found Pets Facebook page (see above).
• For additional actions that can be taken to seek the pet’s owner see the LOST PETS section above

OTHER TIPS

• When you post information about the pet, keep back some identifying information you can use to determine if the person claiming the pet is indeed the rightful owner of the pet (collar, scars, unusual coloring, etc.). Have the person responding to the found ad describe the pet. Get the person’s identifying information including his vet. Call the vet and confirm. Ask them to bring a photo of the pet. Watch the pet when it is reunited with the owner. Does the pet respond to his name when called by the owner? Is the pet happy to see the owner?
• When you meet with the owner, do so in a public place (but safe place for the pet) with a friend accompanying you.