How to Find a Lost Dog

At some point, many dog owners are faced with the horrible feeling that comes with losing your dog. All kinds of things run through your mind. Is he hurt? Will you be able to find him? Is he hungry or thirsty and what do you do if you can't find him soon?

This is an emotional time but don't let your emotions get in the way of taking rational steps to try and find your beloved pet. When your dog is lost, you need to act quickly. The faster you set the search into motion, the better chance you'll have of finding your lost dog.

Here are a few tips that may help you find your dog faster:

• Recruit as many people as possible and begin the search as soon as you realize your dog is missing.
• Organize the search so you can cover more ground and not miss any areas.
• Search a two mile radius in each direction starting from the area where your pet was last seen.
• Talk to everyone you see and give them details about your pet. Explain what she looks like, her name and provide a phone number where you can be reached if they spot your dog.
• Assign someone the task of calling animal shelters and pounds to find out if your pet has been found. Make sure they have the proper information on who to call if he turns up.
• Make flyers and create an ad describing your dog to get the word out that she is lost and that you're searching for her if you haven't found her by the end of the first day. Use specific details when describing your dog to make it easier for her to be recognized but leave out at least one distinguishing mark that can be used if someone says they found your pet.
• Post flyers everywhere in high visible areas on the start of the second day. Bulletin boards in grocery stores and gas stations along with utility poles are good places for your flyers.
• You can also let local vet offices know that you lost your dog. Often missing dogs or strays will show up here.

If you offer an award, Pet Rescue.com recommends not stating an amount, never give out personal information such as your name and address and don't be too trusting. Just because someone says they have your dog doesn't make it so and your safety should be put first. When someone says they've found your pet and they want to return him, have them meet you at a park or some other neutral location and never go alone. You can never be too careful.

You may think that your dog is safe and you don't have to worry about this scenario but it happens to pet owners all the time. Dogs have a tendency of wandering off if they get a chance and many find themselves in a situation where they don't know how to get back home. If your dog becomes lost, don't give up hope! There have been cases where pets and owners were reunited months after they were reported missing.