What should I do first if my dog or cat is missing?

ASPCA guidance starts with a careful home search, then a neighborhood search with a recent photo while asking neighbors to check sheds and garages. Contact animal control, shelters, and veterinary clinics the same day, and visit shelters in person with photos.

Does a microchip replace an ID tag?

No. The AVMA states microchips do not replace a collar with up-to-date identification tags. Tags let any finder call you immediately; a chip helps when the collar is gone — but only if registry contact information is current.

Why does microchip registration matter?

Per the AVMA, a microchip stores an identification number only. If registry phone, email, or address data is missing or outdated, a scanned pet may not be returned even after the chip is read. Use AAHA’s universal lookup at petmicrochiplookup.org to identify the registry when you know the number.

Where can I post a lost-pet alert online?

ASPCA and Humane Society / Humane World guidance emphasize local lost-pet social groups plus shelter and clinic outreach. National tools linked from this page include Petco Love Lost and PawBoost. PetAge does not host listings or take submissions.

Lost pet guide: first 24 hours

A same-day action checklist for a missing dog or cat. Steps below are paraphrased from published owner guidance — each step names its source. No brand rankings; no on-site reporting.

Sources: ASPCA — Finding a Lost Pet · HSUS / Humane World — How to find a lost dog · AVMA — Microchips · AVMA microchip FAQ

First-24-hours checklist

Search the home carefully. Ask household members where the pet was last seen. Check under beds, in closets, dark and small spaces, and behind bulky furniture. Shaking a food dish, treat jar, or favorite toy can lure a hiding animal. Source: ASPCA
Search the neighborhood — and ask people not to chase. Take a slow walk or drive with a recent photo. Ask neighbors if they’ve seen your pet; check under porches and shrubs; ask them to check sheds and garages. Humane Society guidance: tell people to contact you if the pet is spotted, but not to chase (chasing can drive a frightened animal farther away). Sources: ASPCA · HSUS / Humane World
Call — then visit — animal control, shelters, and clinics. Contact local animal control, municipal and private shelters, rescue groups, and veterinary hospitals the same day. ASPCA recommends checking shelters daily in person with photos for staff. If no shelters are nearby, contact the police. Source: ASPCA
Contact the microchip registry immediately. If your pet is microchipped, call the registry to confirm your phone/email/address and report the pet as missing. ASPCA and AVMA both stress that a chip only helps when registration data is current. Sources: AVMA · ASPCA
If you know the chip number but not the company, use AAHA’s lookup. Enter the 9-, 10-, or 15-digit number in the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup. Per AVMA and AAHA, the tool identifies participating registries — it does not show owner contact information or let you update it. Sources: AVMA FAQ · AAHA lookup
Make and post “lost pet” flyers. Use one consistent design: a large “LOST DOG” or “MISSING CAT” headline, a clear recent photo, breed/sex/coloring/age/weight, distinguishing features, when and where last seen, plus your name and two phone numbers. Post at dog parks, pet stores, groomers, clinics, grocery stores, and other high-traffic spots; knock on doors and share with mail carriers and walkers. Sources: ASPCA · HSUS / Humane World
Spread the word online — including national tools. Email friends and coworkers; post to local lost-pet Facebook groups and neighborhood apps. Humane Society guidance specifically points owners to Petco Love Lost (national photo-match of lost/found listings). Also see PawBoost for community lost/found alerts. Use these sites directly — PetAge does not host listings. Sources: ASPCA · HSUS / Humane World
Don’t give up after day one. ASPCA and Humane Society both note that animals are often reunited after days, weeks, or longer when owners keep searching and checking shelters systematically. Sources: ASPCA · HSUS / Humane World

Real infrastructure (external links)

Plain outbound links only — open these sites yourself. No PetAge forms or submissions.

AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup — identify which registry(ies) may hold a chip number
Petco Love Lost — free national lost/found search (cited by Humane Society / Humane World)
PawBoost — lost/found community alerts and posters
County animal control & local shelters — search your city/county animal care & control and both municipal and private shelters (ASPCA “Work the Phones” step). Bring photos and visit in person.

Why microchip registration lapses matter

Per the AVMA, a microchip contains a unique ID number — not your phone number. Shelters and clinics scan the chip, then contact the registry. If registration was never completed, or your address/phone changed and was never updated, the pet may not come home even after a successful scan. The U.S. has no single national microchip database (AVMA FAQ); keep your specific registry current, and ask your veterinarian to scan the chip at least yearly. August 15 is Check the Chip Day — an annual reminder to verify the file.

Prevention (before the next scare)

ID tags on a collar — ASPCA and Humane Society recommend a collar with your current phone number for all pets, including indoor-only animals. AVMA: microchips do not replace tags.
Registered microchip — implant via a veterinarian; register immediately; update after every move or number change (AVMA / ASPCA).
Optional GPS / Bluetooth collar trackers — separate from microchips (AVMA: chips are not GPS devices). A collar tracker can help locate a pet in real time; choose any reputable device that fits your pet — no brand endorsements here. Use trackers with tags and a registered chip, not instead of them.

Educational summary of published ASPCA, AVMA, and Humane Society / Humane World guidance — not veterinary advice and not a substitute for local animal-control instructions. If your pet is injured or in danger, seek veterinary care immediately.