Keep it Simple (sample flyer)
Make it easy to read. The flyer's goal is to give the public enough information so they can match a dog they see with the description you provide and call you with a sighting. Using the word reward may excite some children enough to encourage them to chase your dog. It doesn't necessarily lead to more sighting calls. If you omit the date, street and town where your dog was lost, you could save time re-doing flyers. Also, some people see an old date on a flyer and assume the dog has already been found. Listing exact street locations and towns will limit your use of the current flyer in new sighting areas.
- Use plain, bold, capital letters, in black ink only. Colors fade.
- LOST DOG should be at top of flyer in very large letters.
- Large, close-up, full body PICTURE is best.
- Only list details if there are major changes in dog's current looks. (examples: no collar, puppy picture or shaved for summer)
- Include area code with PHONE NUMBERS.
- Add CALL ASAP and CALL ANY HOUR if you can handle a call at midnight.
- Insert and underline DO NOT CHASE.
Additional Detail not on Flyer (sample detail form)
Make sure Animal Control Officers, Veterinarians, shelters and rescue groups have details that may not be on flyer, such as tattoo, microchip, and scars. Put the dog's name, sex, weight & breed. If a mixed breed dog, list the top two. List major colors only. List things easily seen by people but not shown in picture, such as a white tip on tail, curly tail, shaved for summer, etc. List collar, leash or harness and it's color. Specify the information on the dog tags. If your tags are old be sure to notify the issuing Town Clerk, Animal Control Officer and Veterinarian that match the tags.
Phoning Home
A live person or answering machine should be available to receive sighting calls. Check the machine as much as possible, even when calls are infrequent. Few people will call at any hour. Most wait until a normal time, no matter what. Change your message machine to say, “Hello, if you are calling about 'dog's name’, thank you! We need the day, time, street and nearest cross street or exact location you saw ‘Buddy’. If you wish to leave your name and number, we appreciate it and we'll call you back as soon as possible.”
Posting Flyers
Flyers should be posted on poles about chest height with small staple gun. Do not post on poles with a fire alarm box, on curves, or high-speed streets. Do not nail on trees. Do post at all intersections and as needed on long streets. Insert flyers in Xerox sheet protectors from an office supply store with the open side down. This will protect the flyer from weather. Get a map and highlight where you have posted. Make a list of names and phone numbers of everyone you contact. This makes it easy to notify them when your search is over. Help the next lost dog and quickly remove all flyers when your search is over. Email flyers when you can't hand deliver, but verify receipt. Post on the Internet such as on Petfinder.com in classifieds section. Include street and town where lost and good description; many ads are vague.