How to find your lost dog:
Keep in mind that the stray hold period for an animal without ID (Microchip or ID collar) can be ONLY 72 hours! (Some shelters have a longer stray hold period). DON’T WAIT! File missing dog reports with every shelter in the county, and follow up regularly. If it has been a while, you might want to check Petfinder.com to see if your dog has passed stray hold and been put up for adoption.
Know your dog.Depending on what your dog’s temperament is normally, that will determine how he/she will travel when they get off your property.Friendly dogs are likely to be found within a few blocks, shy or fearful dogs will sometimes run for miles in a blind panic.
In fair weather they will travel farther (sometimes miles), in nasty weather they are more likely to seek shelter.
What to do:
Organize a search team, and start searching ASAP. Make sure everyone has a cell phone so details can be communicated quickly.
Tag your car using window markers with details. Keep it BOLD, easy to read, and consider asking neighbors and friends if you can tag their car as well. Try to avoid naming the breed, as a lot of non-dog-people will not know what to look for. Stick with coloring and size of your dog, area lost from, and your best contact phone number. (See photo example below)
Put up LARGE flyers in all major intersections near your home, and anywhere people report having seen him/her. (See 5+5+55 posters on the Missing pet partnership website and photo example below)
Contact All shelters and veterinary offices in your area. Sometimes dogs travel way farther than you think, or are accidentally transported to a shelter far away.
Resources:
& social media: Ask anyone you know to share his/her photo. You would be amazed how many animals have been re-united this way!
Josie'sLostDogAlertofSonomaCounty,Cais dedicated to re-uniting lost dogs on Facebook.
: This is a fantastic website with some very valuable tips on how to find a missing pet. We highly advise posting the 5+5+55 posters at the surrounding intersections that the dog was last seen.
: Post a lost dog/cat ad with the same details listed above. Post several photos from different angles to show any special markings. Don't forget to look through the found pet postings.