Resources
Local Lost Animal Resources in Polk, Rutherford and Henderson Counties NC and Spartanburg, Greenville Counties SC
Polk County NC
* Polk County Animal Control: 828-894-3001, option 3, then option 3 again or 828-894-0187
* Foothills Humane Society: 828-863-4444
Rutherford County NC
* Rutherford County Animal Control: 828-287-6025, **For emergency, please call dispatch at: 828-286-2911**
* Rutherford County Humane Society: 828-678-1336
Henderson County NC
* Henderson County Animal Control: 828-697-4912 or 828-697-4723
* Henderson County Animal Shelter: 828-697-4723
* Blue Ridge Humane Society: 828-685-7107
Spartanburg County SC
* Spartanburg County Animal Control: 864-596-3582 (for after hours emergencies call 911)
*All strays and pets found to be running at large are housed at Greenville County Animal Care's facility, which is located at 328 Furman Hall Road in Greenville South Carolina. 864- 467-3950
* Spartanburg Humane Society: 864-583-4805
* Spartanburg City Animal Control: 864-582-1558
Greenville County SC
* Greenville County Animal Control: 864-467-7595
* Greenville County Animal Care Services: 864-467-3950
* Greenville Humane Society: 864-242-3626
What Should You Do When Your Pet Becomes Lost?
Drones are really just another tool that can be utilized to help locate the lost animal. There are several efforts that can and should be made when an animal is lost:
* Search the immediate area around your location or home, calmly calling the pet's name, take along a leash and some tasty treats. PLEASE resist the urge to shout/scream your pet's name. In many cases, you can drive the animal further away, especially if they are frightened.
* Put out food and water in the area the pet was lost from. Depending on the situation, the animal may very well return on it's own. In a situation where the pet was lost during a walk or outing, treat your vehicle like your home. The pet will associate it to their home point so don't move the vehicle to search for the pet.
* Contact neighbors, friends in the area, asking them to keep a lookout for the lost pet. Many households now have Ring doorbells or security cameras, ask if the pet may have been sighted that way. Also, unless the neighbor/friend knows the pet very well, and vice versa, let them know that they should contact you versus trying to capture the pet themselves. In many cases, the pet will view that person as a threat and possibly run.
* Contact local postal delivery folks as well as UPS, FEDEX, Amazon etc. delivery drivers. These folks know their delivery areas very well and will have a good chance of seeing animals on their daily routes. Also, contact local Animal Control, local animal shelters and veterinarians to inquire if the pet was picked up or brought in. Provide a description and photos if possible. One other very important thought...if your pet is chipped, Please make make sure the contact info in up to date.
* If these initial efforts do not result in locating the lost pet, the next step is to flood the areas near where the animals was lost, with big, bright lost animal posters. It should indicate a lost dog/cat/??, a large, easily identifiable photo of the animal, and contact information and the words, DO NOT CHASE!. If you indicate a reward, in our opinion, you should not indicate an amount. (there are several scams out there that prey on these types of situations). Seal the poster in something waterproof. The posters should be posted on road signs at every intersection within a 4 mile radius. Posters are the most proven way to generate sightings, which is crucial to other efforts. Social media is great, however, not everyone is on social media or checks everyday.
When Should You Call Love 2 Fly Drone Works?
With all of the above said, you should call us immediately. Our first hope is that the animal is found before we even have to fly, however, you should contact us in parallel with other efforts. We can then begin planning for the search. Although we want to be up in the air as soon as possible, there are many variables that we have to manage to help increase the success of any search. And ... in some cases, we may not be able to do a search or it make not make sense for a drone search, so it's important to understand that early on and we can discuss the entire situation and process in an initial call.
* Collars
We often ask, especially when a dog is missing, if it has a collar with contact information. Sadly, it turns out that many dogs don’t have collars for various reasons. Sometimes, the collar is there, but the tags have fallen off, or the owners have removed them due to too much noise. For our dogs, we use collars with their names and our phone numbers embroidered on them. We really think this is a great idea for your pets—they’re very durable, and you won’t have to worry about losing the tags if your dog or cat gets lost. Here’s a link to collars on Amazon (it’s not an affiliate link). They’re affordable and could save a life.
* Microchipping
We really suggest getting your pets microchipped! Your vet is the best person to do it. The microchip will keep all the important info about your pet, like your contact details. It’s super important to keep this info up-to-date. If your pet gets lost or caught by animal control, they can scan for a microchip to find you. Most vets, animal control, animal shelters, and even some fire departments have the right equipment to help with this.
* GPS Collars
We often get asked about injectable GPS chips for pets, kind of like microchipping. Sadly, the tech isn’t quite ready yet because of the chip’s size, power needs, and signal limitations inside of an animal. Even though they can be pricey and have some limitations, GPS-type collars are out there now. These collars can help you keep an eye on your pet if it wanders off, usually through a connected app on your phone. Here are a few things to keep in mind about using a GPS collar:
- Cost: They can be a bit pricey, plus there’s a monthly subscription for the tracking app.
- Some brands might be a bit bulky around a pet’s neck, which could be a bit of an irritation to the pet.
- Signal limitations can be an issue in dense or wooded areas, which might not let satellite access through.
- Power: GPS collars need to be recharged to keep working. Different brands have different battery life between charges.
If you are interested in a GPS collar, there are a few on the market that are pretty good, however, for cost and dependability, we recommend FI Collars. Click the photo for the link to their website, they are also available through Amazon (NOT AN AFFILIATE LINK)
Alternative tracking devices to GPS collars include Apple Air Tags and Tile tags. While these options may be more cost-effective, they still necessitate the use of a tracking application. Additionally, these devices do not require charging, as their batteries are typically coin cell batteries that have a lifespan of approximately one year. Consequently, either the battery or the tag can be replaced. However, a significant drawback of these alternatives is the absence of real-time data from the tag, which can hinder tracking efforts. Furthermore, accurate location tracking requires the tag to be within a relatively close proximity to the animal. When the animal is further away, the device relies on a larger network of nearby devices to locate it, which may not be highly reliable.
* Lost Pet Database
As mentioned earlier, when an animal becomes lost, getting the word out far and wide and critical. Social media, lost animals posters, alerting the local delivery drivers, shelters, animal control and vet hospitals are an important step. There are also several lost pet database sites that could be useful, here are links to a few: