Immediately put a dish of your pet’s food on your porch, as well as a favorite blanket or toy so they can follow the scent home.  This should also keep them from straying very far.  Refill the dish if the food disappears.

2. Search immediately – most animals do not stray far during the first hours of getting lost.  Call your pet’s name often and loudly.  Ask people on the street if they have seen your pet.  Give them your number in case they do.  Most animals become very frightened, and will hide.  Actively search your property and the surrounding area – don’t assume they will come to you immediately.

3. Visit the municipal shelters nearest you daily. Stay animals without ID are held required to be held for only four days according to Michigan State Law. Check the shelters daily to be sure you do not miss your animal. Keep in mind your local humane society may hold stray animals as well, so be sure to check all locations.   

4. Make flyers with “LOST CAT / DOG” in big bold letter so it can be read by a driver from a lamp pole.  Include a brief description, a picture if you have one, and your phone number.  Consider offering a small reward.  Ask to be called even if people just see your pet.  Post the flyers in the surrounding area, at local vet offices, and pet stores (and anyplace else that will let you).  For outdoor flyers, you can enclose them in plastic sheet protectors (about $5 for 50 at most office supply stores).

5. Contact the newspapers to run a lost ad.  All will run at least one ad for free.  Watch the Found ads in these papers for an animal that matches the description of yours.   

6. If you know where your pet is, but they will not come to you, the shelters often have live traps that you can rent.  

7. Don’t give up hope, keep checking the Shelters and looking.  Sometimes it takes a while.  We’ve reunited dogs with owners after weeks and cats with owners after months.

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