Great Question, Here’s Why
Lost pets need to be trapped because unless you have a super friendly dog that walks right up to you, using a humane trap is the best way to recover them safely. Losing a pet is super stressful to both the owner and the lost pet itself. When they go missing they almost immediately go into Fight or Flight Mode, most will choose Flight. This simply means they are going to run from anyone or anything. They do not take the time to evaluate that your intentions are to help them, they just run because in their eyes you are a threat. No matter how good your intentions are you can do more harm to the situation or the lost pet by trying to chase after them.
It has been said on social media that:
No lost pet needs to be trapped; you must not know what you are doing.
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While true, you can gain the trust of a lost pet over time which could take hours, days, months, and even years to accomplish. You must remember a lost pet is worried about much more, dangers like:
- People
- Cars & Trucks
- Other animals/predators
- Environmental dangers like ponds, lakes, rivers, sink holes, fences, etc.
- For cats accidentally being transported away from home, while hiding in or under a vehicle.
Using a humane(box) trap, kennel trap, or missy trap to rescue a lost pet is safe. The overall goal is to return the lost pet to its owner as soon and as safely as possible. The longer they are out roaming around, the more possibility for them to get hurt, stolen, or worse. Our trained Missing Animal Response Graduates know to be close to any set trap or within a few minutes away. This way once the lost pet goes into a set trap it can be safely removed, checked out by a vet, and returned to its owner.
