“A lot of people do lose their dogs. It does happen,” Newtown Animal Control Officer Carolee Mason told The Newtown Bee. “It’s very sad.”

Whether an owner leaves their dog out unsupervised in an unfenced area or a pet escapes out of the car during a trip, accidents can occur anytime and anywhere.

Ms Mason says the animal shelter receives an average of three calls a month about lost dogs, and the calls are more prevalent when an animal is being watched by a pet sitter instead of the owner.

Lost dogs and cats run the risk of getting hit by cars, contracting diseases, and being attacked or killed by predators. Dogs under 25 pounds and cats are especially a concern due to their vulnerability to larger predators from both the ground and sky.

Ms Mason recommends that as soon as you are aware a pet has gone missing, contact the Newtown Animal Control Center at 203-426-6900 and give a description of the animal and the location it was last seen.

The Newtown Animal Control Center commonly does courtesy postings on its public Facebook page of lost animals and can include the pet’s photo and information. The post can reach the group’s more than 6,000 followers and can be seen by more people when the post is shared.

When someone finds a lost pet, in addition to calling the Newtown Animal Control Center for assistance, Ms Mason advises people contact the Newtown Police Department at 203-270-4255.

If the animal is in or near a high traffic area, police can step in to help handle passing cars and make for a safer rescue.

“A lot of Newtown cops are animal lovers, too,” she added.

Tips For A Safe Rescue

“The most important thing, if you do see an animal [loose] is use a lot of common sense and don’t panic. Be calm, take a breath,” Ms Mason said.

Having a calm presence is not only important for thinking clearly about your next move, but it is crucial because animals can sense the energy you put out and hear it in your voice.

“If you panic, the dog is going to panic,” she explained. “If the dog is very scared or frightened, you could get bit.”

A common mistake people make when approaching a fearful and possibly injured dog is to ignore the animal’s behavior cues — like growling and backing away — and immediately going up to grab its collar, if it has one.

Instead, a safe way to rescue an unpredictable animal would be to entice it with food from a distance.

“If you throw the treat, then back away, they are more likely to eat it,” Ms Mason said, adding that this is a helpful tactic when a dog or cat is underneath a vehicle.

Gaining the animal’s trust and creating positive atmosphere can help avoid a “flight case” — which is a term the Animal Control Officers use to describe a skittish dog running away.

In those cases, it is important to not pursue the dog on foot, especially if there is a busy roadway nearby, as it could run into traffic.

“Don’t chase them. Ignore them,” Ms Mason said. “My philosophy is stay near them and focus on something else.”

The idea behind ignoring them but still keeping an eye on them is that it will spark the animal’s interest in what you are doing. By focusing on picking up something off the ground, it can pique their curiosity and entice them to watch you.

When you have their interest, take the opportunity to redirect them — whether it means opening a door to a nearby business to encourage them to go inside or opening your car door and saying common cues like “Want go for a ride?” to have them hop in the backseat.

The latter technique is a popular one that has worked well for Ms Mason in the past for dogs that have experience enjoying car rides.

For rescuing pets that are on the loose, Ms Mason recommends people keep a leash in their car and soft treats with a strong scent to entice them. Another helpful item would be to keep a towel or blanket in the car in case the dog has been roaming through the mud.

The Humane Society of the United States also says, “If you know in your heart that you’re a rescuer, why not equip yourself to do the best possible job? Here are some things to have in your car at all times: phone [with] phone numbers of local animal control, a shelter, and a 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic; cat carrier or cardboard box; collars and strong leashes for dogs; heavy blanket; water bowls and water; strong-smelling foods, such as canned tuna or dried liver; and an animal first-aid kit.”

Reuniting With Owners

For Newtown Animal Control, it makes a world of difference if the dog or cat is microchipped, because it can give them the information they need to reunite the pet with its owner.

Collars are also beneficial for pets if the tag has contact information and the animal’s name.

“There are some people where I’ve picked their dog up three or four times, and it took them that many times before they put their phone number on the collar,” Ms Mason recalled.

If a dog or cat is brought in with no means of accessing the owner’s contact information, it becomes a waiting game of hoping the owner comes to get them at the shelter.

In most cases, the owners visits the shelter within a few days of the animal going missing or calls in to coordinate a time where they can be reunited with their pet and take them home.

However, for some pets brought in, that day does not come. Sometimes a tactic called “dumping” occurs, where pet owners intentionally release their animals in a location because they no longer want them.

Ms Mason says there have even been scenarios where someone comes into the shelter claiming they found a dog, despite it being apparent that they are the animal’s owner.

For the pets that come to the shelter and are not reunited with their owner within a couple days, the Newtown Animal Control Center goes through the process of publishing information on the missing pet in the newspaper, then waits seven days before formally making the animal property of the Town of Newtown.

From there, the animal is put up for adoption and given the opportunity to find its new forever home.

To learn more about the Newtown Animal Control Center and see what pets are up for adoption at the shelter or in foster, visit facebook.com/newtownanimalcontrolshelter.