It can happen to anyone. You open your car door and your dog jumps out and runs into the woods. You call his name and look frantically for your pet with no success. Sometimes your dog just disappears from home despite your best efforts. It's quite heartbreaking when a beloved pet becomes lost. Fortunately, there are a variety of steps you can take that will increase your chance of getting your beloved dog back.
Here are some suggestions:
Inspect your house from top to bottom.
Do a thorough search of your attic, basement, garage, and other small rooms and spaces where a dog could hide. You dog might have been upset by something he saw or heard. Be sure to look under boxes and into crawl spaces as well as any tight spaces where your dog might seek shelter.
Make your friends and neighbors aware.
Find a recent photo of your dog and knock on the door of everyone in your neighborhood. Show them the picture and ask to be contacted if they should see a dog that looks similar. Offer a reward to further motivate people to act. Be sure to speak with any children in your area who play outdoors on a frequent basis and might be in a position to spot your dog.
Do a local search
Do a thorough search in the area within a three mile radius of where your dog was last seen. If possible, recruit the help of friends and neighbors to cover the area more quickly and thoroughly.
Make eye catching flyers.
Create a flyer with detailed information about your lost dog. Include your dog's name, age, what type of collar he was wearing, as well as any medical problems or distinguishing features your dog may have. Give the exact location where he was last seen. You'll want to include your contact information along with a recent photo. Post these fliers on as many bulletin boards as you can within a 5 mile radius of where your dog was last seen.
Get in touch with local veterinarian offices.
If your dog was injured, he may have been brought in by a kind hearted soul. Leave a photo of your dog with the staff.
Check your local newspaper.
Check your local newspaper on a daily basis for announcements of found dogs. If the description even remotely fits your dog, give them a call. Some people aren't very sophisticated regarding their knowledge of dog breeds.
Contact every humane society and rescue club in your area.
If possible, visit them in person and show them a photo of your dog. While you're there, check their facilities to be sure your dog wasn't brought in. Leave a photo with them and ask to be contacted if a similar appearing dog enters their shelter. Be sure to check back frequently. These facilities are understaffed and your dog could slip through the system without your being contacted.
If you've moved recently, check your old home.
If you've moved recently, be sure to check your previous home site. Sometimes dogs will revisit their old home if they haven't made a complete adjustment to their new location. Give the new homeowners and their neighbors a photo of your dog.
Place a missing pet ad in your local newspaper.
Include a photo of your dog in the ad, if the newspaper will allow it. If not, include a detailed description and your full contact information. Offer a reward for any information leading to the return of your dog.
Notify your local police department.
Police personnel cover a lot of territory during the day and they could spot your dog. Leave a photo with them along with your contact information.
Hopefully, you'll never need this information on finding a lost dog. Just in case, it may help to keep you organized and take the proper steps to get your beloved dog back.
