What To Do if Your Dog Gets Lost

Lost Dogs?
By B Taggart

Many dog owners fear losing their beloved pet, but are unaware of what they should do in the event that their animal does go missing, to improve their chances of bringing them home safe and sound.

The key advice to remember if you pet goes missing is to act quickly. If your dog has wandered off on its own, it likely won't have gone too far, so even asking around your neighbourhood could reveal its whereabouts, especially as your dog may even have become trapped in sheds or under hedges. You don't need to feel embarrassed about calling loudly for your pet, either - if your dog hears your recognisable voice, it could help it find its way home.

If you're fairly certain your dog is not to be found in your local area, it's time to take the campaign wider. Calling local animal rescue shelters is a vital step, as your dog may have been found wandering alone and taken in. You should be aware that some shelters only keep stray animals for a limited time, due to overcrowding and lack of funding, so it's a good idea to check back regularly and see if a dog matching your pet's description has been recovered.

Other calls can be made to local newspapers to place a lost pet ad, and you can print off your own flyers at home or in the local library to spread the word. If you include a colour photo of your dog, rather than just a description, this could also boost your chances of someone spotting the animal and remembering your flyer. Printing or photocopying flyers and placing advertisements may sound like an expensive task, but depending on your dog Insurance policy, you could find that you receive financial help towards these costs.

Pet insurance is not the only consideration you can make as a responsible pet owner; you could also consider having your dog micro-chipped so you'll always know their whereabouts. Many animal wardens and charities will scan for microchips as soon as they recover lost animals, and this will bring up the owner's contact details and address, meaning you could be reunited in less than 24 hours.

In today's tech-savvy world, you can also make use of the internet to track down your missing animal, leaving free posts on dedicated dog owner websites and social networks.

Bob Taggart writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.