If you’ve ever lost your dog, you know what a scary feeling that is. In recognition of National Lost Dog Awareness Day (April 23), we are sharing the top 5 tips for finding a lost dog—a list compiled by The Lost Dogs of America, an all-volunteer group that originated in 2011 as a way to help reunite lost dogs with their owners. They don’t simply provide tips on how to find a lost dog, though—they keep track of and organize all the information they receive about lost dogs and organize it by state.
How to Find a Lost Dog: Top 5 Tips
- Immediately set out food, water, and your dog’s bed or a piece of your clothing at the location where your dog was last seen. There’s a good chance that your dog may return.
- Get the word out by using flyers and signs with a picture of your lost dog and your phone number. Be sure to keep your phone with you and check it often. Go door-to-door with your flyers in the neighborhood where your dog was last seen.
- Contact your local animal shelters and animal control facilities, vet clinics, and police departments to report your lost dog. Fax or email them a photo of your dog and your contact information. Not only will this make more people aware of your lost pet, but these local authorities may be able to provide information on how to find a lost dog in your area specifically. Also, contact the microchip company and report your lost dog.
- Instruct everyone who is helping you NOT to call or chase your dog. This will prolong the search. If they see your dog, tell them to sit or lay down (without making eye contact) and gently toss out a tasty treat to lure your dog in.
- Post your dog on HelpingLostPets.com, your local lost and found section on Craigslist, Nextdoor, in your local paper, and on other lost and found websites and social media pages.
What To Do Before Your Dog Goes Missing
The best chance of finding your lost dog is to be proactive. Here are some preventative measures that will help you find lost pets in the event they go missing.
- Get your dog microchipped.
- Update the information on your microchip if it has been a few years.
- Take plenty of current photos of your pet and post them on social media so friends can recognize them if they get lost.
- Take steps to put up fencing or repair damage to an old fence to prevent your dog from getting lost.
- Purchase an ID collar for your dog, so anyone who finds them will have your phone number and address.
For more tips on how to find a lost dog, or information on locating any lost pets, check out tips on how to utilize social media when they go missing.