Know These Five Tips for Finding a Lost Dog

"HELP, LOST DOG!" exclaims the urgent message, on fliers taped to light poles, stop signs, dog park bulletin boards and anywhere the public might see them.

In the last 10 months, I have been on three or four dog searches. Luckily, the outcome for all the searches was good. The dogs were found quickly.

Not everyone is this lucky, so I want to help by offering tips on where to put information to help find your dog.  But first a reminder: Keep tags up to date with your contact information and then have your dog microchipped. A tiny microchip with the owner's unique alpha-numeric registration code helps identify lost pets when their collars fall off, get torn off or chewed off.

Now, on to the tips for finding a lost dog:

1. Prepare fliers. If you don't have the technical skills to make one of those fliers to post everywhere in your neighborhood (and outside your neighborhood -- I have seen how some dogs run, and they can go a couple miles in no time), visit this website. Here you can make a flier of your lost or found dog simply by filling out a form. (http://www.petbond.com/flyerentry.php?oid=bf) Get your fliers up quickly, then walk the neighborhood and knock on doors.
   
2. Check the County website: After making your flier and posting it with updated information, you should go to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office website for lost animals. You can post and search for lost and found pets 24 hours a day. On this site, you can fill out information to help people get in contact with you if they find your pet. It also gives you quick links to local animal shelters you may want to contact in case  your pet was turned in there. (http://www.pcsoweb.com/cares/)
3. Post on Patch: Let’s not forget your own OldNortheast.Patch.com has a place for announcing lost and found pets (and other items). You simply fill out a form, being sure to include your contact information and a picture of your pet. The following day, it is even included in the daily newsletter, which gets sent out to all the participating members of the  community. It's free and immediate. 
4. Check with your neighborhood veterinarian: Another good resource is your neighborhood veterinarian. Ask the vet to be on the lookout for anyone bringing in a lost pet. Neighborhood vet offices, like Northeast Animal Hospital, also have a bulletin board where you can put a flier. Leave your contact information at the front desk; likewise, go to your local 24-hour emergency vet's office and post a flier there, too. Talk to the receptionist, because hurt dogs and cats wind up here, often with the help of strangers.
5. Online classified ads: There are a couple of other online places to search and leave notices: FidoFinder.com, where you can search, place a classified ad, print posters and even receive automated email notifications when dogs that match what you have listed is registered on the site. Finally, Craiglist can be a big help. But, you must be aware of scammers. Here you can place all information you want to your particular county or city. You can also check to see if anyone has posted info on finding your lost pet. It's quick and easy to do.