Last Updated on February 3, 2023 by ellen
If you’ve ever tried to find your pet when they’re lost, you’ll know what a heartbreaking feeling it is. Maybe they slipped off their leash or dashed outside when the door was open. Either way, our pets are like our children and knowing that they’re out there alone, possibly in danger is a horrible feeling. We want to do everything we can to find them as quickly as possible before they’re hurt.
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Table of Contents
How to Find Your Pet When They’re Lost
We search our memories trying to decide where they might be more likely to go – a neighbor’s house, the park, somewhere else? Thankfully, there are steps that you can take to help find your pet more quickly, and there are steps you can take to prevent them from becoming lost in the first place.
Hopefully, your dog’s collar has a Trackr for dogs or cats which will help you find them.
The first step is to remain calm and immediately call your local animal control office, veterinarian, and local Humane Society or shelter.
Start looking for them immediately but be certain that you’ve left someone at home to answer the phone in case they are located and someone tries to call you. If your cell phone number is on their tag, be certain to bring your cell phone with you.
Bring a recent photo with you to show people that you meet during your search. Make copies and hang them on trees and telephone poles along the way.
Does your dog have a favorite squeaky toy? Do they always come running when they hear the treat box rattle? Bring those along with you and make some noise while you call them.
Tips to find your pet when they’re lost
Be certain you have a pad of paper and a pen so you can jot your phone number down to pass out to people on the way. They can call you more easily if they have your number with them rather than trying to remember it from memory.
If you still haven’t found them by the next day, broaden the search area and hang up more pictures. Focus on local community bulletin boards or the local dog park.
Check back with the shelter, the vet, the animal control office and even the police department regularly.
As heartbreaking as it is, don’t give up hope. Dogs are amazing animals and can find their way back to you even after being gone quite a while.
Almost all dogs and cats get loose occasionally. It’s so important to be sure that your dog is wearing a collar and has a tag on. Even more important, be sure to clip a TrackR bravo to their collar. You’ll be able to locate them in seconds using your iPhone or Android device. Save 20% using the code BOOSTED.
Learn More Today
TrackR is a small, coin-sized device that easily attaches to your valuable items. With the TrackR app, locate any lost or misplaced item in seconds by ringing your missing keys, using TrackR’s Distance Indicator or via Crowd GPS.
Check out these tips for taking a trip with your cat.
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Ellen runs a small pet sitting business in southern Vermont. She has experience with a variety of small animals, dogs and cats. She has also cared for ducks, chickens and rabbits. Combined, she has over 20 years of experience in pet care and pet sitting.
I don’t have pets but can imagine that that would be a horrible feeling :(.
PS: that dog with the tiny coat is adorable!
It really is, Liz!
Such a great article and so many helpful hints. We had a boxer that was stolen and we agonized for months over her welfare. I wish we would have had the TrackR then as we never found her. We also had a missing cat but she always came to the sound of the electric can opener so we went outside with that and she came to the sound. I really appreciate the information about the TrackR and will be investing in one of those for our cat if he escapes outside and gets lost.
Oh that must have been just horrible. I cannot imagine someone stealing one of our pets!
Okay first of all I just want to scoop up that little white puppy and give it all sorts of loves! What a sweetheart ^.^
Second I’ve only had 2 dogs in my lifetime and thankfully haven’t had to deal with losing either one of them so I don’t know the fear that many people have experienced. These are great tips to keep in mind for the future if I ever get another pet!
It is such a heartbreaking feeling!
This site has some really helpful information if your dog goes missing! They do amazing work here in New Hampshire! http://www.granitestatedogrecovery.com/Lost-Dog-Quick-Action-Plan.html
Thanks, Kathy! That’s great to know!
This would be like losing a child to me! I never had children and my Yorkie was my baby. He wandered just once and I was in total panic. I would love this app and it would have worked when he wandered off close to the house.
I agree. I cannot imagine how heartbreaking!