Losing a dog is one of the scariest feelings in the world. It is terrifying for both you and your dog. We want to help you avoid this horrible situation.
This article will help you keep your dog safe and also give you the tools to find your pet again if the unthinkable happens.
An Ounce of Prevention
Below are some steps you can take to prevent the heartbreak of losing a pet.
If possible, follow these tips before your dog goes missing to give you the best chance of finding him again if he somehow manages to escape.
Collar AND ID Tag
The most important advice we can give you is to put a collar with an ID tag on your pet. Your dog should wear his collar and ID tag at all times.
An identification tag is your dog’s ticket home if he ever gets lost.
We cannot stress this enough. Make sure his collar has an ID tag attached. Collars are useless if they do not have an identification tag with a working phone number.
Your dog’s ID tag should have one or two working phone numbers and your address. The more information, the better!
Countless lost dogs enter animal shelters every single day wearing collars but no ID tags.
Do not let your dog be one of these statistics. Shelter staff cannot contact you unless there is a tag on the collar.
ID tags are very affordable. You can get one engraved at your local pet supply store for $5 to $15. The engraving process takes about 5 minutes and can be done while you wait in the store.
You can also order tags online in a variety of different colors and shapes for less than $10.
Some people do not put tags on their dog’s collar because they do not like the jingling sound of the tags. You can order a tag silencer if you are sensitive to this noise. Alternatively, you can purchase a collar with a phone number embroidered onto the collar.
One way or another, make sure your dog is wearing visible identification at all times.
If a good Samaritan finds a dog with an ID tag, they can bring the dog straight home to you without even having to bring the pet to an animal shelter.
Microchip
A microchip is another fabulous tool for reuniting lost pets with their owners.
You might be wondering what is a microchip?
A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is implanted under the skin.
It is a radio-frequency identification transponder that is about the size of a grain of rice.
The chip is injected subcutaneously using a needle. It is generally placed in the skin between the shoulder blades of the animal. It does not hurt the dog any more than a routine vaccination.
The chip contains a unique serial number that corresponds to your contact information in an electronic database.
Animal shelters and vet clinics have scanners that they use to check stray animals for microchips.
If they find a chip, they can enter the ID number online and lookup the owner’s contact information through the microchip company.
As long as the chip has been registered and the information is up to date, the pet’s owner can be contacted within minutes of a stray animal walking through the doors of an animal shelter.
Is a Microchip “worth it?”
Microchips cost between $15 and $50 depending on the brand of the chip and the vet clinic that implants the chip.
Ask your vet about the cost of microchipping your pet at your local clinic.
In our opinion, it is definitely worth the small investment!
If money is tight, call your local animal shelter or humane society. Many shelters put on low-cost “microchipping clinics” a few times per year.
If you do get your pet microchipped, make sure you keep your contact information up to date in the microchip registry.
The vet or animal shelter that microchips your pet can give you the contact information for the microchip company so you can make sure to register the chip and update the information as necessary.
A microchip is not a GPS device, so it cannot pinpoint the location of your lost pet, but it is still well worth the cost.
The great thing about a microchip is that it is permanent. Therefore, if your dog’s collar and tag fall off, your dog will still have a back-up form of identification.
Microchips save the lives of hundreds of animals every year. Of course, your pet should still wear a collar and ID tag even if they have a microchip, but we highly recommend this additional form of identification.
GPS Collar
If you own a furry little escape artist, you might want to invest in a GPS collar like The Whistle.
These products are expensive, but they will allow you to actually track your pet on your phone if he or she escapes.
If you have a breed that is prone to escaping, this might be worth investigating.
Breeds with escape artist tendencies include:
- Beagle
- Husky
- Jack Russell Terrier (Parson Russell Terrier)
- Coonhound
- Foxhound
- Bloodhound
- Hound mixes
Spay/Neuter
Getting pets spayed and neutered will reduce their inclinations to escape and roam.
Even if they do get out, at least you will know that they are not getting pregnant or creating more puppies while they are on the loose.
If your dog is not already spayed or neutered, talk with your vet about pros and cons of this procedure.
Your vet can help you schedule this procedure at the ideal time for your pet.
Supervision
As much as possible, do not leave your dog outdoors unsupervised.
Even if you believe that your backyard is fully fenced in and escape-proof.
Dogs are masters at finding ways to escape.
Always supervise your dog when he in the yard.
If you must leave your dog unsupervised, it is ideal to bring him indoors and place him in a comfy crate or in a dog-proof room.
If this is not feasible, make sure you stick around and “spy” on your dog a couple of times before you truly leave your dog unsupervised in your yard.
