Tips for Finding a Lost Dog

Discovering your dog is lost is a horrifying feeling. Most people treat their dogs like children, so imagining them alone in a world full of dangers is gut wrenching. Being prepared and knowing what to do when your dog goes missing is essential to ending up with a positive outcome.

Canvas the Area
The first thing that you should do is enlist help in getting the word out to your neighborhood. While one of you goes door to door letting people know of your missing dog, someone else can be getting a flyer made up. Describe the dog in detail on the flyer and to your neighbors.

Flyers
Keeping a recent picture of your pet is important. When your pet goes missing you will want to make up a flyer immediately. The flyer should consist of the recent picture, a description of the dog, a description of your dogs collar and tags and any medical issues your dog my have. Obviously, you will include your phone numbers on the flyer. You may want to include the date and area your dog went missing from as well.

Reach Out to the Experts
Take your flyers to all local animal related businesses. The local shelters should absolutely be your first stop. Get familiar with the employees and volunteers, leave information and go back daily to look for your dog. Go to all the local veterinarians and animal hospitals. Most vets and animal hospitals have bulletin boards for you to post flyers on. Additionally, if worst case scenario your pet ends up hurt it may end up at one these animal hospitals or vets. You should also place your flyer at any local pet stores.

Micro-chip
Another thing many pet owners may want to consider is micro-chipping their pet. If your pet is micro-chipped you have the ability to immediately notify all animal related establishments within minutes, with one phone call. Often, vets offer micro chips for pets at a reasonable fee when your pet goes in for spay or neutering. Additionally, many local animal welfare associations and shelters have discounted micro-chipping programs.

The most important thing you can do for your lost pet is to stay organized and persistent. Have a plan and execute your plan immediately when your pet goes missing. Although it may take sometime to recover your lost pet, stay focused and keep searching. Dogs have been recovered weeks after going missing, so just because you don't find your dog immediately don't think that all hope is lost.