What to do if your pet is lost: a step-by-step plan

Stay calm and act fast

It's normal to feel panic, but every hour counts. Make a quick plan: who searches nearby, who calls shelters and who prepares the poster. Keep your phone charged and with you.

Search close to home first

Many lost pets are closer than you think. Cats in particular usually hide in silence within a few houses of home: under porches, in garages, sheds or bushes. Search with a flashlight, even during the day, and call your pet in a calm voice. Dogs can travel farther, so drive or walk the routes you usually take together.

Search again at dawn and dusk, when the streets are quieter and frightened pets are more likely to come out.

Make a poster and share it

A good poster has one big word, "LOST", a clear photo, a few key details and a large phone number. Our lost pet poster tool creates one in minutes, ready to print and share. Post it on corners, in shops, vet clinics and parks, and share it in local social media groups and lost-pet pages.

Notify everyone who might see it

• Shelters and animal control in your area: visit in person if you can, since descriptions can vary.
• Vet clinics nearby, which are often the first stop for someone who finds an injured animal.
• Your microchip registry, to report it lost and confirm your contact details.
• Neighbors, delivery drivers and mail carriers, who move around the neighborhood all day.

Use scent to guide it home

Place something with your scent or its bed outside your door. Some people also leave a bit of food and water, though this can attract other animals. If your cat escaped, leave its litter box outside: its own scent can help it find the way.

If it's a bird

Birds that escape often stay in nearby trees during the first hours. Bring its cage outside, with food and its favorite toys, and play recordings of its calls or your voice. Many birds come down at dawn or dusk when they get hungry.

Watch out for scams

Unfortunately, some people take advantage of lost pet posts. Ask for a photo before meeting anyone, ask about a distinctive mark you didn't publish and never send money in advance.

Use social media the smart way

Post in local neighborhood groups, lost-and-found pet pages and community apps. Share one clear photo, the area, the date and your phone number, and ask people to share. Update the post with any sightings so people know where to look, and mark it as found once your pet is home. Check the posts of shelters and found pets in your area every day, since a description written by someone else may not match how you'd describe your own pet.

Don't give up

Pets have been found weeks or even months after going missing. Keep visiting shelters in person, refresh your posters when they fade and keep sharing online. Many reunions happen thanks to a microchip scan at a vet or shelter, so make sure your contact details in the registry are always current.

Keep a lost-pet kit ready

Keep a few recent, clear photos of your pet on your phone, its microchip number written down and the numbers of local shelters and animal control saved. Having this ready means you can act in minutes instead of hours if your pet ever goes missing.

Prevention for next time

When your pet is home safe, add layers of protection: an engraved tag, a QR tag with its profile and a microchip with up-to-date details. Check doors, windows and fences, and be extra careful during fireworks and storms, when many pets run off in fear.

Frequently asked questions

How long do lost pets usually stay missing? It varies a lot. Many are found within days, but some come home after weeks, so don't give up.

Should I offer a reward? It can help, but don't put the amount on the poster.

My pet was found. What now? Check it for injuries, offer water and see the vet if it was gone for a while.

This article is for information only and does not replace a visit to your vet.