It was 1982 and I was twelve years old. Our cat Spice had not come home and we started going house to house to find her.
It took almost two weeks until a first grader in my school came over with Spice in his hands. He was filthy after pulling her out from under a porch about 1/4 mile from home. I rewarded him with all my cash, $5. He had seen her picture on a flyer my brother and I posted. That was how pet owners found our lost pets 30+ years ago.
So much of my practice is based on my own experiences as a pet owner.
We now have social media to turn to as well as pet (microchip) registrations to get the word out when a pet has gone missing. On several occasions Boston Dog Lawyers has partnered with Missing Dogs Massachusetts (https://www.facebook.com/missingdogsmass/) and we suggest you do too. Having a plan before you lose your pet and being a resource when someone else's pet goes missing in your neighborhood are ways to contribute as a responsible pet owner. There are some very experienced and talented pet finders who also will help by setting up food traps and video cameras. Others can track foot prints. I share with you the flyer I made all those years ago and am so appreciative of how things have improved for us.
You should make sure that your pet is never naked (has her identifying collars on at all times) and that he is microchipped. Even indoor pets need this protection. Know the resources in your city or state before you need them and consider making donations to keep these volunteers going. Always start looking for a pet by notifying your animal control officer, local veterinarians and shelters first. Then turn to online resources. The American Humane Society estimates that each year nearly 10 million pets go missing.
