How to Find Lost Pets

It's every pet owner's worst nightmare: Your furry friend is missing and you don't know what to do. "The key is not to wait," says Stephen Zawistowski, PhD, executive vice president of the ASPCA. "The sooner you start searching, the more likely you are to find your pet." Use this step-by-step guide to ensure a reunion.

Step 1: Search Your Home

The minute you realize your pet is missing, search your home carefully. Your pet might just be hiding, injured, or sleeping. Check in the garage, under beds, in closets, in crawl spaces, and behind furniture. Shaking a food dish, treat jar, or favorite toy will sometimes lure animals out of a hiding place.