The sooner you get started, the greater your chances of recovering your lost pet quickly. The following suggestions highlight many important steps to take -- even pet owners who've waited several days before taking these critical steps have had happy results!
* First, check the LostPetSOS Pet Lost & Found database to see if anyone's reported your lost pet.
* If nothing turns up, REPORT your lost dog, lost cat, or other lost pet on the LostPetSOS website.
* Create colorful Lost Pet flyers that stand out. Lost pets are often found within a mile or two of their home.
o Include a picture of your lost pet, if you have one, as well as a general description of your dog, cat, or other pet and your telephone number displayed in a conspicuous place.
o If you can, offer a reward (but don’t say how much).
o DO NOT include your address or your full name, in order to avoid becoming an unwitting victim of fraudulent activity.
o It’s also important to WITHHOLD some of your lost pet’s specific identifying characteristics. This will help you determine if a caller actually has YOUR pet.
* Post the Flyers in your neighborhood -- on telephone poles and other street structures, at stores (grocery stores, drug stores, video stores, gas stations and the like), veterinary clinics, groomers, local parks, etc.
* When posting Flyers at Veterinary clinics and Groomers’ establishments, take a moment to tell the Vet or Groomer about your lost pet. If your pet is brought to them in need of medical care or grooming, they will have your information available and can contact you.
* Search for unusual "hiding" places around your home, including storm drains, ditches, and other dark places. And don’t forget to bring along a flashlight! If your lost pet has been injured, it may have crawled into a small space close to home for safety.
* Search your neighborhood, and make plenty of noise--call your pet by name, make some other familiar sound, or bring along a favorite squeaky toy to use...but be sure to stop and listen periodically, in case your lost pet makes noises in response (such as whining, barking, meowing).
* Talk to your mail carrier, newspaper delivery person and anyone who is regularly in your neighborhood. Ask them to keep a look out for your lost pet.
* Take someone with you and go door-to-door to talk to all the residents in the area where your dog, cat, or other pet was lost. Leave a Flyer with each person you speak to. If no one’s home, attach a Flyer to the door. You’ll be surprised how many neighbors will keep a watchful eye out once they know your beloved companion is missing!
* Place a "lost pet" classified ad in your local newspaper(s). Such ads are inexpensive, and sometimes even free.
* If you have more than one telephone number, be sure to change your outgoing answering service message for your listed number to inform callers where else you can be reached if they should be calling about your lost pet.
* If a caller claims to have found your pet, be cautious ...
o Try to meet them and the pet in a public place, such as a store parking lot, during daylight hours.
o Try to avoid giving callers your home address.
o Always take someone with you to investigate a caller’s claims.
* If you believe your pet was stolen, contact the police or sheriff to file a police report.
* Contact your local Animal Control office, perhaps even leaving a few Flyers with them.
* Continue to visit your local animal shelter(s) at least every two days. Don’t depend upon employees there to contact you, or to even know if your lost pet has been brought in. Verbal descriptions can be subjective, and therefore not always useful: what is "small" to one person can be "medium" to another.