Lost Pet Resources

Your free lost-pet search toolkit.

Start with actions you can take now. Use the guides, local contacts, poster, and Action Plan whether or not you purchase a paid alert.

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Urgent checklist for the first hours

  • Search the immediate area and likely hiding places.
  • Flag the microchip and verify your contact details.
  • Report the pet to the correct shelters and animal-control agency.
  • Give neighbors one clear photo, one contact method, and the exact last-seen area.

Need more nearby visibility? A paid alert can show the same clear photo in nearby feeds while you continue the steps above. See How Paid Alerts Work

City-specific recovery guides

Browse local resources by city for shelter links, neighborhood groups, and official reporting channels.

Austin, Texas

Lost a Pet in Austin? What to Do Right Now

Updated 2026-07-05

Boston, MA

The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Lost Pet in Boston

Updated 2023-10-22

Chicago, IL

Finding Your Lost Pet in Chicago: A Local Guide

Updated 2025-04-05

Denver, CO

Comprehensive Guide to Finding Your Lost Pet in Denver

Updated 2023-10-15

Los Angeles, CA

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Finding a Lost Pet in Los Angeles

Updated 2023-10-12

Miami, FL

Comprehensive Guide to Finding Your Lost Pet in Miami

Updated 2023-11-01

Phoenix, AZ

Comprehensive Guide to Finding Your Lost Pet in Phoenix, AZ

Updated 2023-10-20

San Francisco, CA

Guide to Finding Lost Pets in San Francisco

Updated 2023-10-30

Seattle, WA

Comprehensive Guide to Finding Your Lost Pet in Seattle

Updated 2023-10-17

Essential guides

How to Find a Lost Pet: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

If your pet is missing, start close to the last-seen spot, report them to shelters, alert neighbors, and keep every search channel working together.

Read guide

How to Find a Lost Dog: What to Do First

If your dog is missing, search the last-seen area calmly, avoid chasing, call shelters, flag the microchip, and get nearby neighbors watching fast.

Read guide

How to Find a Lost Cat: A Calm Step-by-Step Guide

If your cat is missing, search quietly and very close to home first, ask neighbors to check hiding spaces, call shelters, and use posters and local alerts together.

Read guide

What to Do in the First Hour When Your Dog Goes Missing

If your dog just went missing, search the immediate area calmly, do not chase, flag the microchip, call shelters, and alert nearby neighbors fast.

Read guide

How to Make a Lost Pet Poster That Actually Works

A lost pet poster should be readable in seconds: one clear photo, one huge LOST headline, a large phone number, and the last-seen area.

Read guide