Losing your pet is difficult, but if you are persistent, you have a good chance of getting him back. Here’s what to do:

Make sure you search your home and property really well. Pets try to find a very safe enclosed place when they’re scared such as pipes, vents, behind appliances, etc. Also check trees, roofs, gutters, and attics. Injured animals will often hide in dark places, so use a flashlight.

Make up a flyer with the name and photos as well as a description of your pet, the date lost, where last seen, age, weight, altering status, and describe any collar or tags he had on. Offer a reward, but don’t state the amount, and list your phone number but not name or address. Take one to animal control, local vets, feed stores, grocery stores, and the chamber of commerce. Check in with animal control, and go there daily if at all possible. If you need help making a flyer, contact us and we’ll help. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call us at 683-1214.

Speak with everyone in your neighborhood and leave a copy of the flyer. Kids notice animals more than adults do, so make sure you talk to them. Get a flyer to the newspaper and mail delivery people. If you lost your pet at a public place, make sure that the security officers and employees in the area get a flyer.

When you’re walking the neighborhood, be both seen and heard! Call your pet, squeeze his favorite squeaky toy or jingly ball. Use a dog whistle – the sound can carry up to a mile and can be used to call cats as well as dogs! Rattle a box of cat treats or dog cookies, and if you say “cookie!” or “kitty treat” or the like when you give your pet a treat, call this out as well as his name. If your pet is injured, he may be trying to answer you, so make sure that you stop and listen often. Take something with the smell of the person your pet is most bonded to with you – the smellier the better – such as workout clothes, socks, etc. Place the pet’s bed outside your home to give him another scent to try and hit on.

Place a lost ad in the local papers with the same information as the flyer. Again, use only your phone number and state there is a reward but not the amount. Check the found ads every day.

Every couple of days, take down your old flyers and replace them with new ones that are a different color. This will let people know that the pet is still missing. Flyers get the most hits on a lost pet, so put up all you can.

When your pet is found, let people know and remove all your flyers. To make sure it doesn’t happen again, secure your fencing, make sure your name and number are written on your pet’s collar as well as tags, take good photos of your pet, and get him microchipped if possible. Train your cat or dog to respond to the dog whistle for treats, and you’ll have an easier time finding him if it happens again.

Don’t give up – pets have been found weeks or months later.