Lost & Found Tips

Lost GSPs

Here's what to do if your GSP is lost or stolen:

  • Talk to neighbors where your GSP was lost for sighting information and ask them to check to their yards and buildings
  • Put out food and a scent article (such as a sweater of yours)
  • Create a safe place for your dog to return to, such as an open gate to the yard, an open garage door, or an open back door
  • Contact local law enforcement on a non-emergency number and animal control to report dog missing/check if there are any loose dog reports
  • Contact your microchip company to report the dog as missing
  • Contact local shelters to file a lost dog report and check if one has been brought in
  • Visit your local shelters IN PERSON DAILY to see if your dog has been brought there - ask to walk through in case your dog was miscategorized as a different breed
  • Check Petfinder and Petharbor daily to see if your dog is posted there
  • Create a Lost flyer with a contact number
  • Post flyers in the surrounding neighborhood, at businesses, and on your vehicle
  • Call and then fax or email Lost flyer to local vets in case someone has brought your dog in for an injury or to scan the microchip
  • Post the flyer and information to social media, Lost/Found pet groups, and websites such as Craiglist and NextDoor - being sure to include City and State in the title of your post
  • Update posts daily, check frequently for comments or leads and encourage others to share
  • Put an ad in the local newspaper
  • Sightings are often key in reuniting lost pets, so the more people you have keeping an eye out, the better
  • If spotted, DO NOT call out, yell, or chase - this may cause your dog to run away or into traffics/harms way
  • Talk in a calm and happy voice to attract your dog to you
  • Always have a slip lead leash and high-reward food items with you when looking for your dog (rotisserie chicken or cooked hot dogs)
  • Contact us with all the relevant information and a flyer or photo and we will share the dog on our social media channels

Found GSPs

Here's what to do if you find a GSP:

  • DO NOT call out, yell, or chase - this may cause the dog to run away or into traffics/harms way
  • Talk in a calm and happy voice to attract the dog to you
  • Using a high-value food item, entice the dog to come to you into a secure area
  • If the dog will allow, secure him/her with a slip lead leash or rope
  • Secure the dog (yard, garage, house, car) and contact the owner if the dog has ID
  • If none and if able, take dog to nearest veterinarian or shelter to be scanned for a microchip
  • File a found report with your local shelter and animal control (this also starts the clock on the mandated hold period before rehoming is permitted)
  • Create a Found flyer
  • Post flyers in surrounding neighborhood where found
  • Call and then fax or email lost flyer to local vets as they may recognize the dog
  • Post the flyer and information to social media, Lost/Found pet groups, and websites such as Craiglist and NextDoor - being sure to include City and State in the title of your post
  • Put an ad in the local newspaper
  • Contact us with all the relevant information and a photo, and we will share the dog on our social media channels

Things to do BEFORE you lose a dog

  • Microchip your dog! Take a picture of the microchip company number and chip number to have in your phone for easy access
  • Confirm with microchip company that your contact information is up-to-date (call yearly)
  • At annual vet appointment ask vet staff to scan for the microchip to confirm it is still in place and functional
  • Take good photos of your dog from all angles; update yearly
  • Make sure your dog is licensed per local requirements
  • Have local animal control, non-emergency police, and local shelter telephone numbers in your cell phone
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