Realizing that your pet is missing is a stressful and frightening time for pet owners.  If you have a missing pet, first take a deep breath. In taking the time to calm down and plan, you will benefit you and your missing pet.  Relax and follow these easy steps to make sure you have a successful reunion with your furry friend.

Over 90% of lost pets reunite with their owners, so remember that you have good odds of finding your pet. To make the process as quick and easy as possible, go to findshadow.com or download the app from your preferred app store. 

Once you have downloaded FindShadow, you will be able to upload a picture of your pet. Make sure that you find the best picture possible, especially if your pet has any distinctive markings or scars. You can then create a post listing your pet as missing. The post will go out to the community immediately. 

After you have posted your pet as missing, you will receive a customized action plan. This plan is full of information and further steps you can take to find your pet. Carefully follow the action plan.  

•           Have flyers made about your missing pet and consider offering a reward. Place them all around your neighborhood or wherever you last saw your pet. If you do not know your neighbors well, this is the time to start. Go door to door and ask if anyone has seen your pet. Ask if they will help you keep an eye out and leave extra flyers if they are willing to put them up.

•           Put social media to work for you. Search for any lost and found pet groups in your area and post on each. Keep a close eye on these and bump the post if you do not get any response.  These groups play a large role in reuniting pets and owners.

•           Enlist the help of friends, family, and neighbors to canvass the area where your pet went missing. Call out in a friendly and inviting tone. Try not to sound frightened or stressed. Your pet is probably feeling stressed and may be hesitant to come to you, or anyone else, if their tone appears unfriendly.

•           If you had your pet microchipped, make sure that your information appears updated in the national registry.  

•           Contact local shelters and rescue groups and ask to file a missing pet report. 

•           If your pet is a valuable breed, you may need to consider offering a large reward for their safe return. Make it clear you are willing to exchange the reward and not ask questions for the safe return of your pet.  

•           If your pet is a valuable breed, you may also want to scour local and regional for sale groups.

Continue following the steps on your action plan, and try to stay as positive as possible. Go out each day at different times to the place you last saw your pet. Consider leaving something belonging to your pet or rich in your smell at the site. Check back there as frequently as possible.

To calm yourself and give hope, read the success stories of reunited pets at findshadow.com. There are several resources like photo match and a community of volunteers who work to help upload and match photos from various sources on the web. Some pets are home with their owner within an hour or two. There are times when it takes longer, but there are success stories that take much longer.

When you find your lost pet, make sure that you update that on any social media sites where you had your pet listed. Then take the time to make sure it does not happen again. If your pet is an escape artist, make his enclosure more secure. If he did not have a collar with identification, please make sure you get one right away. Microchipping is a great way to make sure an animal is returned swiftly. If your pet panicked because of a noise or situation, talk to your vet. Some animals can benefit from anxiety medication while traveling or during storms.

Whatever needs to be done to keep you from enduring the fear and anxiety of a missing pet is worth the investment of time and money it takes. Most steps that can help protect your pet are cost-efficient and easy to do.