It's every dog owner’s nightmare—your dog breaks free from you and runs down the street, vanishing around the corner. A dog can become lost in a matter of seconds and what you do next can mean the difference between a happy reunion or never seeing your friend again.

Prevention

To paraphrase a popular saying, and ounce of prevention is worth a pound of puppy! There are things you can do now to prevent losing your dog, or if you do lose him, to ensure that you find him again. First, make sure that your dog has a properly fitting collar and a leash that is in good shape. Many dogs are inadvertently set free simply by wriggling out of their collars and away from their owner. This is not to say that the collar should be stranglehold tight! It should fit the dog comfortably with room for a couple of fingers to fit under.

Ensure that your outside enclosures are "dog-proof". A loose board in a fence or an improperly latching gate can mean doggie freedom for your pet. If you have an electronic fence system, ensure that the batteries in the collar are replaced as recommended. To ensure that your dog has coming home on his mind, give him a little treat each time he comes in the house after a walk or a time outside. In this way, he will know that if he comes back in the door, he will get that little treat and may be more inclined to hurry home.

Of course, it is much easier to round-up a dog who has had some training, so your first line of defense is to obedience train your dog. Go to a local class or work at home with him. If he is running down the road it is too late to try to teach him to "COME", but there are steps you can take. First, DO NOT chase him if you can help it. (You may need to follow a bit to keep him in sight, however). Try to get his attention and then, while calling him, run the other way. Dogs don’t really want to run away, they are just interested in having fun and if he thinks you are going for a walk, he will usually be glad to follow. If your dog loves car rides, getting the car started might get his attention and entice him back. All returning dogs deserve praise! Do not scold him if he has returned to you no matter how high he sent your blood pressure! If you scold him, then you have taught him that it is not always a good thing to come to you—exactly the opposite response you want.

Do not allow your pet to roam freely. There are many dangers that a wandering dog can encounter and allowing him to roam is almost surely going to end in trouble. Spay or neuter your dog, too. This will eliminate the dog’s desire to wander to find the opposite sex.

Things you can do now

There are steps that you can take now that can help you find your dog if he becomes lost. First, take some good photos of your pet. Get good front and side shots and close ups of any distinguishing features or markings. These will be extremely valuable tools should you need to post flyers or even if you need to prove that the dog is yours.

License your dog and keep his current rabies and license tag on his collar whenever you are outside the house. Licenses can be your dog’s ticket home. If you move or change your phone number, be sure that you update the license information as well.

Discuss with your vet the latest microchipping techniques. Your vet can implant a tiny chip in the dog and a shelter can track you down via the chip. Tattooing may be an option for you too.

Finding a Lost Pet

If the worst has happened and you have lost your pet, you must start looking immediately while the trail is hot. Time is of the essence to ensure that your pet gets home safely. First, search the nearby area thoroughly. Ensure that the dog has not been inadvertently locked in a shed or garage…or worse yet, a car. There have been cases of families searching all over for their dog while he slept on the backseat of the car!  Check any large drain pipes, holes, etc.—anywhere big enough for your dog to go.

Next, create some flyers with good, clear pictures of the dog. Make them eye-catching and be sure that you have all the pertinent information on them such as a description of the dog, including sex, where the dog is missing from, your phone number, and any medical conditions the dog may have. Leave out one or two distinguishing characteristics, however. These can be use to determine if a caller actually has your pet.  Flyers can usually be easily and quickly created on a home PC, but most copy shops can help you out if you don’t have one. Offer a reward, but do not state an amount in the flyer. Most people will be glad to return your dog without any compensation, but a reward may get those not normally inclined to rescue a dog to help you.

With flyers in hand, comb the neighborhood and area in which you lost your dog. Go to all the houses, talk to the people and leave them with a flyer. Children can be your best allies! They are outside and see things that adults often miss. Ask them to keep an eye out for your dog and to alert you immediately if they see him. The mailman, UPS man, paperboy, oil delivery-men, garbage men --all can be a help to you. The more eyes the better!

Place an ad in the area newspapers and "free" papers. Run the ad for at least a week and on a Sunday. Also, be sure to check the "found" ads in all the local papers. Never respond to a "found" ad alone. For safety’s sake, bring a friend along with you.

Visit all the shelters and pounds in the area in which you lost your pet. Do not rely on a phone call. Some shelter workers may not familiar with certain breeds. Visit in person to be sure your dog is not there. Cover a wide area. People are not always logical and if someone picked up your dog in one town, they may drop him at a shelter in another town. Leave flyers everywhere you visit and re-visit every few days. Do not trust that the employees will call you. As many municipal pounds only keep the dogs for a few days, your dog’s life may depend on your diligence.

Contact all the vets in the area. If your dog is injured, he may be dropped off at a vet office or if someone found the dog and decided to keep him, they might take him in for shots. Leave flyers posted in the office so that they may be seen by all who come in.

Call your dog as you make your search. Dogs often become disoriented and quite frightened if they have been lost for awhile. Even a normally friendly dog may not come running to you. Calling them might entice them out of a hiding spot. You might want to carry some tasty treats with you, or blow a whistle, anything that you think will help you get your dog’s attention. If your dog has been spotted in an area, place some food there along with an article of your clothing (the smellier the better!) and stake out the area.

Remember that someone may be trying to call you about your dog while you are out looking. Be sure your answering machine is on and that you frequently check your messages or that you have someone in the house to take calls.

As in everything else, remember safety first. Do not visit strangers’ houses alone—always go in pairs. If searching at night, wear reflective clothing and bring a flashlight. Don’t give out your address to strangers- a phone number is sufficient.

Unfortunately, there are some very unscrupulous individuals in the world and they prey on people in their weakest moments. A common scam is to call someone who has lost a pet and say that they have the animal but that they are quite a distance away. They often say that they are a long-distance trucker and ask for money so that they can ship the animal back. Be very cautious.

Do not give up

Do not give up hope! Many animals have been found miles from where they were lost or months later. Keep looking for your pet! With a little work, it is possible to bring a lost pet home!