It is important to do your best to calm yourself emotionally.
Your animal is probably tuning into you, trying to send you messages and looking for reassurance. Try to stay clear and imagine sending encouragement to your animal. Let them know that you are looking for them. If you feel they are lost near your home, imagine you are like a light house sending love and a magnetic pull back home in a 360 degree circle around your home. (I’ve had clients guide their animals home in spite of very difficult circumstances, using this technique).
Click here for ways to increase the chances of having your animal returned to you in the case that they are lost.
The moment you realize your animal is lost, take action quickly to increase your chances of getting them back.
Get flyers up and go to your local shelter and animal control as well as local vet offices to see if your animal is there. Go more than once. Your pet could be brought to a shelter hours after you have checked that shelter.
Put the word REWARD in large letters at the top of the flyer. People tend to look away from a poster that announces Lost Dog or Cat because it makes them sad. The ‘reward’ label catches their attention and they are more likely to read it to get your animal’s description.
Talk to everyone as you make the rounds with your flyers (including children in and around your neighborhood). Give the flyers to postal carriers, UPS and Fed X drivers. Post flyers at local grocery stores and other central locations in your area.
Place an ad in the local newspaper.
Keep searching and take a flashlight with you to look into darker areas. Look under debris piles, in and around sheds, under vehicles, etc. The flashlight will reflect the eyes of animals who may be hiding and too frightened to come out when called.