Tips for Finding a Lost Dog

We are so sorry your dog is missing. Our hearts go out to you and we hope you are reunited soon! We hope these tips will help you in your search. We do receive many requests to help locate missing pets; however, if our volunteers are unable to assist due to distance or ongoing street dog capture missions, there are many steps you can take to get started.

As soon as you realize your pet is missing, the first thing we suggest is to get the word out about your missing dog and ask for help searching!

• Post the missing dog’s photo, physical description, last known location, date/time dog went missing, and your contact info on Next Door and social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

• Immediately ask for volunteers to start searching the area where your dog was last seen.

• In addition, you can utilize a local pet detective.  They typically utilize a scent-tracking dog to help locate your missing dog.  This costs money but there are few feelings worse than having a lost family member so we definitely recommend looking into this option as soon as possible as rain/snow can wash away the trail.

Post Cardboard Signs in the Area:
One of the most helpful tips we have is DO NOT RELY SOLELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA to spread the word about your missing dog. We have had the most luck in obtaining sighting reports with old-fashioned CARDBOARD SIGNS.

• Post large neon signs at major intersections. (Ideally post to telephone poles, as most cities remove signs from traffic lights.)

• Use a large black permanent marker and use key words – for example: LOST DOG, MED BLACK LAB MIX, PHONE NUMBER, DO NOT CHASE 

• For examples of signs and tips on attaching them to poles, click here.

 File a Lost Dog Report on the Helping Lost Dogs website.

This will automatically create a digital flyer that you can post online as well as a printable version that you can distribute and post at local businesses where your dog was last seen, such as coffee shops, convenience stores, vet clinics, pet stores, etc.

Share your lost dog information online on the below sites and check them regularly to see if anyone posts a matching found report:

• NextDoor.com

• The Lost Dogs of Dallas website: http://www.lostdogsofdallas.com/

• Pet Harbor: http://www.petharbor.com/

• Craigslist (Lost & Found Pets section)

• Local Animal Shelter Facebook pages

• Neighborhood veterinarian Facebook pages

• Local neighborhood association’s Facebook group

Email the Lost Dog flyer to:

• Local animal shelters. Ask to file a missing dog report. Again, contact as many local shelters as possible, even if it’s not the city in which the dog was last seen. Dogs travel fast and can end up in another city quickly.

• Friends, family, coworkers

Print and distribute/post flyers to:

• Postal delivery workers (USPS, FedEx, UPS), police officers, pizza delivery drivers, etc.

• Office break rooms (ask your friends/family to do the same)

• Telephone poles, at businesses, dog parks, etc.

Visit your local shelters often. Remember, dogs can travel a long distance in a short amount of time so visit your city shelter as well as the surrounding city shelters. Walk the “lost dog” kennels and post your lost dog flyer in their lobby. Ask the staff if there is a way to know about new dogs that enter the shelter in the event you are unable to visit every day.  

DO NOT RELY SOLELY ON THE SHELTER’s ONLINE PHOTOS as it’s always better to physically check the shelter when looking for a lost dog.

Other important steps to take:

• If your dog has a microchip, notify the microchip company and make sure your contact information is updated. In many cases, they can send out an alert.

• “Tag” cars to help advertise 

• Create a classified ad in your local newspaper.

When Your Dog Has Been Spotted:
Many times, lost dogs can develop evasiveness after even a short time on the streets. Their sense of smell can become diminished with stress, so it’s not uncommon for an owner to spot their lost dog, and call them or try to pick them up, only to have the dog run away.

If you pinpoint the dog’s location but are unable to recover your dog, you should try to keep them in that area so that they can be humanely trapped:

• Provide food/water at the same location and ideally same time(s) of day

• Leave something with familiar scents by the feeding area; for example, one of your old t-shirts, dog’s blanket, etc.

• When the dog has been seen in the same general area on a regular basis, you can try trapping*.

TSDP is a small group of volunteers so might be able to help you with trapping once the dog has been sighted multiple times in the same location or we may be able to loan you a trap or you can look into borrowing a trap from a local animal shelter. If you would like to trap the dog on your own with a borrowed trap, here are some tips:

Trapping Tips:

• Trapping works best once you have the dog in a routine of eating at the same location/time of day.

• Only feed a little bit of dry, bland dog food the day before you’re going to try the trap.

• On the day of the trap, bring more smelly and desirable food such as hot dogs, rotisserie chicken or brisket.

• Make a small trail of food leading up to and into the trap and then place a “jackpot” of good food at the far end of the trap.

• When the dog goes in to eat, they step on a trigger plate which shuts the door behind them and they are contained.

• Transport the dog while still in the trap as you want to get them inside your home or garage before opening it up to minimize risk of the dog escaping.

• Do not leave the trap unattended for more than 30 minutes at a time. If you are not there to watch the trap, the dog may go in and someone else passing by might take her. There is also the possibility of another dog or animal going into the trap and injuring themselves trying to get out.

• Leave a note on the trap saying “This is a humane trap. We are trying to bring a dog to safety. If you see any animal in the trap, please call xxx-xxx-xxxx ASAP.”

• If you are not sure if the dog is visiting your feeding station or what time it is coming into the area, you could borrow or purchase a wireless surveillance camera (ie a game camera) to set up and monitor the area.

We hope these tips have been useful! If you would like more information or to talk to one of our volunteers, please email us at info@thestreetdogproject.org