What to Do If Your Dog Is Lost

Most lost dogs are found within a half-mile of where they went missing. Move fast, stay calm, and don't chase.

• Search the immediate area on foot — most dogs hide nearby when scared
• Bring high-value treats, a familiar toy, and a slip lead
• Call your dog's name in a calm, happy voice — never angry or panicked
• If you see your dog, do NOT run toward them — sit, turn sideways, toss treats
• Check porches, under decks, behind sheds, and in dense brush
• Ask neighbors to check garages, basements, and backyards
• Leave your back gate open and place worn clothing + food/water outside

After the first hour, expand the search systematically. Document everything — sightings, times, and directions of travel.

• Map a 1-mile radius and grid-search outward from the point last seen
• Search at dawn and dusk when dogs are most active and streets are quiet
• Recruit friends — assign zones so you don't overlap
• Carry flyers, treats, and a flashlight on every search
• Log every reported sighting with time, location, and direction
• Check storm drains, culverts, wooded lots, and abandoned buildings
• Don't give up after dark — many dogs only emerge once the area is quiet

Thermal drones can cover acres of brush, woods, and open land in minutes — terrain that would take a ground team days to clear.

• Request a search as soon as the dog has been missing more than 24 hours
• Drones work best in low light: dawn, dusk, or overnight
• Have a recent photo, last-seen location, and any sighting reports ready
• Clear the search area of other people and pets during the flight
• Be prepared to respond immediately if the pilot spots a heat signature
• Drone searches are free — donations help us keep them that way

Posts that get shared find dogs. Posts that don't, don't. Make yours impossible to scroll past.

• Post on Nextdoor, Facebook neighborhood groups, and local lost-pet pages
• Lead with one clear, recent photo — face forward, good lighting
• Include: name, breed, color, size, last seen location + time, your phone
• Mark your dog as 'lost' on microchip registry and Petco Love Lost
• Ask sharers to crosspost — reach matters more than likes
• Pin the post and update it daily so it stays in feeds
• Beware of scammers asking for money to 'return' your dog — never pay

Visit shelters in person — staff descriptions are often inaccurate, especially for mixed breeds.

• Call AND visit every shelter within a 30-mile radius
• Visit every 2-3 days — new intakes happen daily
• File a lost report with your county animal control
• Check with police non-emergency lines (some hold strays before transfer)
• Contact local rescues and vet clinics — strays often go there first
• Leave a flyer at every shelter, vet, and feed store you visit

A chip only works if the registry has your current phone number. Verify today — not after your dog is lost.

• Look up your chip number and confirm registration is active
• Update phone, email, and address with the registry
• Add an emergency contact in case you can't be reached
• Search your chip number on chipnumber.org to find which registry holds it
• If you adopted recently, transfer the chip out of the previous owner's name
• Keep a current photo of your dog with the chip number written on the back