It’s hard to be organized and feel like you’re doing everything you can when a pet goes missing. Here are the first things to do when a pet is missing.
First three things to do when a pet is missing
- Find two or three good photos.
- Call and/or visit your local animal shelter.
- Spread the word by posting on social media.
Find good photos
You will need one or two photos for social media and a poster. Use a photo where your pet is pictured by itself. If your pet has distinctive markings, include a picture of those as well.
Contact local animal shelter
Ask animal control if you can email them a photo or if they have an online reporting system you can use.
It is recommended that you yourself visit your local animal control to look over their found dog population. Don’t depend on someone who has never seen your pet to identify your pet.
I have to confess that I have been guilty of not realizing that the dog I posted about in the morning is standing in front of me the very same afternoon, tempted but not convinced to take the food I offer. Depending on how long your animal has been gone and their mental state, they may look different than usual. Due to stress their ears may be back instead of up. What might have been a distinctive tail is tucked between the legs and not seen. Fur color may be darker or different than normal due to dirt or water.
Use social media
In the search bar use keywords “lost,” “found,” “pet” and the name of the city/county/region where you live to find the most appropriate matches. Post to all relevant pages. Some cities have quite a few pages with similar names. There might be a page specifically for your neighborhood or military base. If you live in a bigger city, there may be breed-specific groups that will share your post. If your pet was lost while hiking in a remote region connect with local outdoor groups (hiking, ATV, hunting) to spread the word.
- The main body of the post should include all relevant information so people don’t have to scroll through all the comments to find a photo or your phone number. The main body of your post should include the aforementioned photos of your dog, a contact phone number (set up the voicemail if it is not like right now), the street or area from which your pet went missing. Describe as specifically as possible where the animal went missing from. What were the circumstances (is the dog running from the sound of fireworks or did he take off playing with the neighbor dog?)? Do you know what direction it was headed? How does it generally behave towards people? If there are any “triggers” like dogs, children, etc., that could cause your animal to be aggressive, please say so. If your pet is especially skittish and you are pretty sure it will run if approached, please say so. Include “do not chase” in caps and instructions to call the owner, not the dog. (With real skittish dogs I don’t include the name if I don’t have to so people aren’t tempted to say the name if they see it – if you have a skittish dog make sure to read the section here on that). More info about these wily ones is included below and consult is available as time allows.
- List your phone number. Do not rely on Facebook messages or messenger. You do not automatically see FB messages from people who you are not already FB friends with, so this is not a reliable form of communication. You can delete your phone number by editing your post later.
- Keep your post updated rather than making new posts. As the situation evolves or when you have new information, edit your post by clicking the arrow in the top right hand corner. Edit instead of making new posts. It’s easier and a better way to keep information together and easier to follow.
- If people report sightings ask them to be as specific as possible. If dog is reported on a long road, ask for a cross street.
- Every comment on your post will bump it closer to the top of the page. In an area with a big population and therefore a lot of lost pets, posts may get lost or swallowed up amongst others if not commented on regularly. Any comment counts, even a comment with just a period. Comment on your post as often as needed, but not so often as to force brand new ones down; they should have their time too.
- If you can’t find your post by scrolling down the page, search for your name in the search bar once on the page.
Nextdoor
- This is basically a site that connects you with neighbors who have also signed up for the service. An app is available. You also have the option to connect with adjoining communities. It is free and I cannot recommend it enough. Because it is specific to your neighborhood, in certain situations it is much more helpful and appropriate than a Facebook post because of the specificity. You can copy and paste your Facebook post to save time. Don’t forget photos and a phone number!
Craigslist
- If you don’t have a Craigslist account, it’s worth setting one up. An app is also available. Create a listing and check for matching pets under both “Lost and Found” as well as “Pets.” Both of these subsections are part of the Community section. For best results, allow responses via phone, text and email. To save time, copy and paste your Facebook post. Don’t forget photos and a phone number!
If you want help, managing social media postings is one of Anchorage Pet Detective’s services.
Click for details on Anchorage Pet Detective services.