Lost Dog Action Plan

• Immediately put out food, water, dirty laundry and your dog’s bed on your porch.  
• Assign one person to be the point person for communications and coordination. Determine what phone number and email address to use in advertisements and on social media.
• Organize all current information about your lost dog (name, current picture, breed, description, microchip information, vet record, etc.)

• Go to FreeTexasFlyer.com to have your missing dog posted on Lost Dogs of Texas FaceBook page and PetFBI.org. You also get a flyer to print. (An economical option is to use black and white.)
• Create posters to put in stores, in your yard, etc. Attach to neon colored paper as a background.

• If your dog is microchipped, put priority on getting flyers to nearby vet offices and places with scanners first, before the person who finds your dog does. 
• Get a map of the area, divide the map into sections at least 3 miles in every direction from where the dog was lost. Highlight and assign each section to a volunteer to distribute flyers and hang posters.
• Post a sign in your front yard
• Attach a poster to your car or use window markers to write on your windows.
• Replace your flyers/posters i

• Walk and drive the map areas, distributing flyers and hanging posters. Hang posters at intersections. Give flyers to delivery drivers (mail, UPS, FedEx, etc.), food delivery services, cab companies, bus drivers, neighbors and local businesses. Go door to door in your neighborhood. It is important to talk with people. You may want to keep a record of which neighbors you speak with, so you can come back and check with neighbors you missed.
• Look for “Found” signs.

• Remind your team not to shout and chase your dog if they see her. This may make your dog feel threatened and panic which could cause them to run even further, possibly into traffic. Anyone who sees your dog, even you, should quietly sit or lie down, avert their eyes and lure the dog with tasty treats.

• Submit a lost dog report to your local animal control and visit in person and visit often.
• Call your microchip company to report your lost dog and to make sure your chip information is correct. (microchip company lookup) 
• Notify local police departments
• Alert your Homeowners Association 
• Contact animal service businesses in the area – retail stores, trainers, pet sitters, kennels, etc.
• Find out who picks up deceased animals and contact them.

IMPORTANT: IMost Texas shelters have a required stray hold of 72 hours. After 72 hours, your dog belongs to the county and will either be put to death or put up for adoption. You must go visit at least every other day.

• Visit all county shelters in your county and in nearby counties if you live near a county border. Ask to see all dogs there, even dogs in medical areas or the adoption area. 
• Visit local rescues such as Humane Societies. 
• Take flyers.

• Post on loc
• Post your lost dog on Craigslist with your PetFBI flyer in both the Community/Pets and Community/Lost & Found sections, in your area and nearby areas. Check for found dog ads and for “dog for sale” ads.  If you see your dog for sale, make a copy of the ad. When you call, DO NOT say it is your dog. Say you want to buy the dog and do not ask questions about the dog. Arrange to meet somewhere safe in public. Go with the police if possible.
• Post on NextDoor.com
• Post in local newspapers.

• Use a map to record sightings of the dog. Record the date, time and exact location.
• If you have had multiple sightings in the same area, put out items that smell familiar to your dog. You can also add a feeding station and a trail camera in the area to verify a sighting.  
• Avoid bringing in large groups to areas where there have been sightings as they may scare a lost dog and cause him/her to leave the area.
• No sightings? Start over with a larger area.
• Humane trapping.