WAW Pet Recovery of Blair County volunteers create a humane trap for Razor, luring him in with food. Courtesy photo

With more snow and low temperatures headed for the region, WAW Pet Recovery of Blair County Inc. President Kelly Gunsallus recommends that pet owners use common sense when going outside, as pets can easily escape.

As a nonprofit organization, WAW Pet Recovery helps community members find their animals by luring them home, setting humane traps and/or alerting social media. They rescue from two to 20 pets per month.

Pets can escape by opening entrance doors or roaming in the backyard without a leash, lead or fence, which is why Gunsallus advises owners to purchase a fence or stay outside with their animals.

Some dogs don’t typically run away, but “you shouldn’t chance it,” she said.

There’s a small chance that a lost pet can be stolen, as some individuals look for those animals to keep, she said. For the most part, community members pitch in when searching for a lost pet.

Many posts about lost animals also flood WAW Pet Recovery’s Facebook page, while offering owners tips such as creating flyers and contacting local shelters.

When it comes to luring pets home, Gunsallus said dogs rely on scent rather than sight or sound, which is why she and other volunteers use strong smells to lure them back home.

“A dog has to smell the owner before recognizing,” she said, adding that clothing items with a strong odor, such as hats and shoes, can help with searches. Wet dog food and bacon grease work over odorless treats and dry dog food.

When people try to capture them, dogs get chased farther away. But if owners “leave their dogs alone, they will find their way back,” she said.

Cats, however, require different searching techniques because they are less approachable.

In the past, Gunsallus received many alerts about lost cats, but searches can become “overwhelming for a cat’s senses, so they’ll hide in a porch or a house.”

Cats will return home after a couple of days when the dust is settled, smelling food and the owner’s belongings that lure them back.

Regardless of pet type, they can easily escape when their owners leave the house.

Gunsallus makes sure her dogs aren’t close enough to the door before leaving. She has a padlock on her gate if they go through the doggy door.

With large amounts of snow, she said owners should also “look at your fences in this weather. People make large piles of snow, and a dog can jump over the fence.”

Owners can also look into collar GPS tracking devices to know their pets’ location from their phones.

To contact or donate, individuals can reach WAW Pet Recovery of Blair County through their Facebook page or by calling 814-935-4972.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.