Lost dog or cat? 7 steps to find them fast
Lost your dog or cat? Search the house first, cover nearby streets, turn on PetID lost mode, post alerts and flyers, and keep looking past the first 24 hours.
Stay calm and search the house first
Many pets hide under beds, on balconies, or in storage. Call softly and check doors, gates, and usual napping spots before you run outside. Leave someone at home in case they come back.
Cover the nearby streets in the first 30 minutes
Walk slowly around the house, park, alleys, and parking lots. Bring food and a familiar blanket. Ask neighbors, security, and delivery riders — they often spot a lost pet first.
Turn on lost mode in PetID during the golden hour
Activate lost status so the QR page shows an alert. Anyone who scans the collar tag sees the contact details you allowed. Add a clear face photo, coat color, and identifying marks.
Spread the word and don’t stop after 24 hours
Post on the lost-pet community, neighborhood groups, and clinic pages. Put flyers near home, markets, and schools. Many pets are found after 48–72 hours if the listing stays visible.
Post in community groups and on the lost pet community page
Post on PetID's lost pet community, neighbourhood groups and vet clinic fan pages. Your post should include a clear photo of your pet's face, coat colour, identifying marks, and the time and place your pet went missing. Ask friends to share it so the news spreads faster.
Put up flyers with a photo and phone number
Put up flyers near your home, markets, schools, pet shops and grocery stores around the area. A flyer needs a sharp colour photo, your pet's name, features that are easy to recognise and a contact phone number in large print. Don't describe every distinguishing detail, so you can still verify people who contact you with information.
Keep going for 48–72 hours and watch out for ransom scams
Many pets are found after 48–72 hours as long as the information keeps being shared, so don't give up after the first day. Keep searching in the early morning and in the evening, when the streets are quiet and pets are more likely to come out of hiding. Be wary of anyone who asks you to transfer money first or demands a ransom: ask for a recent photo or video of your pet, meet in a public place, and report it to the police if you are threatened.
What should you do in the first day?
Start where your pet usually goes, use your normal voice, and leave someone at home. Share a clear photo and the time you last saw them. If they wear a QR tag or ID card, check the phone number in the PetID app.
When should clinics and neighbours help?
Call the usual clinic and clinics near the spot the same day. At night, search slowly and do not shine a light in their face. Update the PetID post when you learn something new.
How do you avoid fake sightings?
Meet in public and see your pet before you pay anyone. Ask for a detail you did not post. When they are home, turn off the lost alert and retire a tag that was lost outside.
