I totally believe in posters. In spite of the seemingly magical ability of social media to spread the word, you would be surprised how many people in your neighborhood still don’t know about your missing pet. Seemingly old-fashioned, posters take effort, but no question theyare the best way to inform your community.
Here are helpful tips for making and using posters to find a lost pet.
- Make and print posters
- Gather supplies
- Distribute posters, ask people to help
- Talk to people when hanging posters
- Ask questions when people report sightings
1. Keep lost dog posters simple
In order to get as much feedback as possible, keep your posters as simple as possible. They should consist of three main ingredients.
- “Lost dog” in caps across the top of the page
- A big, clear, color photo of the dog in the center
- A phone number big enough to be seen from a car. A yellow background with a black font ensures good visibility.
Contact me if you want help making a poster. I can make and email you a poster for $12.00.
Print your poster
You can print posters at home or I’ve found FedEx Office centers to be efficient and cost-effective.
Using FedEx to print posters
If you are making your own poster, save it as a .pdf file. Email it to printandgo@fedex.com. Within a minute or two you will get a response email with a code. This code allows your poster to be printed by anyone at any FedEx office center anywhere. It’s very convenient
At the FedEx office center, go to the printer and touch the screen and select,“I want to print.” You will be prompted for your credit card number. If you don’t have a credit card, you can pay cash to a clerk. You will then be prompted to choose how you want to print. Choose “using a retrieval code.” Enter your code. Your poster will come up. For about $15, you get 25 color posters.
2. Gather poster hanging supplies
- For hanging: Zip ties, neon duct tape, stapler or tacks
- Plastic sheet protectors. Don’t get the cheapest ones – they are more hassle than they’re worth. Get at least one pack of 25 or so. Or you could laminate.
- Hole-punch
- Dog treats. More than you think you will need.
- Leashes
- Mini-posters to hand out to people
- Phone charger
- Snacks/water
- Something to take notes with in case someone has seen your pet
Provide these supplies to those who help with posters too. I recommend carrying relevant supplies with you in a backpack rather than in a car where they have to be retrieved.
3. Get outside and share your lost pet posters
Put the posters in plastic sheet protectors with the opening at the bottom. Punch holes in the corners of the posters so you can zip tie to stop signs.
Click here for suggestions of where to distribute posters.
4. Talk to people when hanging posters
When out hanging posters, make an effort to talk to people you see. Walkers, runners, even folks working in their yards. Hand them a mini-poster with your phone number.
5. Get details when people report sightings
Anytime you talk to a witness take notes and a phone number. What doesn’t seem relevant immediately may fall into place later. When talking to people who have had sightings, ask these types of questions:
___Where EXACTLY was the animal seen? Ask the witness to be as specific as possible. If you have any questions about the street names, enter them in Google and make sure you know where it is. Sometimes what people report doesn’t make sense immediately. Ask if it’s ok if you call them back.
___If dog was moving, ask what direction the animal was coming from and headed.
___When?
___How was animal acting?
___How fast was it moving?
___Was there interaction between the witness and animal? If yes, describe.
___Did witness attempt to feed the animal? If yes, what kind of food and did animal eat it?
___Did animal seem injured? If yes, describe.
___Whether or not your animal was wearing a collar, ask witness if animal was wearing a collar and if there were tags. What was color of collar?
___If a catch was attempted but unsuccessful, what actions seemed to spook the animal?
___Is this the first/only time animal was seen by witness?
___What ultimately caused end to interaction?
___Anything else the witness can think of?
___If applicable, would witness allow for a feeding station at sighting spot?
___Witness name.
___Witness phone number.
___Witness address if relevant.