How to Find A Lost Dog

As dog owners, we do everything we can to keep our dogs happy, healthy, and, well…at home. And stats show that 1 in 3 dogs get lost for at least a little while in their lifetime. If you find yourself in that situation, here are some tips on how to be happily reunited with your pooch.

1. Alert your network
Let your real life, and Facebook friends and Twitter followers know what’s happening, especially the ones who live in your town and can help in the search.

2. Use social media to your advantage
You can type in “lost dog + your city” in Facebook to be taken to community pages where people post about dogs that have been lost (or found). Use the Twitter hashtag #lostdog+your city to also amplify the message.

3. Make simple posters
Keep your posters short and sweet. Just a picture of your dog, your name, and your contact information.

4. Go back to where you saw them last
Bring an article of clothing that you’ve worn all day (so your dog can pick up your scent) to the location where you last saw your dog. You can also bring a favorite toy or his crate. You can leave a note requesting that the items not be moved.

5. Leave water for your dog
It’s possible your dog hasn’t had any access to water while he’s been missing, so leave a bowl of water with his toys and your shirt. Don’t bring food, as that may attract other animals. Check back intermittently. One dog owner tried this approach and said “I was skeptical and doubted my dog would be able to detect an article of clothing if he didn’t hear me calling his name as loud as possible for 12 days. But I returned the next day and sure enough found him sitting there!”

We hope your dog never goes missing, but if he does, we hope these tips bring about a speedy reunion!