Lost Pet - First Steps

When your pet first goes missing, you're likely completely panicked and can't think straight. While these may seem very obvious to you now, when you really need them you won't remember all of them. I'm including these here so you'll always have a resource to check to make sure you did, in fact, do all you could.

1. Search your neighborhood calling the dog, both in the car and on foot. If you have another dog, take the dog with you and see if the dog can pick up the scent.
2. Bring a blanket or toy that the dog loves, that has the scent as well.
3. Bring a leash. (you'd be surprised how many times we forget this ... keep an extra in the car)
4. Put food and water bowls outside at the entrances to your house, both front and back, and side and garage, along with the pet's crate or bed, along with anything that could have a scent of the dog and of you.
5. Call the police or sheriff right away if you know your pet was lost or stolen. They MUST take a report.. DO NOT let them refuse to take a stolen or lost pet report. 
6. Call your local shelters and animal control, and be sure to call any shelter or pound within a 50 mile radius. It is best to visit the shelters yourself, as many shelters are too busy to look for your dog and may miss him or her. 
7. Make flyers, using good, clear photos. Note any distinguishing markings or behaviors. Offer a reward, if you can, but DO NOT post how much the reward is. Be sure to note on the flyer if your dog is on any medications or needs regular veterinary care. 
8. Get at least 200 flyers to start with, and post them where ever people will gather and have the chance to see them. (for ideas and template files, click here) 
9. Post them at: 
   • Animal shelters 
   • Veterinary offices 
   • Pet shops 
   • Feed stores 
   • Sheriff and Police departments 
   • Fire Departments 
   • Grooming shops 
   • Tack stores 
   • Libraries 
   • Grocery stores 
   • Gas and service stations 
   • Laundromats 
   • Day care centers 
   • Rest stops 
   • Video stores 
   • Restaurants 
   • Bars and Taverns 
10. Give flyers to: 
    • Trainers...both dog and horse trainers may be willing to help. 
    • Farriers...if your dog is out in the country with someone, farriers can help to keep open eyes on farms and ranches that may have dogs not visible from the road. 
    • Schools...ask the principal of any area schools if you can give a flyer to each teacher to show the class. Kids are great at spotting dogs. 
    • Scout troups
    • Delivery people and agencies 
    • Gas and Oil Delivery 
    • Postal employees (post one in post office lobbies too, and ask if one can be posted at the time clocks of the employees) 
    • Florists 
    • UPS offices and delivery employees 
    • Road crews and construction workers 
    • Garbage collectors 
       
      You may want to put on your flyer a small notation that you will be picking up the flyers when your dog is found, and DO SO! This helps keep public relations on a positive note for the next person who may want to post a flyer, and may mean that your flyer stays up a bit longer. Keep rechecking where you have posted them and post again if necessary. 
      
      Keep a supply of flyers in your car, and give one to other dog lovers you happen to run across. Give them to anyone with a dog in their car, especially if that person has the same breed as yours. Dog lovers are happy to help keep an eye out for a lost or stolen dog. 
      
11. Advertise in every newspaper and penny saver type paper you can. Some papers will place ads for free in papers for lost dogs. Also include retail type ads, if possible, since not everyone reads the classified.
12. Post ads on PetFinder.com. You will be surprised at how many people check this site regularly for lost pets to help find lost pets.
13. Write letters to the editors of your local paper, and let the public know that pet theft happened in your area, and warn people to please watch their pets carefully and to report any suspicious vehicles or people to the local law enforcement agency. 
14. Call breeders in your area and ask for their help--they can pass along the information to any local or state wide breed clubs. Send a flyer to them. If you can, find others on the web with your breed of dog, and ask a few to help spread the word. Whoever has your dog may try to breed it, and may contact someone with a bitch or stud of that breed. Watch for the puppy ads of your breed if your dog is not found and is not spayed or neutered. 
15. Some breeds have a page for lost dogs of that particular breed. You can also send out lost/stolen dog notices to various breed email lists, and ask that it be forwarded. (Having your dog's picture uploaded on the web can help... build a page if you can, and make a printable flyer for your dog.) You can also hand out flyers at any nearby dog shows, and get a catalog. You might send flyers to the handlers and owners listed there. 
16. Call radio stations and tv news stations. Give a good description of your dog, and be aware that not everyone will know what breed your dog is. You must be very clear in describing your dog. Give its age, markings, sex and if your dog is spayed or neutered. (Hopefully your dog IS spayed or neutered!) Describe your dog's personality as well. 
17. Contact road crews. Tell them that if they find your dog on the road, dead or injured, that you need to know about it. Not knowing is the worst part of a dog who may be dead. It is better to know, in my opinion, that your dog is dead than to wonder for the rest of your life what may have happened. 
    
    You might want to get a notebook in which you can write down all the people, numbers, shelters, etc. that you have called and sent flyers to. Your vet may have the AMVA directory from last year, and if he or she will let you have the outdated directory, you may want to send flyers to as many vets in your area and state as you can. Check off the name of each vet as you address your envelopes. You might make a short cover letter to send along, and ask if they can share this flyer with others in their area. They may even be able to give them to their pharmaceutical delivery people to help distribute. 
    
18. If your pet is microhipped, check with the company to make sure your contact info is up to date.
19. If your pet has a license tag, contact the county and notify them of all your info and provide posters with clear contact information should they get a call regarding the license number.
20. If your pet has a tag with a phone number, make sure your voicemail is updated to provide the immediate contact information (ie, if you're calling about a lost dog, please call xxxxxx cell number immediately.
21. If your pet has a rabies tag, notify the vet to contact your cell number if you get a call.
22. Be aware of scams!! DO NOT pay anyone for any reason your reward money until you have your dog in your hands!! 
    Some scammers will call you and tell you they have your dog in some other state, and they will send you the dog after you send them some money. Do not fall for this. You will never see your dog nor your money, if you do. 
    
    These ideas may help you find your dog, if he or she was stolen or picked up by someone who found a wandering dog.