Discovering that your dog or cat is missing can be terrifying, but the steps you take during the first few hours can make a real difference.
Start searching immediately, but stay organized. Ask friends or family members to help so you can search the neighborhood, contact local shelters and post your pet online at the same time.
Use this timeline to guide your search during the first two hours, the first two days and beyond.
Begin at the exact place where your pet was last seen. Before expanding the search, carefully check your home, yard and immediate surroundings.
Look inside:
Ask neighbors to check their garages, sheds, patios, fenced yards, security cameras and doorbell camera footage. A pet can become trapped inside a garage or storage area without anyone realizing it.
In South Florida, pay special attention to thick tropical landscaping, drainage areas, construction sites and the edges of canals or retention ponds. Never enter a canal or unsafe area while searching.
Bring a leash, treats and something that makes a familiar sound, such as:
Speak in your normal, calm voice. Frantic shouting and a large group of people calling your pet’s name may frighten an already scared animal.
If someone stays at home, ask them to keep a phone nearby and watch for your pet’s return.
A friendly, confident dog may approach neighbors or follow someone home. A frightened or anxious dog may run from everyone, including the people they know.
If your dog is spotted but will not approach:
Ask people to report the dog’s location, direction of travel and time of the sighting instead of chasing or calling out.
Repeated sightings can help you identify a pattern and determine where to place food, a camera or a humane trap with help from an experienced lost-pet recovery volunteer.
Lost cats often behave differently from lost dogs. An indoor cat that escapes may hide silently very close to home and may not respond when called.
Search slowly and carefully around:
Search again late at night or very early in the morning when the neighborhood is quieter. Use a flashlight, even during daylight, to look for eyes reflecting from dark hiding places.
Ask neighbors for permission to physically check their property. Do not rely on someone simply looking out a window and saying the cat is not there.
If you leave food outside, monitor it with a camera when possible. South Florida wildlife and neighborhood animals can quickly consume unattended food.
Do not wait until the next day to contact shelters or post online.
Create reports with:
Also call nearby veterinary hospitals and emergency animal clinics. Someone who finds an injured or frightened pet may bring it to the closest veterinary office instead of a shelter.
If you live near a county line, report your pet to both counties.
Palm Beach County
Report and search through Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control. Lost-and-found volunteers can also assist pet owners at 561-233-1282. South county residents may call 561-276-1344, extension 41282.
You can also check with Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League.
Broward County
Use the Broward County Animal Care lost-and-found resources. Broward County Animal Care can be reached at 954-359-1313.
Broward County reminds owners that it remains their responsibility to contact the shelter and actively search for their pet, even when the pet has identification.
Miami-Dade County
File a report with Miami-Dade Animal Services as soon as possible. Miami-Dade recommends visiting the facility in person so you can search all areas of the shelter.
Miami-Dade Animal Services receives a large number of animals and may legally hold found dogs and cats for only a limited period before making them available for adoption, so prompt and repeated checking is important.
If your pet is microchipped, contact the registry immediately.
Confirm that:
If you do not know which company registered the chip, use the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup.
Do not place your pet’s complete microchip number on a public flyer or social media post. Keep that information available as proof of ownership.
A lost-pet flyer should be understandable in a few seconds. Use a recent, clear photograph rather than a generic picture of the breed whenever possible.
Include:
For a fearful pet, add:
DO NOT CHASE OR CALL. TEXT OR CALL WITH LOCATION AND DIRECTION OF TRAVEL.
For a friendly pet, you might use:
PLEASE SECURE IN A FENCED YARD OR GARAGE IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO, THEN CALL.
Consider creating English, Spanish and Haitian Creole versions for wider distribution in South Florida.
Do not publish your complete home address, microchip number or every unique identifying mark. Keep one private detail that you can use to verify a person has actually found your pet.
LOST DOG: PLEASE HELP
Mia is a medium-sized brown-and-white dog who went missing near Forest Hill Boulevard and Military Trail in West Palm Beach on September 14.
She is wearing a pink collar and may be frightened.
DO NOT CHASE. Please call or text sightings immediately with the location, time and direction she was traveling.
Call: 555-555-0000
Place weather-resistant posters near the location where your pet disappeared and along likely travel routes.
Ask permission to post at:
Large roadside posters should contain fewer words than door-to-door flyers. Drivers need to recognize the pet and read the phone number quickly.
Protect flyers from South Florida rain by placing them inside clear sleeves or laminating them. Follow local rules and obtain permission before attaching anything to poles, signs or private property.
After the first day, expand your search without abandoning the immediate neighborhood.
Take these steps:
If your pet disappeared during a thunderstorm, fireworks, construction noise or another frightening event, tell searchers. That information may help explain the direction the pet traveled and how the pet might behave when spotted.
Unfortunately, scammers target people who post missing pets.
Be suspicious if someone:
Ask the caller to describe the identifying detail you intentionally left out of the public post. Do not reveal the answer first.
Never meet a stranger alone. Choose a public, well-lit location, bring another adult and do not send money before confirming that the person actually has your pet.
If someone threatens to harm your pet or attempts extortion, save all messages and contact law enforcement.
Do not assume someone would automatically turn your pet over to a shelter. A well-meaning person may be keeping the animal safe while searching online for the owner.
Continue to:
A lost pet’s appearance can change quickly. Dirt, wet fur, weight loss or an injury can make even a familiar pet difficult to recognize in a shelter photograph.
After your pet returns:
Most importantly, do not give up too quickly. Pets can be reunited with their families days, weeks or even months after disappearing. Organized searching, visible flyers, accurate online reports and persistent shelter checks give your pet the best possible chance of coming home.
Bookmark this guide now, and share it with another South Florida pet owner who may need it.
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