For many people, dogs are not only pets, who bring joy and laughter. For them, they are friends, who provide emotional support in tough times, family members, who love them, and the most faithful listeners, who always offer understanding and support. Sadly, a situation when a beloved dog is missing is quite common among even the most diligent pet owners.

In this heartbreaking situation, you should pull yourself together and focus on your main goal – finding your dog as fast as possible.

Follow these tips to find your lost dog and bring it back to your family.

Tips on How to Find Your Lost Dog

Dogs can run away for different reasons, such as curiosity, fear, boredom, loneliness, new surroundings, etc. A missing dog is a nightmare for any pet owner, but if this situation happened, then be active, don’t despair, and follow these steps.

Search your neighbourhood

According to the research, conducted by The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), searching immediately when one knows the pet is lost, and searching within the neighbourhood first through visual searches as well as posters and internet opportunities proved to be key. Dogs are most active at dawn and dusk, so, search at this time. Go through the path where you usually walk with a dog, go through the surroundings. Make sure your neighbours are aware of this situation. Call them, ask through an email chain, or go door to door, handing out the fliers.

Ask them not to chase your dog when they see it. Instead of it, ask them to call you. If they chase the dog, then it can scare it away and it will run further away from home. While searching for a dog, don’t forget to take a leash, a toy, food so that your dog can smell it. On top of that, take a photo with you or make sure you have a photo on your phone so that you can show it to anyone you’ll meet along your path.

Make “Lost Dog” Flyers

Create a flyer and give them to local postal workers, who have many chances to spot your dog around the neighbourhood. Notify a local dog-owners community, which can always help you with your search. Also, don’t forget to post lost flyers around your neighbourhood (different dog-related businesses). The flyer should incorporate some details:

• A phrase “Lost Dog” in huge letters;

• A clear photo of your dog in colour;

• A description of a pet: its name, breed;

• Your contact information: your cell phone, an email address;

• A word “Reward”, it can serve as additional stimulation;

• A phrase “Needs medication” can be useful and this will scare away those people, who would like to adopt your dog;

• A phrase “Do not chase” in a large font

Use Internet tools

With the means of the Internet, your search will be more effective. Share posts on social media, blogs, and local websites, which many people visit. Attach a photo of your pet and give some extra information, e.g. the date it has lost, its name, breed, age. Omit some identifying traits of your dog (e.g. information about a dog-collar) to avoid scammers. Only the people, who really have found your dog, can describe you these important traits.

If your dog isn’t very friendly, then ask people to call to a local animal control agency and ask them to give your cell number. If your dog is people-friendly, then ask them to keep your dog in a containment area (if any) and call you immediately. Contact pet places.

Check a local shelter and a vet. Show up in person in local shelters. Search all areas there (including a medical area because your dog can be injured). Also, look through “found” postings in the shelter, maybe someone has found your dog.

Also, some people decide to take a dog to the vet because they don’t know how to take care of dogs or don’t have enough time and opportunities to ensure good care. So, call local vets and ask about your dog, also, let them know that you are looking for a family member in case they encounter your dog.

On top of that, visit the local SPCA, Humane Society, and Animal Control. These organisations can have some mistakes in their systems, so it’s better to show up in person. Look through all found dogs, maybe you’ll find your little friend.

Search other places that your dog can find interesting

If your dog is young and curious, then it can go to lively places where there are many people and dogs. So, go to local parks, woods, areas near cafés and restaurants. If your dog loves water, check local lakes or beaches. If you wonder how to find a lost dog at night, keep in mind that dogs hide in solitary places, and in the evening they come out of them to find their own food. So, take a flashlight, wear reflective clothing, and walk on a certain route at night. It’s a good time to search for a dog because your pet is more likely to hear you when you call its name, and you’ll be able to hear the sounds your dog can produce.

Check microchips

If your pet is microchipped, notify the company to make sure the pet’s registration is up-to-date. Microchips have become very popular. Microchips are implanted under the dog’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. They transmit the necessary information (your cell number, an identification code) via radio frequency waves. Note that if you decide to implant a microchip into your dog’s skin, you should submit the necessary documents and fee to register the chip. If you don’t do this, then the microchip is useless.

Of course, there are some drawbacks of the microchips because some devices cannot read them properly, they migrate under the skin, and they are useful if the dog has been found, not stolen. However, they increase the chances for your dog to be found.

Besides, remember that getting the pet scanned for a microchip is the first thing what to do when you find a lost dog. You should get a pet to a local shelter or call the animal control/police department to transport the dog to the shelter. There, the animal will be scanned for a microchip.

Advertise in local newspapers

Aside from using the Internet, place an ad in a local newspaper. Choose a clear photo of your dog, and include the necessary information: name, breed, age, weight, and your cell number. If there are some unique traits about your animal, mention them.

On top of that, try to get local radio and TV stations to run an announcement for you.

A list of not to do things

Don’t panic. Even if your imagination draws the worst scenarios, don’t panic. Excessive worry will prevent you from taking useful steps. If you can’t calm down and have much energy, then direct it towards constructive actions: organize the search, make fliers, call to all vets and shelters, go through the surroundings, etc.

Don’t wait. Of course, some dogs come back home in the first 48 hours, but you shouldn’t wait because each situation is different. Taking fast actions is more important than waiting for the dog to come back.

Don’t invite many people to search for a dog because a large group of people can scare it away.

Don’t chase a lost dog, instead of it, try to create a calm environment for it so that your dog can calm down because surely, it has experienced huge stress. Use calming signals instead of chasing your dog. When you see the dog, stop moving, look to the side. If he is food motivated, crinkle a bag of treats or rattle a food dish. Then “accidentally” drop some food and move a few steps away. If he comes toward the food, keep this up until he gets close to you on his own. Once he gets fully into your scent plume and sees that you are calm and non-threatening, he should come right up to you and become his old self.

Don’t believe everybody, who says something about your dog. Remember that there are many scammers, and you can be endangered. Thus, don’t go alone to meet the person, who may have your dog, don’t take cash with you, do not send money to strangers, and be cautious of people, who call you from a blocked number.

Don’t give up! To be hopeless isn’t a way out. If you search wasn’t successful so far, don’t despair. Take some breaks and continue your search.

Conclusion

The most important thing you can do is to be optimistic, don’t give up, and don’t lose hope. Remember that your perseverance and consistent actions will help you to reunite with your pet.

Author Bio:

Linda Mathews is an editor of https://catspurfection.com/ Animals have always been a passion of hers. She enjoys animal science, animal husbandry, training, and market animal research.

Linda watches everything like a hawk!