Do a couple of practice sessions where you watch your dog from the window to see what he does when he thinks he is alone.
This will help you identify any weak points in the yard like holes or loose fence boards that you need to fix.
Fences and Baby Gates
Some dogs are “door dashers.”
They wait for the front door to open for a microsecond and then they shoot out the door.
If you have a door dasher, set up some extra barriers between him and the outdoors. For example, install a baby gate in the hallway and make sure that your dog is always behind the baby gate when the front door opens.
You might also want to install a fence around your front yard. That way, if your dog somehow gets past the door, there is still a line of defense between him and the street.
Training
Work with a positive reinforcement dog trainer to teach your dog vital commands.
Make sure that your dog learns his name, as well as the commands sit, stay and come.
Practice these commands in a variety of different scenarios so that your dog will be more likely to respond to them in the case of a true emergency.
Documents and Photos
Keep a folder with your dog’s vet records and photos. These will be required as “proof of ownership” if your dog ever gets lost and ends up in an animal shelter or animal control.
How to Find a Lost Dog
If you do lose a pet, follow these steps to locate your pet as quickly as possible.
Visit Animal Shelters
Visit all of the animal shelters in your city and neighboring towns. Fill out a lost report at each shelter and leave a photo of your pet along with your phone number(s).
Ask about the length of the animal shelter’s stray period. This is the period of time that they hold strays before making them available for adoption or putting them to sleep.
For most shelters this is somewhere between 3 and 7 days. Try to visit at least once during that time period. For example, if the shelter has a stray hold of 5 days, try to visit at least once every 5 days. That way, you will make sure to view every dog that comes through the shelter as a stray.
Do not simply call in or expect the staff to call you if there is a potential match.
Animal shelters are chronically understaffed and overworked. A staff member could accidentally misidentify your pet, especially if you have a common breed like a black lab or an American pit bull terrier. Make sure you go and look with your own eyes as frequently as you possibly can.
If you think your dog was stolen, report the theft to the police.
Use the Internet
Post your lost pet immediately on as many websites and social media platforms as possible such as Facebook, NextDoor, Craigslist and Instgram.
Most communities will have Facebook pages that are specifically dedicated to lost and found pets. Ask your local animal shelter about the most active lost and found forums for your community.
There are a few websites specifically dedicated to finding lost pets. Check out these websites:
- Pawboost
- The Center for Lost Pets
- Helping Lost Pets
- Pet FBI
- Mission Reunite
- Lost Dogs of America
- Fido Finder
Ask friends and family members to share your posts. The faster and farther you can get the word out, the better.
Hang Flyers
Print and hang “Lost Pet” flyers all over your community.
You can make free Lost Pet flyers at Petbond.com.
Post the flyers outdoors on lampposts and telephone poles, as well as indoors at coffee shops, vet clinics, pet supply stores, and other neighborhood businesses.
Make sure your contact information is clearly visible on the posters.
Depending on your financial situation, you can advertise that there will be a reward for your pet’s safe return.
Form Search Parties
Get out into the neighborhood and search for your lost dog as quickly as possible.
Recruit friends and neighbors to canvas the area by foot, bike and car.
Ask people to bring treats, food, squeaky toys or anything else that might attract your dog.
If your dog loves other dogs, ask your volunteers to walk their dogs around the search area.
Your dog might be more likely to approach another dog rather than an unfamiliar human.
Ask your searchers to check under houses and in people’s sheds and garages. Your dog might be scared and hiding.
Make sure that all of your volunteers have your cell number. If they spot your dog, instruct them to call you immediately. Ask them not to chase the dog or yell at it—this might cause it to bolt.
Instead, encourage them to follow at a safe distance and keep the dog in their sightlines until you arrive.
Buy or Borrow a Dog Trap
If your dog is extremely skittish or traumatized, he might be very hard to catch, even for you.
If your dog keeps running away from his rescuers, try setting a humane dog trap.
You can purchase your own or try to borrow or rent one from a local animal shelter.
Bait the trap with smelly, irresistible food like tuna or rotisserie chicken.
Leave the baited trap and check back on it periodically to see if your pet takes the bait.
Keep Searching
The most important thing is to keep searching and not give up hope.
Pets have been found weeks, months or even years after they originally went missing.
Keep visiting shelters, talking with neighbors, handing out signs, and posting online until your best friend is found.
Allie has worked in the field of animal welfare for over ten years and as a freelance writer the space for many years. She has had many different kinds of dogs (and cats) throughout her life—all adopted. She currently shares her home with a lovable pit bull mix named Huckleberry.