Bowie CLAW

Citizens for Local Animal Welfare

Lost Pets

Bowie Residents

I’m a citizen of Bowie, what do I do if my dog or cat becomes lost?
If your dog or cat becomes lost, there are two organizations you should contact immediately: Prince George’s County Animal Management at 301-780-7200 and Bowie Animal Control at 301-809-3002.

  • With the opening of Bowie’s Temporary Animal Holding Rooms, pets that have been picked up by Bowie Animal Control will typically be held and cared for in the Temporary Holding Rooms at Bowie City Hall (15901 Excalibur Road, Bowie, MD 20716) for several days.  This provides local residents the opportunity to retrieve their lost pets locally.  To see if your lost pet is being cared for in this facility, call Bowie Animal Control at 301-809-3002.
  • Your lost pet may also be cared for by Prince George’s County Animal Management (3750 Brown Station Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772).  Call them at 301-780-7200.  Pets will be cared for at this facility if they were either (a) picked up by Prince George’s County Animal Control (rather than Bowie Animal Control) or (b) held at the Bowie Temporary Animal Holding Room for several days without being retrieved.

There are several other things to do if your pet is lost:

  • You will need to file a lost report for your pet. It is strongly recommended you visit the shelter and bring pictures of your lost pet.
  • Residents of Bowie are strongly encouraged to “Like” and regularly monitor Bowie Animal Control’s Facebook page and to subscribe to Bowie Animal Control’s Pet Pick-Up Alerts.  These two services will allow you to be aware whenever Bowie Animal Control Officers pick up an animal and are unable to immediately locate its owner.
  • Share/post information regarding your lost pet (including, but not limited to: current photo, name, location last seen, time last seen, and any pertinent medical or behavioral details) on the Facebook pages of both Bowie Animal Control and Bowie CLAW.  That way, the hundreds of people who follow these organizations, and the many hundreds more who see the re-shared posts, can keep a look out for your pet.  We have been successful in re-uniting lost pets with their families via Facebook in the past.

Do I need a license for my pets?
If you live in Prince George’s County, yes.  The County Animal Control Ordinance states that you must license cats, dogs and ferrets over the age of 4 months. The fee is $5.00 for altered (spayed/neutered) pets and $25.00 for unaltered pets. You can obtain a license by mail or walk-in at Prince George’s Animal Management Division (3750 Brown Station Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772) or by walk-in at Bowie Animal Control (15901 Excalibur Road, Bowie, MD 20716).

How do I report injured or abused animals?
Please contact Prince George’s Animal Management and/or Bowie Animal Control immediately. You may remain anonymous.

 

Sign Up For Bowie Pet Alert

You can sign up to receive a text message and/or e-mail notifying you when Bowie Animal Control picks up an animal. Signing up is easy and free.  Just go here, click on “Register for Pet Pick-up Alerts” (to the left of the screen), and follow the instructions.

Signing up for Pet Pickup Alert is important because:

  1. You will be alerted if your own pet is picked up by Bowie Animal Control.
  2. You can help your neighbors be reunited with their pets.
  3. It demonstrates to the Bowie City government that you care about animal welfare in Bowie. The more people signed up for Pet Pickup Alert, the better!

You can also sign up to receive other messages such as traffic and crime alerts.

Sign up today and tell a friend!

 

General Tips for Finding a Lost Pet

  • Contact Local Animal Shelters And Animal Control Agencies. File a lost pet report with every shelter within a 60 mile radius of your home. Provide them with an accurate description of your pet and a recent photograph. Dogs can travel 1 mile in an hour. [1]
  • Search The Neighborhood. Visit places that you normally walk your dog. Walk or drive through several times a day. Bring a squeaky toy they are familiar with. Ask neighbors, letter carriers, delivery people if they have seen your pet. [1]
  • Do Not Rely Solely On A Microchip. There is not a standard universal microchip scanner. Each company that makes them can only read certain microchips.
  • Advertise. Post notices in your neighborhood, grocery stores, veterinary offices, traffic. Each company that makes them can only read certain microchips. [1]
  • Be Wary Of Pet Recovery Scams. When talking to a stranger who claims to have found your pet, ask them to describe the pet thoroughly before you offer any information. If he does not include the identifying characteristics you left out of the advertisement, he may not really have your pet. Be particularly wary of people who insist that you give or wire them money for the return of your pet. [1]
  • If You Recently Moved, you may want to check your old neighborhood.
  • Use Clothing. Put an old shirt or something that has your scent in the yard or on the porch.
  • Use A Litter Box. Put your cats soiled litter box in the yard or on the porch. This will be a familiar scent to them.
  • Garages. Ask your neighbors to check their garages. Cats are most famous for running in them to hide.
  • Don’t Give Up On Your Search. Animals who have been lost for months have been reunited with their owners. [1]

[1] HSUS (Humane Society Of the United States)