It can happen to anyone – the dog runs off to parts unknown and your left with your fear and panic that the dog or cat may be lost forever.

Here is what you can do if that happens: 

• Police say: Call Waltham Animal Control at 781-314-3596 to report your animal missing or to find out whether authorities have recovered it.
• If they have not found the animal, ask police for a police blotter note with a description of it. Include a contact number so police can call you if they find it. 
• Also, you can check the Waltham Animal Control Facebook page to see if the animal control officer has information on the pet.
• Also, you can submit an announcement to Waltham Patch where others will see it. 

Got a burning question you want to see answered on Waltham Patch? Send it to waltham@patch.com.