Lost & Found Dog

What to Do if You’ve Lost Your Dog

No matter how careful we are, dogs can sometimes slip away—a gate left open, a moment of distraction at the door, or an irresistible scent on the wind can lead to separation. The moment you realize your dog is missing can be overwhelming, stressful, and confusing.

But here’s the good news: most lost dogs are found within a mile of home, often within the first 24 hours. Acting quickly and methodically gives you the best chance of a happy reunion.

At Canine Corner, we’ve brought together proven steps, expert tips, and community-based strategies to help you bring your best friend home.

1. Report Your Lost Pet Right Away

Start with Petco Love Lost, a free national lost-and-found pet database powered by facial recognition technology.

  • Upload a clear, recent photo of your dog or search by location.

  • Create a Lost Pet profile to instantly share on social media and generate printable flyers.

  • Need help? Use this tutorial guide to navigate the site.

2. Search in Person

Visit your local animal shelter, animal control agency, and surrounding veterinary offices—in person if possible.

  • Bring a printed photo of your dog, your contact information, and a backup contact.

  • File a lost pet report directly with them. Many lost pets are brought in and scanned for microchips before the owner even knows they’re gone.

3. Check and Update Identification

If your dog is microchipped, verify your contact information immediately in the microchip registry so anyone who scans the chip can reach you.

  • Search Petco Love Lost using your dog’s chip number—the finder may have already posted them.

  • Dogs with updated microchips are returned home over twice as often as those without.

4. Spread the Word Widely

The more people who know your dog is missing, the better your chances.

  • Engage your neighbors—they may have spotted your dog or brought them inside for safety.

  • Hang large, brightly colored posters in high-traffic areas with a simple message:
    “LOST DOG – Please Help – Call [Your Number]”

  • Share your dog’s profile in local Facebook lost-and-found groups, on Nextdoor, and on Pawboost.

  • Ask friends, family, and neighbors to share your posts for maximum reach.

5. Search Your Community

Walk or drive your neighborhood, focusing on likely hiding spots and resources your dog might seek out.

  • Check under bushes, porches, sheds, or parked cars—scared dogs often hide in small, secure spaces.

  • Look near water or food sources, including parks, streams, and dumpsters.

  • Consider your dog’s personality:

    • Friendly/outgoing dogs may approach people.

    • Shy or fearful dogs may run or stay hidden in quiet areas.

  • Bring treats and a crinkly bag to lure them without chasing or calling loudly.

6. Stay Consistent and Don’t Give Up

Lost dogs can be found in hours, days, or even weeks. Keep checking shelters, refreshing flyers, and updating online posts.

  • Dogs have been reunited hundreds of miles from home thanks to persistence, community help, and updated microchips.

A Final Word - Above all—stay calm, act fast, and use every available tool.
Your quick action, combined with the power of community and resources like Petco Love Lost, can make all the difference in reuniting you with your best friend.

If your dog is missing, start now: Report to Petco Love Lost and begin your search today.

Make a Flyer Information Below

What to Do if You Find a Lost Dog

If you’ve ever spotted a dog wandering down the street without a collar, darting into the woods, or lingering in your neighborhood, you’ve probably felt concerned—and maybe unsure about what to do next. Every lost dog has a family who may be searching frantically, and your actions could be the key to reuniting them.

At Canine Corner, we believe that reuniting lost pets with their families is a community effort. Here’s how you can help a found dog safely and responsibly.

1. Report the Pet Immediately

  • Go to Petco Love Lost and create a Found Pet listing with a clear photo.

  • This free national database uses facial recognition technology to match lost pet reports with found animals.

  • Even if you can’t catch the dog, you can still create a listing and note where the dog was last seen.

2. Look for ID Tags

  • Check for a collar and ID tags with contact information.

  • If there are no tags or the dog isn’t wearing a collar, bring them to a Petco, veterinary office, or shelter to scan for a microchip.

  • Try to contact the owner before moving the dog far from the spot you found them—you may be just houses away from their home.

