Losing a pet can be devastating and starting the search right away can make all the difference. Cats that are spayed or neutered usually do not venture very far and they often can be found under the house, or in a dark place within a few houses of yours, while dogs fixed or not, can cover ground very quickly. The same rules apply for finding dogs and cats, although with cats your search can be limited to a smaller radius of a .25 mile or so, while the search for a lost dog needs to cover several miles. Often friendly pets are taken in by the people that find them, who then decide to keep them, so it's important to start your search as soon as your pet has gone missing.

• Post Flyers
  Post flyers where you last saw your pet and call your pet's name while doing so. The flyer should be made on brightly colored paper and make them big (12x16) if possible. Put "Reward" at top, but do not include reward amount, and "Lost Cat or Dog" at bottom. Include a large color photo, your pet's name, description (breed, length of coat, color, tail type, eye color and any distinct markings even if they are obvious in the photo), if wearing collar or tags - put a description of them, include where and when your pet was last seen, list your phone number and email address - but do not include your home address. List whether your pet is friendly or scared of strangers. Here is a website that has a “flyer maker” : www.bestfriends.org/nomorehomelesspets/resourcelibrary/flyermaker/flyermaker.cfm 
• Door-to-Door
  Go door-to-door in the area your pet was lost. Talk to your neighbors and let them know your pet is missing - they are more likely to keep an eye open if your have talked to them. If no one is home, leave a flyer in the mailbox or at the front door. Put flyers on all cars parked on the street. For cats, three-square blocks should be sufficient, for dogs, expand that to 10 square blocks.
• Vet Offices and Pet Stores
  Bring a copy of your flyer to all vet offices and pet stores in the area. If possible ask them if you can post them on a bulletin board, or leave several flyers on the counter.
• Check your Shelter
  It is very important to check your local shelter. Most shelters are only required to hold your pet for 3 days before your pet is either put up for adoption, or euthanized. The euthanasia rate at most City and County shelters is very high. Do not rely on shelter staff to be able to tell you if your pet is at the shelter. They see dozens and dozens of animals every day and will not be able to identify your pet - you must physically go to the shelter. When you are at the shelter, make sure you ask a staff member to show you all animals that may be in isolation, or not checked-in yet. Post your flyers at the shelter, and plan on going back to the shelter every day or every other day.
• Online Search
  There are many online resources that can help you find your pet. In the Austin area, www.austinlostpets.com and www.austin360.com are good online resources, but don't limit yourself to just one site. You can post a free ad on www.craigslist.com - they have a Lost and Found section and a Pets section, and you should post ads in both. Additional lost and found pet sites include: www.911pet.com, www.missingpet.net, www.petfinder.com, www.fidofinder.com (dogs), www.tabbytracker.com (cats), and www.missingpet.net/anlost.html, and http://www.zootoo.com/petclassifieds/category_c_lostpets
• Advertisements
  Put an advertisement in your local paper. Often the local paper will put in a free ad for lost/found pets.  Also, check the Found Pets section to see if someone that has found your pet has placed a “found pet” ad. Check to see if there is a local neighborhood newsletter or smaller paper that services your particular area. Again, it is always best if you can include a picture or be as descriptive as possible. 
• Contact Local Rescue Groups
  Local rescue groups are very well connected in the community and visit shelters often. Call local rescue groups and see if they will post a message to their members about your lost pet - and don't forget to send them a picture.  Go to www.austinspetdirectory.com for a list of greater Austin area rescue groups.
• Once you've found your pet
  Now that you've found your pet, they should be microchipped so you never have to go through this experience again, and make sure that your pet’s ID tags are up-to-date.  Make sure to take off your postings from the various online websites and let the rescue groups and veterinarian offices know that you have found your pet. If possible, remove your lost pet signs.

Austin Pets Alive! Resource Center

www.austinpetsalive.org