The first hour after a pet goes missing is the most important window for increasing your chances of a safe return. Acting quickly in the right sequence makes a significant difference. This guide covers what to do in the first 15 minutes, the next 45 minutes, and how to post safely online without becoming a victim of a growing lost pet scam.
In the first 15 minutes, search the immediate perimeter of your home, check under furniture and in closets for indoor pets, alert anyone currently in the area, and note the exact time and location where the pet was last seen.
Over the next 45 minutes, contact your local animal shelter and veterinary clinics with a description and photo, post to local neighborhood groups and community apps such as Nextdoor, check local lost and found pet databases, and place a piece of your worn clothing near the last known location as a scent marker.
When posting online, never include your full address. Use a cross street instead. Do not post a unique identifying mark or a chip number publicly, since scammers use this to claim they have found your pet. Use a photo that shows the pet clearly but consider holding back one distinguishing feature that only someone who genuinely has your pet would know.
The lost pet AI scam works as follows: a scammer sees your post, contacts you claiming they found your pet, requests payment for a fee or transport before returning it, and disappears with the money. Some scammers use AI-generated images to fake a photo of a pet that resembles yours. Before sending any payment, ask the person to describe the hidden identifying detail you kept off your post, or request a live video call.