Many of the companion animals who come into the shelters are lost family pets.  They have been picked up as strays and may have only 3 days to be recovered before they  are  euthanized. You may think this will never happen to your pet, but it can.  The tips below will help you if your pet is missing. The most important preventative is to have current I.D. tags on your pet.  Be sure to check all local shelters immediately and frequently if your pet becomes missing.
 
1. Start looking for your pet ASAP. Pets will usually hang around the area where they disappeared for 12-24 hours. Remember many shelters will keep unclaimed animals for only 3 days before euthanizing-killing- them. Some animal control facilities will hold animals longer if they are wearing tags. After that, they can be sold to medical research labs, offered for adoption or killed. If your pet does not already have tags, get them now. You can purchase I.D. tags from your veterinarian, pet store or on-line. Your pet should always wear the tag...always. Tags are also given out with rabies shots. For added insurance a microchip can safely be implanted in your pet.

2. Search the neighborhood when it's quiet, either in the early morning or evening hours. Walk slowly and call to your pet, then quietly listen for for any response. Have a box of food with you and shake it as you search.

3. Enlist the help of neighborhood kids by offering them a reward for finding your dog.

4. File a missing report with as many private and municipal shelters as you can.  Visit the shelters every day since you are the only one that can positively identify your pet.

5. Notify veterinary clinics in your area. Many times, people will bring injured animals to the nearest, veterinary clinic for treatment.

6. If you've lost a purebred dog or cat, contact the original breeder and the breed's rescue group in your area for additional assistance.

7. Make and distribute posters. Begin with the word REWARD to get people's attention. Make sure the posters include a photo of the pet; where and when it was lost; a brief description with color, size, age, sex and breed; and phone numbers.

8. Now hit the streets with your posters. Show them to your neighbors and post them in public places like grocery stores, animal shelters, community centers, local schools, office buildings, pet stores and groomers. Give a copy to the mail carriers, garbage workers, meter readers and other municipal workers.

9. Advertise in the lost-pet section of newspapers. Beware of people that may call to scam you out of your money. You can be somewhat vague about your pets description, then when someone calls claiming to have your pet, ask for a full description of the animal.
 
10.  Don't give up.  Continue to network. Many times it may be days or even months when a missing pet is reunited with their owner.