Lost or Stolen Dogs

Below are some tips on helping you if your pet goes missing with a few links to dedicated sites.

• look in EVERY nook and cranny. Don't assume that your pet would never crawl into some tiny space
• Look under furniture, under beds,  under vehicles, in crawl spaces under the house, inside sheds and outhouses, etc.
• Place strong scented

Walk the neighborhood, talk to everybody, and leave your phone number.

• Go to each house in the area where your dog was lost and talk to the residents. Write down a description of your lost pet and your phone number and leave it with them. Leave it attached to their door if they are not home.

• Talk to everybody you run across. This includes the postman, paperboy, children, parents waiting at the school bus stop, school crossing ladies/men, neighborhood crime watch groups, etc. Give them a written description of your pet and your phone number as well.

• Try to get all the neighborhood children involved. Kids are great at finding lost pets!

• Don't travel alone. Take a friend or family member with you.

• Don't write down your name or address. Because of scam artists and other criminals in our society, it is never a good idea to publicize this information.

• Offer a reward, but don't state the amount.

• Take a powerful torch (even during daylight hours) for checking in dark spaces.

• Make some noise while you walk around the neighborhood! Animals can hear you from great distance

Call local vets surgeries during the day

• Find out if your pet was injured and taken to any of these clinics for treatment.

• If a clinic/surgery has taken in or treated any animal that even remotely resembles your pet, VISIT THE SURGERY  IN PERSON. Your description of your pet and their description of the same pet rarely match. YOU MUST SEE FOR YOURSELF!

• Also ask them for the phone numbers of local rescue organisations. They generally keep a list and may even work with them.

• Call each of the rescue organisations and ask for their help and find out if they have your pet. These groups generally network with each other and will pass the word about your case.

It is extremely important to post MANY flyers about your lost pet within a 1-mile radius of where it was lost.

• Overall, flyers or posters produce more "finds" than anything else. But don't neglect the rest of the tips!

• Your budget will determine how many flyers you can afford to post, but the more the better.

• DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME OR ADDRESS ON YOUR FLYER!

• If possible, it is best to place a color photo of your pet on each flyer.

• List the date and place your pet was lost, breed of dog , sex, age, color, etc. and your telephone number. Offer a reward, but don't state the amount.

Place an Ad in your local newspaper. Some will do this for free.

Don't ever give up! Pets have been known to find their way back home after being lost for several months.

A Few Words Of Warning

Sadly there are dangerous people in our society who prey upon victims by using "found" pets as a ploy.

• NEVER respond to a "found" pet contact alone. Take a friend or two along with you.

• Arrange to meet in a public place.

• NEVER invite the person to your home unless you happen to know them well.

When You Find Your Pet

Go around and collect up all of your old flyers. Let the Vets and any other organisation you have contacted know

Thank everybody who has helped you.