PETS PET ON THE LOOSE! By Tresa Erickson Even the most responsible pet owners can lose a pet. They may accidentally leave the cage door open, or the crafty pet may just find its way out. Pets lost within the home are generally easier to find than pets lost outside of the home. If your hamster, gerbil, snake, turtle or some other pet escapes, here are some tips to make the search easier. Start right away As soon as you discover your pet is lost, drop everything and start looking for it. Confine any kids or pets that could harm the lost pet and start your search around the cage. Some pets like snakes will not get far. Get everyone in the home to help, divide up into groups and assign each group a section of the home to search. Leave no stone unturned Look everywhere for your pet. Small pets like hamsters and snakes can hide almost anywhere, from shoes in the closet to boxes in the attic. Check everything— behind, under and in and around furniture and appliances, in cabinets and drawers, in shoes, purses and backpacks. Look everywhere, even places you don’t think the pet can access. You would be surprised how easily an animal can wedge itself into the smallest of places. Keep an eye out for clues Some pets will leave a trail. Bunnies, for example, are notorious for chewing on things, and depending upon how long your bunny has been lost, it could leave some nice chew marks on your carpet and furniture. Hamsters might leave droppings. Snakes might move things. Look for clues where your pet has been and where it might be going. Lure the pet in Should your search uncover nothing, do not despair. Hungry or thirsty pets very well could make their way back to their cage in search of food and water. Leave plenty of fresh food and water in your pet’s cage and the door open. If your pet loves treats, put some out. Some pets will come running at the shake of a treat bag or the scent of treats being scattered. Set up alarms In addition to bait, you’ll also want to set up some alarms. Place foil in potential hiding places so you’ll be sure to hear your pet moving around. Sprinkle some flour on the floor so you can detect any movement of your pet. Count out some treats. That way, you will know whether your pet makes a brief return. With any luck you will find your pet within a few hours or at least by the end of the day. If you don’t, make sure you set out some fresh food and water and continue the search when you can. Call up some buddies to help or consider bringing in a pro. And, relax. Most pets will turn up!
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