If You’re Looking For Animals – Check The Time

We’re all familiar with the change of seasons and the animal activity that comes with it. Bears are known to become voracious eaters in the fall to prepare for winter hibernation. At the same time, squirrels seem to amp-up their activity when it comes to finding and burying nuts. Even insects behave more erratically when they sense a temperature change is coming. 

This so called “circle of life” doesn’t only happen when the seasons change. It happens on a much smaller scale as well. Every single day the sun sets and rises and with this comes a flurry of animal activity. As the sun starts to set, you’ll notice more deer come out on the edges of fields and on the sides of roads. Maybe you’ll see a raccoon run across the street. In the evening the animal day-shift is turning in and the night-shift is just beginning. With it comes an abundance of activity and you can literally see it if you’re open to it. There’s more drama in wild areas during sunrise and sunset than you’ll ever see on your daily soap opera!

Domestic animals that have become accustomed to living in a wild situation after being displaced surprisingly start to take on these daily rhythms. If you’ve lost a pet and it’s been gone for a long period of time, try searching for it before dusk or at dawn. There’s calmness in the world during these times and the noise of the modern world is at less of a peak. This means that the sounds of the natural world are more likely to come through and be more noticeable. 

I live on the East Coast. At 4 PM (from about April to October) on the nose and with amazing consistency I can literally see the changes start to take place. Animals are active at this time and making preparations for the night. The same happens before 8 AM the next morning. Pay attention to these times when doing a search for a lost animal or simply observing nature in general. Have heightened awareness during these times and you’ll raise your chances of finding your lost pet.

Missing People vs. Lost Pets – How the Search Differs

When a person gets lost, 911 is contacted and the person’s family receives sympathy and support. Assistance is offered whether it’s asked for or not! When it comes to losing pets, things seem different. Here’s some of what happens when a pet is lost. How do you think each examples compares to lost people? 

1. There is no “911”. Instead there are locations like pounds, rescue groups, or humane societies where a found pet could end up. 

2. Pet owners usually experience a form of grief that’s unacceptable to others. In other words they can be shunned by friends and family who don’t care that much about animals and tell the pet owner to “get over it.” 

3. Typically, the pet owner is blamed and considered irresponsible for their pet running lose even if it was an accident beyond their control. 

4. When a lost dog is found, it’s common that the rescuer self-adopts the pet or turns it over to an organization that will find the dog a new home without making effort to find the original owner. 

5. When a pet is lost, there’s no one to call or to assist in the search effort. 

6. Burden is on the pet owner to take action to find their lost pet and relying on people who are untrained in lost pet behavior or in the differences of how to search for a missing dog vs. a missing cat is a major contributing factor to the homeless pet population. 

7. Assistance is usually refused when a pet owner calls and asks someone to come out and help them search for their missing pets. 

8. No nonprofit has existed for the purpose of missing pet education or in developing lost pet services. 

9. Reasoning is rarely used when searching for lost pets. Untrained owners follow gut instincts and use no reasoning and do everything from stapling dirty underwear to trees to leaving a scent trail for their pet to follow. Basically they use acts of desperation. 

10. Microchip systems are in place that could be used to identify pets but only a small amount of pet owners use them. 

11. Animal Control Officers do NOT scan a carcass they find on the road for microchips and neither do road crews. 

12. The problem of “homeless pets” is only being addressed through aggressive spay/neuter education for unwanted dogs and cats. However, there are many reasons why pets become homeless, including lost pets that are never found.

13 Reasons Why a Pet Might Disappear

Pets vanish for many reasons but usually the disappearances fit into one of 15 categories.

1. Intentionl Theft

People may steal a pet that has market value and sell it to someone else.  Pure-bred dogs and cats as well as exotic animals like reptiles and birds are often victims.

2. Intentional Theft

People might steal a pet to keep it for themselves.  Animal hobbyists or those that are interested in particular breeds are the culprits

3. Intentional Theft

Sometimes people will steal animals and sell them to research labs.  This is rare, but it does occur.

4. Relational Theft/Cruelty/Euthanasia

In order to retaliate against a relative for any reason, people often target their pets.

5. Misappropriation of Lost Property

6. Captured by Animal Control

7. Turned In To Animal Control/Humane Society

8. Self-Adopted by a well meaning person

If a person is unaware that the pet they find is lost, they sometimes just keep it for themselves.

9. Rescued and Adopted Out by Rescue Groups

10. Victim of Animal Cruelty

This can include mutilation, animal sacrifice, etc.

11. Hit and Run

These are often unidentified animals in veterinary clinics

12. Transported out of Area

Pets can wind up at distant shelters, rescue groups, etc.

13. Trapped or Deceased and Never Recovered

Animals can end up under homes, down wells, etc.