Missing Dog: A Guide to Finding Lost Dogs

You and your dog are besties. You play together and rest together; when you go out, you’re guaranteed an exuberant welcome back. Even so, dogs have been known to wander away in pursuit of enticing smells or interloping squirrels. They might get out of the house to chase the mail carrier or bolt at the sound of fireworks. They may even escape after a car accident or while you’re on vacation. So how can you track down your dog when they get lost?

Help! I Lost My Dog!

First, try to be calm. If your dog has a current ID tag on their collar and a microchip, there’s a good chance a good Samaritan will call you shortly. Other pet owners have experienced — or worry about — their own missing pets, so they’re likely to do what they can to help find your missing dog.

How to Find a Lost Dog

Here are six tips to help you be reunited with your best friend as soon as possible:

1. Scour the Neighborhood

Most lost pets don’t go far unless they are chased. Make the rounds several times a day and bring your dog’s favorite squeaky toy or treat, if possible, to lure them closer. If your dog is outfitted with a GPS tracking device, that will make the hunt much easier.

2. Create Flyers

Chances are, your dog’s photo is on your cell phone. Use this image to create a “Lost Dog” flyer with your contact information. It may help to offer a reward. Keep the description brief and omit one characteristic that callers will need to identify to help eliminate pet recovery scams.

3. Post Flyers in the Surrounding Area

Grocery stores and pet supply stores may have bulletin boards for local announcements. While you’re searching the neighborhood, alert people you pass about your dog and consider dropping off flyers in doorways.

4. Call Your Veterinary Clinic and Microchip Company

Notify them that your dog is missing. If your dog’s ID tag has been lost, it may be possible for finders to use the rabies tag to track your dog to your usual clinic. If your dog has a microchip, make sure the company has your most current contact information.

5. Contact Local Animal Control Agencies and Veterinary Clinics

People often take wandering dogs to their local veterinary clinics so they can be scanned for a microchip. You can also call pet shelters and rescue groups in a 60-mile radius to see if your dog has been dropped off there. If possible, send them a digital copy of your missing pet poster.

6. Use Online Resources

Petco Love Lost has a national database that enables you to upload a photo of your lost pet. The photo is then digitally matched against photos of found pets in the area. Sites such as Fido Finder help you act quickly to get the word out about your lost dog. You can also alert local residents on Craigslist, Nextdoor, Facebook groups and similar outlets. For a fee, pet recovery services will contact local shelters and veterinarians for you so you can keep up your search of the surrounding area.

What to Do if You Find a Lost Dog

If you have found a dog, flip the strategies listed above. First, remember to be careful when approaching stray animals — you don’t know how long they’ve been loose or how anxious they are about their experiences. Check lost pet listings on the social media sites you have access to; that Facebook page where you report your lost animal usually lists lost and found pets, so you can spread the word about the dog wandering in your neighborhood as well as searching for your own missing pal. A veterinarian can scan for the dog’s microchip information so the owners can be contacted. You could be the person who reunites a lost dog with their family!