What To Do If Your Dog Gets Lost
By Mary Meador

Signs, you'll want to put up lots of signs in your surrounding area. Divide sheets of poster board into four
sections. Keep your message brief (Lost Golden Retriever male/female, light gold, etc.). Write in large block
letters so the sign will be easy to read and add the word "REWARD" and a number where you can be reached. Slip the signs into large Zip Loc baggies (2 gal) so they will be weather proof. When you are placing the signs, remember they they will most likely be read from a passing car so put them at eye level from that perspective. 

Recruit some friends to walk the neighborhood (remember that someone needs to be home to answer the phone) and ask if the dog has been seen. Kids are great because they are most likely to be on foot and probably know the good hiding places. Talk to as many as you can, describe your dog and tell them about the reward (the amount doesn't have to be large) and give them your number. 
f your dog hasn't strayed too far, the above will probably reunite you with your wandering companion. If, by the
second day, he/she is still missing you'll want to launch a second "attack." 

Place and ad in the newspaper describing the vicinity where the dog was lost, give a brief description and a phone number. Also be sure and check the lost and found to see if your pet has been picked up by someone. 
Use a good picture of your dog (if you don't have one, be sure to take one and put it in a place where you can
easily find it) and have some reward posters printed. Take the handouts to local shopping centers and post them
(with the merchants approval) in shop windows. Try and place some of them by cash registers so that people can get one when they are checking out. 

Alert area vets and rescue groups about your missing pet. Also check to see if there are organizations that
specialize in reuniting lost pets with owners. Walk the area animal shelters. Physically checking the shelters is much better than simply calling because shelter workers are often overworked and may not realize your dog is there or they may be unfamiliar with your breed. 

Thank you Mary for this informative article!  Also check out the following link for a very complete and informative article on what to do if you dog is lost.

http://www.cyberpet/cyberdog/articles/findpet/lostpet1.htm

http://www.cyberpet/cyberdog/articles/findpet/lostpet2.htm

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