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LOST PET INSTRUCTIONS
2.5 SECONDS TO GET RESULTS, USE IT WELL

HOW TO MAKE A LOST PET FLYER THAT GETS RESULTS

Two and a half seconds at most is all you have for folks driving by to take in your lost pet poster. A mere moment, that’s it, so don’t waste it.

People driving by need only 3 things. The word “LOST” in big letters, your pet PHOTO and your PHONE NUMBER. The rest is just a waste of precious space that should be used for the only 3 things that should be on there. You want viewers to retain the image of your pet in case they see it later, and easily see your contact number that you made clearly visible. There is only one more exception to this, as you'll see as you read on.

Ignore the urge to fill the space with all types of information, people will miss the important stuff they actually need trying to crane their neck to see what else you crammed into the space. They don’t require the pet's name, its habits, how much you love and miss it or anything else. Face it, most wont see that anyway in just 2.5 seconds. Extra information about you and where you live is just inviting some ruthless criminal to take advantage of your naivete.

Photo
Your pet picture should be the largest thing on the flyer, so if they see it later running loose, they can identify it as your lost pet. A full body photo with the head clearly visible is best, so they can see special markings and size.

Wording
Simple, short and bold. Use a highly visible bold typeface with large letters that can be seen from afar. (Franklin gothic heavy, Bodoni bold are good ones found on most computers.) Some folks advise putting "needs meds" as a trick to encourage those who may find the pet to make an effort to return it. Unfortunately human nature can result in the pet being dumped, as they fear they may have jeopardized its health and don’t want to get in trouble, or it will be too much expense and involvement to take care of.

Pet name
Leave it off. Someone trying to con you may use it later. If it's on the pet tag, then you'll know if someone calls you they are probably legitimate.

Cyber enhancement
If you have the ability, put up a dedicated page on your website or even on something like myspace where kids hang out. Then you can add the website page to the flyer as one extra element. Folks will more readily recall savemycat.com more than they will the phone number unless they take the time to stop and jot it down.

Rewards
Posting rewards has its dangers. Some people will falsely say they saw your pet, or even tell you it was killed, hoping to get the reward money. Sadly, some sick social deviants have called lost pet owners even without hope of a reward to falsely say they saw your dog lying dead in the road, even citing a local intersection. Other dishonest creeps will hold the pet in their possession hoping to get the reward money even higher before contacting you.

Paper
Print on a brightly colored fluorescent paper that catches the eye, or do a full color photo. If you have the ability, you can put a colored background behind the word lost to catch peoples eye (see above photo.)

Posting the flyer
Affix it to areas where it will stay flat. Posting on a telephone pole where it's whipping in the wind doesn't serve anyone. You can attach the flyer to stiff cardboard, so it stays flat and visible.

Distribution
Anywhere anyone will let you put it up. And think along the terms its better to seek forgiveness than ask permission. Paper the area, because if someone drives by your flyer to fast to see it, they will welcome a second one soon after to get a chance to see what they missed. Mailboxes are good even if they are torn down because its against regulations. Before it comes off, some folks will have seen it.

Your home phone message
Put a new message on your primary contact phone, something like “If you are calling about our lost pet, please leave your info and we will get back to you as soon as we get your message. Everyone else, just leave a message.” This lets everyone know that your pet is lost and that they have called the correct number, you just aren't available at that moment.

What else to do
Check all your local shelters, not just the closest ones. Your pet could have traveled or been picked up by someone in another part of town, who will relinquish it to the shelter closest to them, not to the one near you.

Check every day. After just 3 days, Animal care & Control puts lost pets up for adoption to the public (policies vary from region to region). They have limited resources and their job is to get those pets moved out, not hold on to them for you.

Post notices online, including Petfinders, Pets911 and Craigs List and yahoo groups. Do a google search to find out what lost pets sites are out there and get on them.

Put an ad in the newspapers, esp local ones.

Consider calling in a pet intuitive. If this option feels right to you,  they can often make that invisible connection to your cat or dog and get helpful clues as to their whereabouts, or even guide them home. There are many out there, with varying personalities, abilities and styles. Follow your gut when finding the right one for you and if still in doubt, ask for references or testimonials. A good one won't make false promises, but will be a source of comfort while remaining grounded and realistic. Many times a piece of information will have relevance only after the fact, so listen to everything and work collaboratively, not defensively.

Prevention
Microchip your cats and dogs! Your pet will be scanned if picked up by a rescue or county facility. Collars fall off and become lost, tattoos can be altered but microchips are usually forever. Its quick and a fast insertion under the skin - a quick injection just like a shot at the vets office.

Have more than one home? Traveling? Add a second tag to your pets collar with the local address. Helpful folks will be able to get hold of you quickly, instead of leaving unanswered messages on your phone hundreds of miles away, when you are right in their own backyard.

Ó Marcia Schafer- All rights reserved

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