My dog is missing. What should I do now?
Start here, at the place your dog was last seen. The three steps below come first; the checklist and answers after them help with the rest of the search.
Is your dog hurt, trapped or in traffic?
Contact local animal services now, give the exact location, and describe what is happening.
Do these three things now
Step 1: Search where they were last seen
Write down the last place and time, then walk the area with a recent photo. Call your dog the way you normally do.
How to searchStep 2: Call nearby shelters and animal services
Send a photo and description, and ask how often to check back. Visit shelters in person when you can.
Who to callStep 3: Check your microchip contact details
Make sure the registry has your current phone number, and mark your dog as missing if it offers that.
How to check
Check nearby reports and shelter listings
Add a photo and where your dog was last seen. We’ll show you dogs posted nearby that could be yours. Each one is a lead to check, not proof.
Search checklist
If someone can help, divide the work. One person can search while another calls shelters and veterinary clinics, updates the microchip record, shares the alert, and writes down new sightings.
Ask everyone who was there when they last saw your dog. Write down the exact place and time, which way your dog went, and anything that may have startled or attracted them.
Check your home, yard, vehicle, usual walking route, and favorite nearby places. Look under porches and shrubs and inside open garages or sheds with permission. Bring a leash and treats, and call your dog the way you normally do.
Show neighbors, building staff, walkers, delivery workers, and nearby businesses a recent photo. If you've shared your dog publicly on FindLostPets, give them the link so they can send sightings. Ask for the exact place, time, and direction if they see your dog.
Who should I call?
Contact local animal services, shelters, veterinary clinics, and rescue groups. File a missing-dog report where one is available, send a recent photo, and ask how often you should check back. When you can, visit shelters in person and give staff a photo.
Make sure the chip leads back to you.
A microchip cannot show where your dog is. It gives a shelter or veterinary clinic a way to find your registration and contact you after your dog is scanned.
I know the registry
Sign in or call now. Mark your dog as missing if the registry offers that option. Check every phone number and email address, add a trusted backup contact, and ask whether the registry provides lost-pet alerts or other recovery help.
I have the chip number — United States
Enter the number in AAHA's registry lookup. Call the first company listed, which has the most recent record. If that company cannot find your registration, try the next one. The lookup finds registries; each registry manages its own contact record.
I cannot find the chip number
Call the clinic, shelter, rescue, or breeder that arranged the chip. The number may also be in veterinary, adoption, insurance, or travel records. Keep the rest of the search moving while someone looks for it.
Keep the full chip number with your private records. The registry, shelter, or veterinary team can use it when they need it.
Find a U.S. microchip registry (opens in a new tab)What happens next?
What if I see my dog?
Approach in the familiar way you normally would, with a leash and treats ready. Watch your dog's response. If they move away from you, try the steps below.
What if my dog keeps moving away from me?
A frightened dog may run even from a voice they know, and following them can push them farther away. Try to make your dog come to you instead.
- Stop calling and stop walking toward your dog. Ask other people to stay back and not to chase your dog.
- Sit or lie down where you are safe, and look away from your dog rather than straight at them.
- Drop treats on the ground near you and make quiet eating sounds, as if you have not noticed your dog.
- If your dog still will not come close, keep them in sight from a safe place and call local animal services or an experienced recovery professional for help.
What if someone else sees my dog?
Ask for the exact place and time, which way your dog was moving, and what they were doing. A photo or short video can help when it is safe to take one. Update your alert and begin the next search from the latest sighting you can confirm.
What if someone says they found my dog?
Ask for a current photo or description before sharing the private details you saved for verification. Do not send money or codes before your dog is safely back with you. Arrange the handoff in a safe place and bring someone with you.
What if there are no sightings yet?
Keep a repeatable search list. A quiet period does not tell you where your dog is or how far they have traveled.
- Record which places you checked and when; revisit the last confirmed area and ask permission to check newly accessible spaces.
- Recheck shelter listings and call back on the schedule staff recommend. Save unresolved animal IDs for follow-up.
- Refresh the original neighborhood post and replace damaged flyers. Keep unconfirmed tips separate from confirmed sightings.
- Give each helper a specific place to check or call to make, then collect what they learned.
What should I do when my dog is home?
If you started a FindLostPets search or shared a post, close it, and take down your flyers. Tell the people, shelters, clinics, and local services that helped that your dog is home. If anything about your dog's condition concerns you after being away, contact the veterinary clinic you trust.
How do I check a lead?
- Compare markings, ears, tail, and body shape across more than one photo when available. A similar photo is a lead, not proof of identity.
- Check the found location and event date, not just when the listing was added. Ask the finder or shelter to clarify missing or conflicting details.
- Save the report link or animal ID. Use the report’s contact option or the shelter’s official contact details; keep full microchip numbers and ownership records out of public replies.
- Confirm with independent evidence, such as earlier photos, records, or a microchip scan through a veterinary clinic or shelter. If ownership is uncertain, ask local animal services to help before arranging a handoff.
Keep the search in one place
Check nearby reports and shelter listings, and keep sightings and notes together.