3. Alert Your Community

  • Call your local animal shelter and veterinary offices to report the found dog.

  • Speak to neighbors—many dogs are found within 1,000 feet of their home. Walking them around the area can lead to a quick reunion.

  • If you found the dog near a busy road, remote trail, or other risky location, act quickly to ensure they’re safe.

4. Use Social Media and Local Networks

  • Share your Found Pet listing on Nextdoor, local Facebook lost-and-found pet pages, and other community forums.

  • Post in neighborhood groups and ask others to reshare.

  • Check posts from pet owners in case the dog you found matches their missing pet.

5. How to Safely Approach a Lost Dog

Many lost dogs are frightened, even if they’re friendly at home. Sudden movements or loud calls can cause them to run. Instead:

  1. Grab a crinkly bag (like a chip bag) and soft treats.

  2. Sit or kneel sideways to the dog—avoid direct eye contact.

  3. Crinkle the bag and toss treats toward the dog without moving toward them.

  4. Let them approach you at their own pace.

6. Catching or Trapping a Lost Dog

If the dog won’t come close:

  • Contact local animal rescue groups—some have humane traps and the expertise to set them up safely.

  • Choose a trap large enough for the dog to fully enter before stepping on the trip plate.

  • Always monitor traps closely to avoid injury or escape.

7. Where to Take a Lost Dog

If you can’t keep the dog while searching for the owner:

  • Take them to your local animal shelter or animal control office—this is the first place most owners check.

  • Make sure the shelter, animal control, and local vets know you’ve found the dog, even if you choose to foster them during the search.

  • Don’t assume a shelter will automatically euthanize the pet—microchip scans and shelter networks often lead to quick reunions.

A Final Word - Every minute counts when a dog is lost. By reporting, scanning for a microchip, alerting your community, and approaching with care, you can make the difference between a pet spending another night alone and being reunited with the family who loves them.

If you find a lost dog today, take action—your kindness might be the reason their story ends happily.

 

Also check the other sections below. (Found a Lost Pet? Here’s What You Should Do and the Found Dog Section)

Lost Pet Reunification in New Jersey: Why It Matters Now More Than Ever (Updated Info)

New Jersey is facing an ongoing animal welfare crisis. A growing number of municipalities are failing to maintain animal impoundment facilities, despite the clear requirement under N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.16 and the confirmation of this obligation by the New Jersey Superior Court in Borough of Mahwah v. Bergen County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Docket No. BER-L-6362-18. This lack of compliance places both pets and their families at risk and makes it harder for lost animals to find their way home.

Shelters and animal control officers must recognize how critical lost pet reunification is to saving the lives of domestic companion animals in our state. The statistics are not on the side of a dog or cat once they are brought into a shelter. Too often, animals remain unclaimed due to missing identification, slow reporting of lost pets, language barriers, and limitations in shelter processes.

Why Lost Pet Reunification Should Be a Priority
A strong reunification program saves valuable shelter space, reduces animal stress, and strengthens the bond between pets and their owners. More importantly, it prevents unnecessary shelter intake, focusing resources on animals that are truly in need — those that are sick, injured, in immediate danger, or have no other safe options.

Getting Started: Building the Foundation
One of the most effective first steps is to dedicate staff or volunteer hours specifically to lost pet reunification. A Lost and Found Coordinator, supported by appropriate technology, can drastically improve return-to-owner (RTO) rates. Providing resources in multiple languages and encouraging the public to take an active role are essential for success.

Prevention: Stopping the Problem Before It Starts
Every program, whether community-based or adoption-based, should have a “return to home” component. Preventive measures include:
• Supplying collars, tags, and microchips
• Educating the public on lost pet prevention
• Partnering with community spaces, local organizations, and social media groups to expand awareness and response capabilities

Reunification: Getting Pets Home Quickly
A well-structured reunification process should:
• Make reclaiming pets free and easy for owners
• Empower good Samaritans and field officers to return pets without unnecessary intake
• Include a reliable system for matching lost reports with shelter inventory
• Use volunteers for transport or outreach when needed

Reducing Repeat Losses
Once a pet is returned, proactive steps can prevent future incidents. These include registering microchips at the time of implant, repairing enclosures, connecting owners to affordable spay/neuter services, and reinforcing the importance of secure fencing and gates.

