Losing your dog is a hard and painful situation, especially if you live in a country where putting down the animal is allowed. For this reason we recommend that you act quickly and decisively to prevent something bad happening to your pet.
At AnimalWised we want to help you find your beloved dog, which is why we will share some steps that every owner who has lost a dog should follow. Read on to learn how to find your lost dog and do not forget to comment and share photo of your pet. Good luck!
Search the area where they went missing
Try to remember the last place you saw your dog for the last time (or where you have proof they were seen) and begin to scan the area. To speed up the search you can ride a bicycle. Ideally, ask a group of friends or family to help for greater effectiveness. Do not forget to shout their name, as they could be hiding.
Take treats, a noisy toy that they would recognize as theirs and even another dog they know. Family members and positive stimuli can help find them. Ask the people you encounter if they've seen a dog that looks like yours. A photo on your mobile phone will help.
Share it on social media
First you must share the news of your dog's disappearance on your social media profiles like Facebook or Twitter (without any privacy settings) so you can reach everyone. Include some personal details like their name, a photo, any significant markings, the area where they went missing... Then you must ask others to share your post.
In addition to your own profiles, you can even post on lost dog groups in your city, abandoned animal groups or forums that put up regular posts.
Call the animal shelter
Contact the nearest kennel or animal shelter to see if your dog is there. Describe your dog in detail, leave your phone number, and most importantly, ask them to take note of their chip number.
If you have no luck, you can continue to contact shelters that are further away. Sometimes dogs can travel great distances.
Think of places they could go
Have you lived elsewhere? Are they an adopted dog? If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask yourself another: Where do you think they would go?
Try to think of all possible places that your dog would go if they could. Do not underestimate their ability to find their way; some dogs have been found to travel up to 20 kilometers - that's more than 12 miles - to go somewhere.
Put up posters
Prepare posters to hang in the area where you last saw your dog. Do not forget to add the following information:
- A photo of the dog
- The dog's name
- A short description
- Your name
- Two contact numbers
Do not forget that a reward can motivate someone to help you find your dog.
Go to veterinary clinics
If they have fallen into the hands of a caring person, your dog may end up in a veterinary clinic. Do not forget to take posters and leave some there in case your dog is brought there. Remember that, in principle, the veterinarian should call you if they read the chip and it does not identify the person who brought them in as the owner.
If you still cannot find them...
Do not get anxious, we recommend going through the whole process again. Revisit shelters, kennels and clinics: your dog may appear one time or another.
Take advantage of the scope of social networks and try to be original and create a video or publication that could go viral. If this does not work out you can always pay a small fee to reach more people. We wish you luck and hope that you find your best friend soon!
If you find your dog, do not forget to do the following:
- Get them chipped with your up-to-date mobile and contact information.
- Use an actual name tag on the dog's collar where you can put the animal's name and your contact phone number.
- Do not let them loose in parks and public spaces if you think they will escape again.
- Work on training them to prevent this from happening again.
- Watch and stay alert during walks.
Find out what to do if you find a lost dog on AnimalWised.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Find My Lost Dog, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category.