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lost dog

Lost & Found Animals

Whether you’ve found a lost pet, your own pet has gone missing, or you’ve come across injured or orphaned wildlife, this page will help guide you on what to do next — quickly, safely, and in line with local laws and best practices. (click below)

Lost Pet

🐾 If Your Pet Is Lost...

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✅ Start Searching Immediately

 

At home:
• Check under beds, inside closets, behind furniture, basements, attics, sheds & garages.
• Ask everyone in the household to double‑check hidden spots.

Away from home:
• Alert nearby homeowners; leave your number.
• Ask them to check cameras, outbuildings, barns.
• Bring something that smells like home: unwashed blanket, shirt, or toy.

lost pets

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🧭 Calling or Waiting Quietly? Know Your Pet’s Personality

📣 Confident, social pets (friendly dogs & cats who usually come when called):

  • Calmly call their name in your normal tone.

  • Avoid shouting or chasing.

  • Use treats, food bowls, or favorite sounds (treat bag shake, can opener).

🤫 Shy, newly adopted, fearful, or skittish pets:

  • Calling can scare them farther away.

  • Instead, sit or crouch quietly near where they were seen.

  • Turn sideways, avoid eye contact; toss treats gently.

  • Let them come to you on their terms.

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🌿 Quick Scent & Sound Tips

✅ Tear an unwashed towel or shirt into strips and tie them along paths between where they were lost and home (or your parked car/camp spot).
✅ For pets who know your voice, record yourself calmly calling their name; share the clip with helpers.
✅ Ask helpers not to chase — instead call you right away & (if safe) snap a quick photo.

✅ If you lost your Cat, do not put a used litter box out as some suggest as it will instead attract predators.

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📞 Notify Local Authorities & Create a Flyer

  • Unicoi County Animal Control & Shelter: (423) 863‑6372

  • Call local vets & shelters; email or message them your flyer. (call all surrounding animal shelters including across the border in North Carolina, because someone traveling through may have found your pet and brought them to those shelters)

  • Use free tools like Canva or Google Docs to design a clear flyer:
    – Pet photo
    – Description & special markings
    – Last known location
    – Your phone number

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🌐 Post & Share Online

Share your flyer on:

Update your posts when your pet is found.

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🗺️ Flyer & Search Tips

  • Place flyers at post offices, vet clinics, library, pet stores, and local businesses.

  • Remove flyers once your pet is safely home.

  • If no sightings soon, expand search radius.

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📸 Consider Trail Cameras & Other Tools

  • Set up trail cams where your pet was last seen.

  • Cellular trail cams can send real‑time alerts to your phone.

  • (We’re researching local Search Dog & Drone teams to add here soon.)

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❤️ Stay Hopeful & Keep Going

• Many pets return days or weeks later.
• Keep checking shelters, reposting flyers, and sharing updates.
• Lean on friends, family, and local groups for support.

🌟 Your calm persistence and quick action can bring them home.

found cat
Found Pet

🐾 If You Found a Pet...

dog

✅ Secure them safely (if it’s safe for you).

✅ Check for ID tags or collars.

✅ Bring them to a vet or shelter to scan for a microchip.

✅ Post clear photos on local lost & found groups:

✅ Notify Unicoi County Animal Control: (423) 863‑6372.

 

Remember: Many pets are loved and missed

— quick action helps reunite them faster.

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Under Tennessee Code § 44-2-402, if you take custody of a stray or abandoned pet, you must: Within 48 hours, attempt to notify the owner using ID tags, a microchip, or other info. Report the found animal to local animal control or a shelter in the area. ​

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ginger rescue cat

In Tennessee, state law sets the following minimum holding periods for stray dogs and cats:

  • Unidentified (no tag, collar, or microchip): You must hold the animal for at least 3 full business days (72 hours) 

  • Identified (tag, license, or microchip present): You must hold it for at least 5 days to allow sufficient time for the owner to reclaim it.

During these holding periods, you're also legally required to make reasonable efforts to find the owner—such as contacting microchip companies, notifying local shelters or animal control, and posting public notices LegalClarity.

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✅ What this means for Erwin, TN / Unicoi County:

  1. No ID: Hold the stray pet for 3 business days before considering ownership or rehoming.

  2. With ID: Hold it for 5 days.

  3. Actively search for the owner during that time (microchip scan, shelter notification, lost‑&‑found postings).

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Unicoi County Animal Shelter currently has no physical shelter and only one Animal Control Officer, who can only respond to dog bites and injured animals.Neighboring shelters are also over capacity.If you find a stray pet, you may need to temporarily keep or safely board the animal while actively searching for the owner.

🦝 Found Orphaned or Injured Wild Animal

👉 Click here for Wild Bird Guidance

Before intervening, watch first — parents often return! Many young animals that may

appear orphaned are just waiting for their mother to return. 

✅ If the animal appears warm and healthy, leave it be unless it can safely be re-nested

or reunited with its parents. If the mother has not returned after 48 hours, contact a

licensed wildlife rehabber.

✅ Avoid giving food, water and never try to handle unless a professional instructs you.

✅ Remember: wild animals can carry serious diseases — don’t risk scratches or bites;

for yourself and pets who may be with you. 

✅ If the animal is visibly injured, bleeding, or in danger, keep the animal warm and quiet in a box or sturdy crate with soft bedding and contact a licensed wildlife rehabber. Again, do not handle if you are in danger of being bitten or scratched.

✅ Never try to rehab wildlife yourself. Even with the best intentions, wild species have very specific needs only trained rehabbers understand — from diet to housing to safe release.

 

TAKE ACTION: Post a photo, location, details in this Facebook group where you will receive guidance and assistance by admins who have species-specific experts: ETWRC (East TN Wildlife Rehabilitation Council).  

 

🏥 Wildlife Rehabs Nearest to Unicoi/Erwin​

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Wildlife Rehabs 2-4 Hour Drive from Unicoi/Erwin

ETWRC may have members willing to help transport even part of the way so don't hesitate to inquire

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Please consider donating to these rehabbers!!

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Additional Resources

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If in doubt, or need other Wildlife guidance/assistance, contact Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency: https://www.tn.gov/twra.html

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Wildlife
racoon
Wild Bird

🐦Found Orphaned or Injured Wild Bird

 DO NOT TRY TO FEED OR GIVE WATER TO THE BIRD

Follow this guideline for the best expert guidance: https://cwrescue.org/found-a-bird

 

If you need to find a rehabber: Post a photo, location, details in this Facebook group where you will receive guidance and assistance by admins/experts: ETWRC (East TN Wildlife Rehabilitation Council).  

 

🏥 Wild Bird Rehabs Nearest to Unicoi/Erwin​

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Wild Bird Rehabs 2-4 Hour Drive from Unicoi/Erwin

ETWRC may have members willing to help transport even part of the way so don't hesitate to inquire

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Please consider donating to these rehabbers!!

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Additional Resources

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If in doubt, or need other Wildlife guidance/assistance, contact Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency: https://www.tn.gov/twra.html

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📝 Remember: Wild birds are protected by federal law (Migratory Bird Treaty Act). Keeping, raising, or treating them yourself without proper permits is illegal and can harm the bird. Call or message a licensed rehabber.

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