Lost Pet Guide for Québec: What to Do When Your Pet Is Missing

Indoor cats often hide close to the escape point and may not respond when called.

• Search under decks, porches, stairs, sheds, cars, bushes, and window wells.
• Ask neighbours to physically inspect their properties rather than simply looking from a window.
• Search again when the area is quiet, using a flashlight to inspect dark spaces.
• If your cat is seen but will not approach, stop pursuing them and consider a monitored food station, camera, or humane trap with shelter guidance.
• Consider placing used litter outside: the familiar scent can help guide your cat home, though it may also attract other territorial animals. Pair it with a monitored food station or humane trap, and keep checking nearby hiding places.

A frightened dog may run from familiar people, so sightings are more useful than pursuit.

• Add "DO NOT CHASE" to flyers and sighting instructions.
• If spotted, stop moving, turn sideways, avoid direct eye contact, and sit or crouch.
• Toss food beside the dog rather than walking directly toward them.
• Ask witnesses for the exact time, location, direction of travel, and a photo if safe.
• For repeated sightings, work with animal services or a rescue on a monitored feeding station or humane trap.

Lost birds often seek elevated perches, making rooftops, balconies, trees, and utility lines important search areas.

• Search nearby trees, roofs, balconies, wires, gutters, and other elevated perches.
• Keep visual contact whenever possible and avoid startling the bird into flying farther.
• Place their empty cage outside in a visible, safe location with familiar food and toys.
• Use familiar words, whistles, calls, or sounds.
• If using another bird as a lure, keep that bird securely caged and supervised at all times.
• Notify shelters, avian and exotic veterinarians, bird rescues, and local bird groups.

These animals often disappear into very small, sheltered spaces.

• Search indoors thoroughly before assuming they escaped, especially for ferrets.
• Check inside furniture, bedding, drawers, cabinets, vents, behind appliances, and beneath stairs.
• Outside, search close to home under decks, sheds, bushes, and along foundations.
• Do not chase a loose rabbit. Move calmly and use exercise pens or barriers to enclose the area gradually.
• Use familiar food and ask neighbours to check garages and sheds before closing them.

Escaped reptiles usually seek warm, dark, enclosed areas and may remain hidden for long periods.

• Search the enclosure room first, then clear the home one room at a time.
• Check warm, dark, tight areas behind appliances, beneath furniture, inside closets, and around laundry.
• If the animal reached outdoors, inspect nearby walls, rocks, decks, garages, and sheltered spaces.
• Ask neighbours to contact you rather than handling an unfamiliar reptile.
• Notify exotic veterinarians, reptile rescues, shelters, and nearby pet stores.