Make a flyer with a clear picture, description and your contact details. Post on .nz (previously Pets on the Net)Ĭheck the ‘lost’ listings and create a ‘found’ listing at This is a national database and the key website we recommend everyone uses. Knocking on the door and asking neighbours if they own the animal or if they know who does can speed up the process of reuniting the animal with its owner. If the animal is microchipped they will be able to quickly reunite it with its owner. Take the animal to your local vets and ask them to scan it for a microchip. If you find livestock in a public place, such as a road or reserve or trespassing on your land, please contact your local council. You can also try to identify the owner using the methods described in the general advice section below. You may also want to visit your your local council animal shelter and check their lost board. If the animal is registered, then they’ll be able to quickly reunite the dog with its owner. If you have found a stray dog, please contact your local council. You will need to get the cat desexed and microchipped. If you have confirmed that cat does not already have an owner and would like to take on responsibility for the cat, please contact your local SPCA for advice. Like us cats will still eat what’s tasty even if it isn’t good for their health! The cat may be on a specific diet for health problems such as diabetes or allergies and feeding could put its health at risk. Until you have confirmed that the cat does not have an owner, we recommend that you do not feed the cat. If the cat is owned, the owner is likely to see the cat within 48 hours and hopefully will get in touch with you to reassure you that the cat is owned. Write your details on the collar and put the collar on the cat. You can download a paper collar print out here. One of the most useful tools for finding out if a cat has an owner is the “paper collar”. A number of useful methods to identify if a cat has an owner are described in the general advice section below. If you find a healthy cat that you suspect could be a stray, the first thing to do is confirm that the cat is unowned. Cats often have quite large home ranges and commonly roam around the neighbourhood.

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