Post your flyers on telephone poles, Parks, Malls, Bus stops, store and restaurant windows. Place flyers anyplace that has a bulletin board like shelter bulletin boards, school bulletin boards & senior centers (older people KNOW what goes on in towns!). Wal-Mart usually has bulletin boards at the entry of stores, laundromats, pet supply stores, grocery stores, gasoline stations, etc. Check back often to make sure they have not been covered up or taken down.

Don't hesitate to stop people on the street and tell them about your missing dog, be sure to give them a flyer. Do not be afraid to ask for help! Don't travel alone. Take a friend or family member with you.

Talk to everybody you run across. This includes the postman, paperboy, children, parents waiting at the school bus stop, school crossing guards, neighborhood crime watch groups, garbage pick-up crews, etc. Give them a flyer with a description of your pet and your phone number as well.

Ask everybody you meet if they saw or heard anything unusual in the neighborhood around the time your dog went missing. Don't forget to write down everything they tell you including strange vehicles, work crews, people, or activities.

When you go into a store to ask to put flyer up, be sure to talk to the manager, explain loosing your dog. THANK THEM sincerely for allowing you to put your flyer up. Be sure to talk to clerks, and customers if they are not busy. Talk to anyone who will listen! Be sure to hand them out to meter readers, school and commercial bus drivers, mail delivery people, UPS & Fed-Ex drivers, sanitation workers, newspaper delivery people, Dept. of Highways workers, florist delivery people, police and firemen - to anyone who is outside working and may see the dog. Check with the all veterinarian offices in your area and ask them to display one of your flyers.

Visit schools and ask to place flyers in rooms and on their bulletin boards. If possible talk to the students. (Always report to the office before doing anything on school property.)

Use fluorescent paper for higher visibility.

It is very important to always withhold several identifying marks and characteristics of your lost pet. You may need to use these later to verify that a person has actually found your pet and is not trying to scam you.

Your posters should include:

A RECENT photograph of your dog, IF you don't have a recent photo or any photo of your dog go to the web and find a similar looking dog. People will not know the photo is not the same dog. One rainstorm and if your dog spends some time without eating, he won't look the same as in the picture anyway.

the dog's name,

the breed of your dog,

sex and color.

List the date and place your dog was lost.

Make a note if your dog needs meds.

MAKE YOUR PHONE NUMBERS BIG (remember to include both daytime and evening phone numbers).Make sure the telephone numbers provided are covered 24 hours a day. Keep your cell phones charged up so they are ready when you need them.

Don't write down your name or address on your flyer. With the number of scam artists and other criminals in our society, it is never a good idea to publicize this type of information.


Offer a reward (do NOT indicate any cash amount).

It is extremely important to post MANY flyers about your lost pet within a 1-mile radius of where it was lost.

(Note: If you are using an inkjet printer, if it gets wet, the print will run. To prevent this from happening you can insert your flyer in a plastic page protector,then staple the flyer with the page protectors open edge facing down so that rain won't ruin your flyer.

Examine your posted flyers frequently and replace the ones that are missing or damaged.

Overall, flyers or posters produce more "finds" than anything else. But don't neglect the rest of the tips!

Useful advice from someone who's been there, done that:
"One thing I learned when I talked with the Pet Detective is that posters have to be really big and colorful - 11 x 17 and in color and laminated.  I had put all kinds of little posters out with bright colored paper but it didn't really show up Jake's picture.  Also, they pointed out that Bostons tend not to be wanderers so someone probably picked him up so posters should be put out AT LEAST within a 5 mile radius.  Also, the poster should have a picture of the dog take up about 1/3 of the poster and it should be a picture side view showing head to tail.  They also recommended puting in a statement like "Senior citizen companion - Please help - Call with any information or sightings" - then put a phone number and the word "Reward" - not the amount. It was the color on the poster and then the big picture of Jake that caught the eye of the woman who found him.  She lived about 10 miles from where we do so I am convinced that someone picked him up and he got away from them. 

I also learned that Wal-Mart will not allow you to put up flyers - they would only put one in their breakroom.  All the vets, Petsmart and Petco have areas to put up flyers.  I put up the big poster on a corner near the place where Wal-Mart customers drive in and out (Beltline and Hwy 80).  After spending 3 days going door to door and putting out flyers everywhere, I got a response within 4 hours of putting up the big laminated poster.  It was definitely worth the money! " - Janet

Alert your regular delivery people (Mailman, Paperboy, UPS man, etc.).

Go to each house in the area where your pet was lost and talk to the residents. Give them a flyer with your dog's information and your phone number on it. Leave it attached to their door if they are not home.

Notify neighbors and friends; ask them to have their children keep an eye out for your dog. Children LOVE to help! Emphasize to them: "Do NOT chase the dog if you see it". Instruct them to call you or another other adult immediately if they see the dog.

Drive or walk the neighborhood area, which the dog was last seen. Work in groups of two if possible as it is safer and you'll have someone to circle around the dog if needed. Take turns with family members and walk around during day and night hours. Carry a flashlight to check in dark places. Don't forget to bring your pet's favorite toy and treats. Call their name and make any familiar sounds or whistles that he/she regularly hears.

If possible go door to door (Don’t allow young children to do this unaccompanied).

If you have a dog or dogs that are familiar to the lost dog, grab a leash and some water and treats and take your other dog along on the search.

Use an "Acme Dog Whistle" to get your pet's attention. The high-pitched sound from these whistles can carry up to a mile or more. This whistle is the "silent" ultrasonic type. There is a simple adjustment that lowers the tone into the human audible range. Use this audible tone when searching for your pet because the sound will carry farther.

It's also important to stop regularly, be quiet, and listen for your pet to make a noise in reply.

Don't wander around looking for your pet alone, either during the day or at night. Always bring a friend or relative. This is especially important in unfamiliar neighborhoods.

Some experts recommend leaving a piece of your recently worn clothing that has not been washed outside your house so your pet can smell you and find his way home. If you are hunting in an unfamiliar area when you loose your dog, leave your shirt tied to a tree where the dog was last seen and check oftento see if your dog has returned to be near your shirt which has your smell on it.