Breaking Down Barriers
Common obstacles such as high reclaim fees, inaccessible shelter hours, outdated lost-and-found pages, and language barriers can be addressed with clear communication, low-cost ID resources, volunteer engagement, and community partnerships.

A Call to Action
The path forward is clear: prevention, efficient reunification, and recurrence reduction must work hand-in-hand. By investing in these strategies, shelters, animal control officers, and communities can dramatically improve outcomes for lost pets in New Jersey — ensuring more happy reunions and fewer animals languishing in shelters.

Lost Pet Reunification: Using Text Messaging to Bring Pets Home Faster

 

Progressive animal shelters that understand the critical importance of reuniting pets with their families — or keeping them from entering the shelter system in the first place — actively build these systems into their operations. They integrate lost pet reunification processes into both staff responsibilities and volunteer networks, ensuring that every possible resource is used to get animals home.

Because of high call volumes and limited staffing, some organizations may struggle to fully implement lost pet programming. These challenges can be overcome by adopting a Text Messaging/SMS platform to automate responses and follow up with finders of lost and loose pets. This technology delivers instant information to the finder and supports shelter staff by streamlining follow-up.

A shelter can designate a trained volunteer to lead this program, providing them with a phone dedicated to lost pet communications. The number to text when a pet is lost or found in the local community should be well marketed and shared widely, so anyone who encounters a stray animal knows exactly how to connect with help. This number should appear on Lost & Found Pet social media pages, municipal websites, flyers, posters, and bulletin boards throughout the community.

How the Program Works

  1. Dedicated Number – The shelter provides one easy-to-remember text number for all lost or found pet reports.

  2. Automated Response – The Text/SMS platform sends immediate instructions to the finder, including:
    • Checking ID tags and scanning for a microchip
    • Posting on local Lost & Found Pet pages
    • Contacting the appropriate animal control office

  3. Follow-Up – A designated staff member or volunteer contacts the finder within 48 hours to confirm the outcome and provide any additional assistance.

  4. Point Person – Assign one volunteer or staff member to oversee the program and manage the device used for text communications.

Public Instructions
If you’ve found a stray pet or your pet is missing, text [TEXT NUMBER] right away. You’ll receive step-by-step guidance to help reunite pets with their families, often without the pet ever entering the shelter. This service is quick, easy, and designed to keep pets safe and with the people who love them.

Why It Matters
While it takes time to connect with the community and gather text contact information, the payoff is significant. Quick, automated messaging means finders get accurate instructions immediately, and shelters can easily follow up to confirm successful reunification. This approach not only improves return-to-owner rates but also reduces shelter intake, eases overcrowding, and builds trust between shelters and the communities they serve.

For shelters committed to lifesaving outcomes, using a text-based lost pet system is no longer optional — it is an essential part of modern, progressive animal welfare.

Prevent Your Pet From Being  A Lost Pet

To prevent your pet from becoming lost, ensure they have proper identification, such as a collar with updated tags and a microchip, which acts as permanent ID. Licensing your pet is also important for quick reunification. Spaying or neutering reduces the likelihood of pets wandering. Teach your pet strong recall commands and when transporting your pet, ensure they are secured in vehicles to prevent escapes once you arrive at your destination. Maintain fences and screens and educate your family on preventing escapes. During changes in routine, like construction or vacations, take extra precautions, and always have a recent photo of your pet for emergencies.

Found a Lost Pet? Here’s What You Should Do

If you’ve found a lost pet, you might wonder about the best course of action. Here are some important steps to consider:

Contact Animal Control: Did you call animal control when you found the pet? They are equipped to handle lost animals and safely return them to their owners.

