Dog Detective® - Lost Dogs & Found Dogs - the first and largest pet recovery network on the Internet

Lost Dogs

Steps to take Immediately when your Dog is Lost

1.	PUT UP POSTERS Print Poster Now - Post flyers and posters within a minimum of a 3-mile radius of where your dog was last seen. 32% of lost dogs are found over ten miles from home.
*In some cities it is not legal to post or hang signs on trees, Department of Water and/or Power poles. In Los Angeles county, CA you can be fined - please check with your city government.
2.	Visit local Animal Control, humane societies & animal shelters - Get a Map of all shelters and vets in your area
3.	Call local veterinarian offices during the day. After 5 PM, call veterinarian emergency clinics
4.	Search the Dog Detective database
5.	Register your dog with Dog Detective (it's free and we never spam)
6.	Check "Dogs For Sale" ads on the Internet and in the paper. Many dogs are taken to be sold or given as presents.
7.	Search your property thoroughly - many dogs are found accidentally locked in sheds, closets, bathrooms, basements, etc.
8.	Place strong-scented articles outside your home in case your dog tries to find their way home.
9.	Walk the neighborhood, talk to everybody you run across, and leave your phone number. Leave flyers on (not in) the mailboxes Print Flyers Now
10.	Contact your neighborhood association and let them know that your pet is missing.
11.	Place an ad in the local newspaper. Check the newspaper found ads everyday.
12.	Call the city, county, and state road crews, DOT to find out if your pet has been injured on the road. Call Animal Control daily to see if they have found your dog.
13.	Call every local radio and local tv station including public radio and TV and cable stations. Ask them to run an announcement.
14.	Live near a railroad track? Tip from railroad employee: "Please let people know that dogs are always running down railroad tracks. I work for the railroad and see them a lot in the middle of tracks. Dogs often run inside the tracks and get run down--no way to stop in time for them as it takes 2 miles to stop a train. Please advise to also peruse tracks if they can, or alongside of the tracks."
15.	Don't give up! It is not unusual for a dog to be found up to two years after they went missing. Read the solved cases to see how other people found their dogs

Tried all these things and still haven't found your dog?

EXPAND Your Search Area - Dogs can travel amazing amount of distance in a short period of time. One dog traveled 25 miles from home in only three days! Another one of our members found her Chihuahua 50 miles from home.

At the minimum - start your search within a 3 mile radius of where you last saw your dog, then go to 10, 25, 50... Keep expanding your search area until you find your dog. 32% of lost dogs are found over ten miles from home.

Posters
Do not underestimate the "Power of Posters!" Start by posting flyers and posters within a minimum of a 3-mile radius of where your dog was lost. 32% of lost dogs are found over ten miles from home. Keep expanding your search area until you find your dog. Create custom posters and flyers with your dog's photo in the member section.

Print a Poster

Dog Web Page
Each registered dog gets their own individual web page. Search engines index these pages. Even if the person who lost their dog doesn't know to go to dogdetective.com they can still find a dog through the standard search engines.

Find out more>>

Lost Dog ALERT
The Dog Detective ALERT System is worldwide network of Dog Detective Members including registered Animal Control Departments, Humane Societies, Rescue Organizations, Search/Rescue Groups, Shelters, No Kill Shelters, SPCAs, Veterinarians, Law Enforcement Agencies, Neighborhood Associations, Educational Institutions, Individuals (Volunteers), Dog Groomers, Pet Stores and Dog Trainers.

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Dog Match
Dog Match will send you an email as soon as a dog, matching your dog's description, is posted to this web site. Save time searching postings by letting Dog Detective do the work for you!

Find out more>>

Reward?
Dog Detective DOES NOT recommend specifying the amount of a reward - for one reason - it's just not good for the dogs. It only encourages dog knapping. There are some not so nice people in this world that will kidnap your dog and demand money for it's return. However; if someone has stolen your dog, a reward may give them the incentive to call you about him rather than sell him.

We also realize that it's your dog and your decision - if you decide to offer a reward:

DO NOT give anyone a reward without having the dog in your possession first!!!
READ this information on Pet Scams (opens in new window)
Specific information on recent scams here

If anyone demands that you pay them in exchange for returning your dog, they should be reported to the police for extortion and investigated for the theft of your dog.

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