Did you know that your DocuPet tag is so much more than just a licence? Your pet’s DocuPet tag is also their ticket HomeSafe!
This video explains exactly how our HomeSafe system works:
Our Lost Pet System is a free online tool designed to connect pet owners and their community, allowing you to share updates about the whereabouts and condition of your pets if they get lost. Every tag comes with a unique number that is linked to your pet’s account so when someone finds your pet they can go online and let you know.
How the Lost Pet System Works
The DocuPet HomeSafe Lost Pet System is activated at two different times:
1. When You Report Your Pet as Lost:
If your pet gets lost you can post a Lost Pet Report online and notify your community and our Lost Pet Brigade who will keep an eye out for your lost pet. We do so by emailing the Lost Pet Brigade, posting on all the Social media platforms, as well as contacting the shelters and the municipality. The DocuPet Lost Pet Brigade helps get your pet home if they get lost!
How it works:
- Report your pet lost
From within your account, indicate that your pet has been lost. You’ll be prompted to enter where your pet was last seen and be given the opportunity to add additional contact information. This takes just a few minutes. - Lost pet alert is sent
Local partners, shelters and members of the Lost Pet Brigade will be alerted via email. An alert is also prominently displayed on the DocuPet website for your city and is posted on social media. - Lost pet is located
Anyone who finds the pet can use the unique identification code on the tag to look up the profile online. This can be done from any smartphone or computer. The pet owner can then be notified that their pet is safe! - Lost pet is returned
The pet can be held by the finder or picked up by the pet owner. So far, over 90% of lost pets have been returned to their owner when the Lost Pet Service is used properly. - Alert is canceled
You will be prompted to remove the alert from your online account once your pet has safely been returned home. Your pet’s profile will revert back to the original privacy settings.
2. When Someone Finds Your Lost Pet:
When someone finds your pet they can go online and enter the unique code on your pet’s tag to submit a Found Pet Report and alert us (and you) that your pet has been found. Depending on the privacy settings you select, they may be able to see your contact information and get in touch directly. If you aren’t at home to notice a missing pet we are there as a backup to make sure your pet gets home safe.
Most of the found pet reports we receive happen before the pet owner even knows their pet is missing. As soon as a pet is reported found you get an email and we are notified – we check on your pet and get in contact with you to double check you know that your pet has been found. Then we coordinate getting your pet home to you quickly and safely.
Pets Who Got HomeSafe!
We help to get hundreds of lost pets home each year! Here are some of the latest stories about pets who got HomeSafe:
Carolin and Steven’s Beagle, Markus, slipped out of their backyard through a slightly opened gate and took himself on a walk to smell the smells of the neighbourhood – specifically the neighbour’s garbage.
It wasn’t until Steven went out later that he discovered the opened gate. Markus hadn’t travelled too far, he was found by some neighbours who checked his tag number on the DocuPet website. Since Markus hadn’t even been reported missing yet his owner’s information was not available, so they gave DocuPet a call.
Our customer service reps got in touch with Carolin as fast as they could and provided her with all the pet finder’s information. Our Lost Pet System can help get your pets to safety before you even know they’re missing. If something happens while you’re at work, or away on vacation we here at DocuPet are still available to help get your pet home safe. In your online account, you can change your privacy settings to make an email address always available – so if someone finds your pet before you even know they’ve taken themselves out for a walk they can get in touch with you to let you know they have found your little adventurer!
One evening Zsa Zsa, a domestic shorthair cat, slipped out the door of her home in Newmarket and bolted out of sight before her owners, Jack and Christine, we’re able to catch her. An indoor cat who is very skittish, they were immediately concerned for her safety and logged onto their DocuPet account to report her lost.
The Lost Pet Report was completed with several pertinent details including her last known location, unique identifying marking, her tendency toward bolting, and how best to get in touch with Jack and Christine. Jack also posted on several social media groups and lost pet websites concerning Zsa Zsa’s disappearance and the word spread quickly. While out searching for her in their neighbourhood, several neighbours joined in the effort, stating they had found out about Zsa Zsa becoming lost via the Lost Pet Report and social media posts.
Although Jack and Christine continued their search over the next several days, on day five with no signs of her and recognizing the harsh winter weather, they began to give up hope. It was on this day, that Jack was sitting in his garage, thinking about his lost cat that he saw something bolt by outside. He tracked the small footprints in the snow to a neighbours porch four houses down from his own, to find Zsa Zsa huddled underneath!
Jack and Christine spent the next eight hours attempting to coerce her out, and eventually reverted to the help of one of Zsa Zsa’s favourite things, a warm towel and Christine’s lap to finally convince her to come out. Zsa Zsa is now safely back home with her sister Eva, dog brother, Austin, and elated pet-parents.
How To Get Your Pet HomeSafe
Prepare In Advance!
By now, it should be really clear that your pet profile plays a huge role in getting your pet home if they ever become lost.
You’ll want to ensure that their online profile is up to date with your contact information.
Top Tips:
- Consider including multiple phone numbers
- Add any secondary addresses where you spend time (family, friends, work, etc.)
- Enter the names of some of your pet’s other caregivers and pet sitters
- Do your best to describe their temperament and any identifying markings
- Upload photos – this makes it so much easier for the Lost Pet Brigade to spot your furry friend
- Note their feeding schedule and vaccination records
- Provide care instructions and veterinarian information
These details can be extremely helpful to anyone who is temporarily caring for your pet while working to get them home safely.
Through your privacy settings, you can decide what information you want to make available and when. We recommend you keep basic information about your pets public at all times and make sure your contact information is visible if ever they are in a “lost status.”
DocuPet profiles are also an awesome place to keep track of important information about your pets, including vaccination records and food preferences.
What to do if your Pet is Missing
If your pet does go missing, try to stay calm. After notifying your close friends and family, take a minute to follow these steps:
- Login to your DocuPet online account.
- Navigate to your pet’s profile and submit a Lost Pet Report. Be sure to provide as much information as possible about their last known whereabouts.
- In a matter of seconds, this will notify our team, the local Humane Society, and members of your community to ask for help. They’ll be sent details about your pet, any contact information you make available, and some tips to help track them down.
Our team will post your Lost Pet Report on your City’s DocuPet website and across our various social media channels.
Top Tip: Make sure you keep your cell phone on you or designate someone to man your home phone, in case someone tries to get in touch with you. You should also check your email frequently as this is where any Found Pet Reports will be sent.
Update Your HomeSafe Pet Profile
There’s nothing we here at DocuPet love more than getting pets home safe. You can’t ever plan for your pet to get lost but you can make sure you are prepared if they do. Make sure your pet is protected by logging into your account and filling out your pet profile! Login to your local DocuPet account and get busy!
Here’s what it will look like:
The more complete your pet profile is, the easier it will be for a member of our Lost Pet Brigade to locate and identify your pet should they go missing!
- Consider including multiple phone numbers
- Add any secondary addresses where you spend time (family, friends, work, etc.)
- Enter the names of some of your pet’s other caregivers and pet sitters
- Do your best to describe their temperament and any identifying markings
- Upload photos – this makes it so much easier for the Lost Pet Brigade to spot your furry friend
- Note their feeding schedule and vaccination records
- Provide care instructions and veterinarian information
Don’t Forget to Save Your Profile!