  • What Did Animal Control Ask You to Do?
    •  Keep the Pet: If animal control asks you to keep the lost pet, this is not in accordance with the law. A certified animal control officer should never request that you hold onto a lost pet.
    • Transport the Pet: Similarly, animal control should not ask you to transport the pet yourself. Transporting a lost pet can be risky for both you and the animal, as it involves safety concerns such as the potential for aggressive behavior or the risk of the pet escaping.
  • Why Ensure the Lost Pet Goes to the Animal Shelters?
    • Local Search Hub: Animal shelters are central locations where pet owners actively search for missing pets.
    • Medical Care: Shelters can provide necessary medical care and checkups for pets that may have been on the road or exposed to the elements. 
    • Identification: Shelters can scan for microchips and check for other forms of identification to help reunite pets with their families. 
    • Safety: Shelters offer a safe environment for lost pets until they can be reunited with their owners or placed in a new home.

These steps ensure that lost pets receive the best care and have the highest chance of reuniting with their families. Your initial instinct to care for the pet is commendable, but involving animal control and shelters is crucial for the pet’s well-being and swift return to their loved ones. If you have any doubts about what animal control asks you to do, don’t hesitate to seek clarification or contact a local animal shelter directly for guidance.

Here Are Some Things You Can Do to Help Your Local Animal Shelter Make Space?

  • Foster a Pet: If you have the capacity, consider fostering pets. This provides temporary care and frees up space in shelters for other animals in need. You might be saving 2 animals' lives by fostering 1.
  • Contact Rescues: Contact local rescue organizations. They often have networks and resources to help find homes for pets or can provide additional support to shelters.
  • Promote Animals on Social Media: Share posts on your social media channels about pets in need from local shelters and rescues. This increases visibility and helps find potential adopters.

Lost Dog

In the unfortunate event that your pet becomes lost, time is of the essence. Act swiftly and take immediate steps to reunite with your beloved companion. Avoid wasting precious days and start your search promptly – the sooner you initiate the process, the higher the chances of bringing your pet home to safety. Every moment matters in ensuring a swift and successful reunion with your furry friend.

Losing a beloved pet can be a scary and traumatic event. Every day most animal shelter receive phone calls about a lost or missing pet, as well as calls from members of the public who have found stray or missing animals.

If your dog is lost, call your local animal shelter and animal control.

After hours, please contact the shelter as soon as possible when it opens. Please be sure to include a description of the animal, the location from where your pet went missing or where you have found an animal that is not yours. Please include your name, address, and telephone number where you can be reached, and if possible, in your email, please attach a photo or two of the lost or found animal that we can share to help others in identifying and locating your lost or found animal.

Found Dog

When you see a dog wandering loose, don’t immediately rush over and grab the dog’s collar. Although it’s important to get the dog to safety, your safety is key as well. Not every dog is friendly, and a lost dog may be frightened, stressed, or injured.

Find out about:

  • Approaching a Lost Dog
  • Keeping a Lost Dog Safe
  • Checking for Identification
  • Alerting the Lost Dog’s Owner

 

Make a Flyer

Paw Boost Free Lost Pet Flyer

Print a high-quality missing flyer using our free template.

 

Canva Lost Pet Flyer

Print a high-quality missing pet flyer using their template.  You must have this product to use it.

Where to Post

PawBoost

Your lost pet's alert will reach more local people with PawBoost than with any other service.

  • Post to the lost & found pet Facebook page for your area
  • Alert local members of the Rescue Squad™ by email
  • Print a lost pet flyer
  • Add your pet to our lost & found
  • Boost your pet's alert to thousands of local people

Lost My Doggie

  •  Issue "Amber Alert" To Neighbors
  •  Print Lost & Found Flyers
  •  Post To Facebook Lost Pet Pages
  •  List Your Pet In Our Lost & Found
  •  Reach 1000's Of People Instantly

Social Media

Post on all local social media platforms (Facebook, X, Neighborhood, TikTok, Reddit, etc.)  The more platforms and places you post the better chance you have of spreading the word and finding you lost pet.  All communities and usually counties have Lost and Found pages.