Your dog is one of the most beloved members of your family. They’re loyal, affectionate, and always eager to make you happy. It’s our precious moments with our furry friends that makes losing them so painful. Of course, you may try to puppy-proof your home and train your pup, but there’s still a chance they […]
Your dog is one of the most beloved members of your family. They’re loyal, affectionate, and always eager to make you happy. It’s our precious moments with our furry friends that makes losing them so painful. Of course, you may try to puppy-proof your home and train your pup, but there’s still a chance they can stray far from home. In fact, The American Humane Society reports that approximately 10 million pets are lost in the United States every year. Only a small percentage of these pets are reunited with their owners. There’s also no telling what dangers your dog may encounter when they’re lost like incoming traffic and serious diseases.
If your dog has escaped through the yard or ran out the front door, don’t panic. It isn’t your fault, and it’s important to take swift action. The faster you begin your search, the higher the chances you’ll have to find your four-legged buddy.
Here are some of the best ways you can recover your lost dog:
ID tags, microchips—there’s no denying that identification is a key step to finding a lost pet. With an ID tag, your dog has a higher likelihood of being identified as a pet, making them more likely to be approached by strangers. You may also be contacted through the information included on the ID tag. A microchip is similar: when it’s scanned by veterinarians and shelters, it can provide extensive information about your dog and where they come from.
At Petland, we microchip each of our puppies to ensure that they find their way back to their owner’s arms if they become lost. We also provide collars with various types of ID tags based on your personal preference.
Social media is one of the most prevalent forms of communication. Why not use it to find your lost dog? Most major social platforms, like Instagram and Facebook use photos, videos, and other visual content for massive groups of users to see. On Instagram, for instance, you can use the “Stories” feature to post a picture of your missing dog and vital information that the public may need to know about.
Facebook also allows you to create your own page about your lost dog, which you can share with your community. Many “Lost Pet” pages are also available across Facebook. Just reach out to the administrators to see if they can share your dog’s information about your pet. Make sure to use hashtags and include the location of each post to reach more members of your community.
When creating a “Lost Dog” flyer, you need to ensure it’s one that can catch a person’s attention. A consistent design with a clear message will stick in people’s minds than one that isn’t. Start with a bolded headline like “Lost Dog” at the top to let the viewer know what type of document they’re looking at.
You should also include a clear photo of your dog so that the viewer knows what your furry bestie looks like, in case they cross paths with them. In clear, printed text, your dog’s name, breed, size, age, weight, and the date they went missing should be included at the bottom. Be sure to include your contact information in the text.
You may choose to distribute your flyer around the neighborhood but the Internet is also a great place to display it too! Enlist your close friends and relatives to share your flyer across social media and messaging apps.
In addition to flyers and social media, try posting messages on online forums and websites. Sites like Nextdoor.com and petamberalert.com provide a wide net of community users on a local scale, which can help you find your furry friend faster. Now, when it comes to online websites, stay alert for fraudulent activity like pet scams.
Some vicious online users have previously used website forums to claim they’ve found your missing pet. They may also commit other fraudulent transactions so be sure to read all responses to your posting before reaching out. We also recommend creating a separate email address just for finding your lost pet.
Contact all local animal hospitals and pet rescue shelters near your home. Make sure that you provide rescuers with details about your dog, including their appearance, size, weight, age, and any medical conditions or defining traits they have.
To find a local shelter, a quick Google search does the trick! Of course, you can also contact the local police department if there aren’t any shelters in your area or if you believe your dog was stolen. Be as concise as you can when you provide the authorities with your dog’s description, and give them a recent picture of your dog.
Losing your dog can be such a stressful experience. Never give up hope; there are so many stories of lost dogs finding their way back to their owners after disappearing. Your dog, like all other canines, is resourceful, intelligent, and loyal—they want to get back to you no matter what! Of course, it’s always a good idea to purchase a form of identification for your dog, whether it’s an ID tag, microchip, or both. In honor of National Lost Dog Awareness Day, we hope that these tips help you find your dog and keep them safe from harm.
