Has your dog gone missing? A plan for the first 48 hours
Updated: August 26, 2026 · Reunika
93% of lost dogs are reunited with their families, and most reunions happen within the first 48 hours. The biggest difference usually comes down to how quickly you start and how many people find out.
Unlike cats, dogs travel: most are found within 1-3 kilometres, often by people who did not know they were being searched for. Your job is to make sure everyone in the area knows.
No account. Starting the alert takes 30 seconds.
The first 2 hours: search on foot and by car
- Start immediately along their usual walking route: familiar places are where they are most likely to go first.
- Have one person search on foot, calling their name calmly, while another drives around the nearby streets with the windows open.
- Take their lead, favourite treats and something that makes a familiar sound, such as their toy or food bag.
- Ask everyone you meet and give them your phone number. Most dogs are seen by someone within the first few hours.
Hours 2-12: spread the word online and locally
- Post a notice with a clear photo, the exact location and time. On Reunika, the notice becomes an alert for nearby residents on Facebook and Instagram.
- Call shelters and animal control services: if your dog was picked up from the street, that is where they will be taken. Check back daily and do not rely on a single phone call.
- Call veterinary clinics within a 3-5 km radius: injured dogs or dogs brought in for a microchip scan may end up there.
- If your dog has a microchip, check your contact details in the registry right now: nobody can call you if the chip is linked to an old phone number.
Day 2: posters and widening the search area
If you have not found your dog on the first day, widen the search area to 3-5 km and put up posters at intersections, local shops and veterinary clinics. A good poster can be read at a glance: a large photo, one large word, LOST, the area and your phone number or QR code.
Keep searching early in the morning and late in the evening, when it is quiet and frightened dogs are more likely to move.
The golden rule: do not chase your dog
A frightened dog may run even from their owner. If you see them, stop, crouch down sideways with your gaze lowered and speak calmly. Toss food towards them. Let them come to you. If they run away, do not chase them: note the direction and call for help to calmly block off the area.
Common questions
How far can a dog get?
Most dogs are found within 3 km of where they went missing. Large or frightened dogs, and dogs in rural areas, may travel farther, but even then, a 5 km radius covers most cases.
Will my dog come home on their own?
Only around 1 in 5 dogs return home on their own. The rest are found because their owners searched actively and people in the area were made aware. Do not wait: the first 48 hours are your best window.