❑ Call animal control in your area immediately to let them know your dog is missing.
❑ Begin canvassing right away. Ask friends and neighbors to help the search process. A dog can cover a lot
of ground, so the more area you can cover right away, the better.
❑ If you are willing to offer a reward, do so immediately. If you are setting a reward, you should be willing
to pay that amount within a day of the disappearance, and anytime after that, even if it takes a year to fi nd
your dog.
❑ Call the microchip company and report your dog as missing or stolen. Ask the company to freeze
information so that nobody else can change the ownership and contact information.
❑ Call your local radio stations and spread the word to the community.
❑ Check your local community Web sites for a lost & found section where you can post information on your
lost pet. In many communities the lost & found section is on the radio station Web site(s).
❑ Create and post fl yers immediately. Make sure all information on these fl yers is accurate. Include what
happened to the dog (missing or stolen), a recent photo, when and where the dog went missing including
the state, the dog’s name, gender, breed, size, weight, age, color, collar & tags, microchip if applicable,
distinguishing marks (such as cropped ears), whether the dog is neutered/spayed, reward amount and contact
information.
❑ Post these fl yers in the area where the dog went missing. Cover high traffi c areas such as post offi ces,
grocery stores, gas stations, diners, fast food restaurants, coffee shops, pet stores, veterinarian offi ces, dog
groomers etc. Ask permission to post these signs. You are likely to get more shelf life out of the signs when
posting permission is granted.
❑ If you are posting fl yers outside, place them in plastic bags, such as Ziploc bags which are relatively cheap
in bulk, in order to extend the fl yers’ shelf life.
❑ Create an electronic version of your fl yer and send it to your e-mail distribution list immediately. Ask your
recipients to forward the fl yer as well. Keep an e-mail chain going, both locally and out of state. Dogs, either
missing or stolen, can cover a lot of ground and therefore may turn up in the least likely place – out of state,
for example.
❑ Go to local schools and ask administrators to post signs. It is critical that you go directly to the
administration offi ce. DO NOT canvas school property, as there may be legal implications regarding
solicitation. School children tend to talk and brag, so if they have seen or have been given a dog, they will
likely talk about it.
❑ Immediately post your dog’s information on rescue and missing dog links. The Best Friends Animal Society
Web site at http://bestfriends.org/ is a wonderful national resource where you can spread the word quickly
and easily. You must fi rst sign up for an account/ membership. Once you are a member you will be able to
log into the forum section and begin posting. The Best Friends Animal Society allows you to post images and
communicate easily with other members.
❑ Post to other sites such as craigslist.com, FidoFinder.com, dogdetective.com and yahoo groups. Go to
Google and search for additional sites where you can post information.
❑ Contact breed specifi c rescue groups and alert them about your missing dog. Rescue groups tend to have
many local and national contacts and will be able to help spread the word quickly.
❑ Contact all shelters and adoption centers in your area and surrounding area. People often turn in found
dogs to shelters. Or, if the animal is picked up by animal control, it may be brought to a shelter. Go to
switchboard.com to pull local and state listings of shelters and adoption centers. Make sure each of these
facilities has access to the fl yer and information on your missing dog.
❑ Contact all pet stores and groomers in your area and state. Go to switchboard.com to pull local and state
listings of pet stores and groomers. Make sure each of these facilities has access to the fl yer and information
on your missing dog. Most are willing to post fl yers for other patrons to see.
❑ Contact all veterinarian offi ces in your area and state. Go to switchboard.com to pull local and state listings
of veterinarians. Make sure each of these facilities has access to the fl yer and information on your missing dog.
Most are willing to post fl yers for other patrons to see.
❑ Never assume that because your dog was last seen wearing a collar that s/he is still wearing it. Be
proactive about searching for your pet, keeping in mind that the contact information may no longer be with
him or her.
❑ When searching for your dog at a shelter or adoption center, inquire about other breeds that your dog may
be mistaken for. For example someone may mistake a Miniature Schnauzer for a Scotty.
❑ It may take a lot of time and dedication to get your dog back home. Maintain hope for your dog and stay
connected to the resources that are dedicated to animal health and welfare.
❑ Be willing to help other people search for their animals. The animal community, both locally and
nationwide, is tight-knit and generous.