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The First 24 Hours
The first 24 hours are crucial! Do not waste any time getting the word out that your pet is missing. DO NOT ASSUME YOUR LOST PET WILL RETURN HOME BY ITSELF or THAT IT HAS BEEN STOLEN!! Animals will leave their home for many, many reasons. most commonly it is because they have been frightened and have immediately gone into a panic / flight state. Having assistance from friends and family will help get most, if not all of these suggestions accomplished quickly and efficiently.
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BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME ..
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CONTACT THE LOCAL ANIMAL CONTROL AGENCY IN THE AREA!!
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Turn off any invisible fencing unit &/or leave your back gate open if safe to do so. This will provide your pet with a safe place to return to. If possible have someone remain home incase your pet returns.
BEGIN YOUR SEARCH IMMEDIATLY
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WHAT TO BRING ​
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Leash, treats & a flashlight
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Business card or a way of giving people your contact information. You can quickly edit a photo of your pet with you phone # on it to share to others from your phone.
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WALK & TALK!! Speak to as many people as possible throughout your neighborhood. Always ask for permission to check neighbor's property and ask homeowners to check any home surveillance videos they may have The more eyes that are alerted the more likely you will get a sighting which is paramount to finding your pet.
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SHOULD YOU SEE YOUR PET ... DO NOT CHASE, WHISTLE OR CALL OUT!! Your pet may be in survival mode depending on the circumstances surrounding their escape. (Understanding Survival mode) Calling out to them or following them may actually push them further away and endanger them further. Using calming signals, attempt to lure your pup to you;
Avoid eye contact
Get down low making yourself small
Pretend to eat & offer high value treats by tossing it towards them.
Allow him to come to you & recognize your scent .. resist the urge to chase after him.
The following video link will help you to understand this technique. Calming Signals For Panicked Dogs ​
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AFTER YOUR INITIAL SEARCH
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Place your pet's bedding outside where your pet was last sighted as well hang a article of dirty clothing that you have worn. This will provide your dog with a familiar scent.
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Contact Animal Control Agency in neighboring areas. Many have email contact information that you can send your lost report to at any hours. Attach a photo of your pet to the report. Follow up the following day with a phone call. Ensure you are able to properly describe your pet, microchip information and any identifying features. Make sure they have an alternative number to contact should they need to obtain permission for you pet to receive veterinary care and/or you are unavailable.
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Contact the microchip company to ensure your information is registered, up to date & have them flag your pet as lost. Far too often family pets are found that have been microchipped with out of date information/ unregistered microchips . This further puts your pet at risk of being rehomed or having an extended stay at a shelter facility.​​
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Enlist the help of family and friends and don't be afraid to delegate. While several people may be out looking, another can be preparing a flyer or listing your lost pet on various social media venues. Pet FBI is an excellent resources and a valuable tool to reach your goal quickly and efficiently. This free service allows you to not only post your lost/found pet free of charge on their site, it also quickly builds a poster that is easily printed out for use in your community. Your lost/found pet will quickly be shared via social media sites and to a large number of people and services within your community. Pet FBI will also send out email alerts to registered members within your local community. Many local shelters have partnered with Pet FBI in an effort to see more animals reunited with their families. Don't forget to post on the various social media venues specific to your area. Facebook, Nextdoor, Kijijji, Instagram etc. You will need to be able to follow all of these listings so having one family member that is able to monitor the posts for sightings or found postings is a huge asset.
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Post notices at various pet friendly businesses such as groomers, pet stores, dog parks and local veterinarian's offices as well as throughout your community. Door to door delivery of fliers can also be seen as a criminal offence if placed in mailboxes. It is wiser to roll up the flier and place it in door handles of homes.
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Posters should be in color and placed inside a page protector with the opening facing downward to protect it from the elements and attached to neon bristol board. Ensure posters are placed at eye level and visible by both pedestrian and vehicle traffic. In large black lettering write LOST DOG or CAT with your phone number again in large bold numbers. If you have a cell phone, use this as the contact number on your lost pet poster as you will be available 24/7.
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Check with city by-laws regarding the placement and duration of time your lost pet posters can put up. Keep track of all areas that have posters up for quick and easy removal once your pet is home.
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We caution against the use of a reward at this time as there have been many scams involving people preying on the distraught owner without a pet ever recovered. Should you feel this is necessary, please arrange a public meeting place such as the parking lot of a police station. Most criminals will not conduct business is such a place. This not only ensures your safety but also the safety of your pet.
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Please do not lose hope should your pet not return within a day or two. Many pets have been reunited with their owners days, weeks and months after going astray. Such is the story of Stanley. Please read Stanley's story and should you require more assistance in locating your lost pet please see the resources section of this website.
