Lost and Found

1. Act Quickly and Search the Immediate Area:

• Start searching for your pet as soon as you notice they are missing. The sooner you begin, the better the chances of a safe return.
• Check your home, yard, and the surrounding neighborhood first. Pets often don't wander too far initially.
• Get family, friends, and neighbors involved in the search. More eyes can cover more ground, increasing the likelihood of finding your pet.

2.  Leave out smelly food:

• If the dog escaped from your home, leave out smelly food (sardines, canned sausages, etc). To keep ants out, make sure to put water in a tin foil pan, and then put the food bowl in the pain.
• Remember dogs are VERY likely to return to the exact location they went missing!

3.  Create Posters and Yard Signs:

• Design and print posters with your pet's photo, description, and your contact information. Hand these out to neighbors, gas stations, grocery stores, any local store, and post on community bulletin boards.  Make sure to use bright colored posters to get people's attention.
• Buy corrugated sign board with metal stakes (right next to the real estate/yard sale signs in the store). With a thick, magic marker write in LARGE text (so people can see easily while driving)  "LOST DOG - BREED NAME - Phone Number."  Put these in front of stop signs. Note using the corrugated sign board and magic marker will prevent rain from ruining the board.

4. Contact and visit Local Animal Shelters:

• Call and visit local animal shelters, pounds, and rescue organizations. Provide them with your pet's description and leave your contact information in case your pet is brought in.
• Look constantly at their stray/found pets page.

5. Notify Veterinarians:

• Contact local veterinarians and animal clinics. Provide them with a description of your pet and ask if they have any information or have seen your pet.

6. Use Social Media:

• Share information about your lost pet on social media platforms. Post on local community groups, lost and found pet pages, and your personal profiles. Include a clear photo and details about your pet.
• Protip: Most facebook pages are private pages you have to join and do not allow sharing.  To make it shareable, please create a post on your own page, then share it to those pages.  This way people can share it from private groups and you only have to update one post.

7.  Check Online Lost Pet Databases:

• Utilize online resources like lost pet websites and databases. Many platforms allow you to post information about your lost pet and search for found animals.

8.  Stay Persistent:

• Keep searching and spreading the word. Pets have been known to return home even after several days, so don't lose hope.