Tips for Finding Your Lost Pet
We know how stressful it is when your beloved pet goes missing. To help alleviate some of the stress of not knowing what to do first, we’ve put together the following checklist to use as a guide. These are basic best practices, and not an exhaustive list. Seek and Rescue is happy to help at any point in the process but chances of a successful search vary depending on a variety of factors, the first of which is time. The sooner we are called out to help, the better.
Immediate steps to take in the first 24 hours:
Physically search the area near their last known location
Put items with your pet’s scent on your front/back porch. Things such as bedding, toys, and dirty laundry are ideal
Post on neighborhood social media sites like Next Door, Ring, and Facebook ASAP
Contact microchip company and report them as lost
Notify your veterinarian’s office
Leave your garage door (or any entry/exit point) open just far enough for them to get inside
Place an item with your dog’s scent on it in a Ziplock bag in the freezer. This can be extremely helpful if scent tracking dogs are needed
Create a lost pet flyer that can be easily printed at home. Several websites offer templates for lost pet flyers, such as 24PetWatch. These are a first course of action, but neon posters are the most effective. See below for tips on creating the most effective posters.
Cats only: Do not put their litter box outside! This is an urban legend that has been debunked. Cats bury their waste because they don’t want predators to find them. Putting their litter box outside is counterproductive.
Days 2-3
Continue doing the above steps and add the following:
Talk to neighbors in person and hand out flyers. If a neighbor isn’t home, put flyers in their mailbox. Encourage people to take a photo of the flyer so they have your information handy in case of a sighting
Check local animal shelters. Most shelters list their found pets online, but you can also contact them and file a lost pet report
Give your vet a flyer to hang up.
Create large, NEON posters using this guide. Posterboard is available at most stores, including dollar stores.
Put posters at all intersections near the pet’s lost known location. Include large/high traffic intersections with stop lights where people are more likely to be able to read the signs.
If you still don’t have any sightings, consider setting up trail cameras near the area your pet was last seen. Most can be remotely monitored and will alert you to any movement.
For cats, consider renting humane traps to put in the area of interest. Here’s a list of resources in the Seattle area that rent traps.
Days 4-7 and beyond
Keep checking local and regional animal shelters as well as Facebook groups dedicated to posting found pets
Don’t give up! The most common reason people don’t get their pets back is they give up searching too soon
Dog-Specific Tips to Keep in Mind
Do not chase or call a lost dog’s name. They are in survival mode and will be scared of anyone calling their name or trying to catch them. Instead, use calming signals. Calming signals include: lying/sitting down, not making eye contact, keeping your back to the dog, talking calmly and softly, pretending to eat yummy treats, pretending to sneeze or clear your throat, and yawning. If possible, toss treats near the dog without looking at them directly. Use your phone’s camera to get a stealthy look at them instead.
Trusted Resources for Finding Your Lost Pet
There are a lot of scams online trying to take advantage of people who have lost their pets. Stay vigilant about who you trust, and never give money upfront to anyone claiming to have a thermal drone for a search. We will only charge you once we have completed our search and have met in person.
Here are personal recommendations for trustworthy resources in Western Washington:
Jim Branson with Three Retrievers is highly regarded and uses scent tracking dogs to help locate lost pets.
Missing Animal Response Network has a robust website full of resources and a directory of pet detectives.