Lost Dog In India? Here Is How To Find Lost Dogs In 24 Hours?

Is your furry friend lost?  Don't panic, dear friend!  It must be really frightening for you to not know about the whereabouts of your lost dog. 

Here are a few places where you can search for them and how to get your lost dog back.

Where Do Lost Dogs Usually Go?

Lost dogs, either in other countries or in India, go to similar places.  At times, people who find the lost dogs, take them to

• Government or Private Veterinary hospitals/clinics
• Dog shelters
• Animals Kennels
• Dog care centres

If your dog is in a country like India, wandering on its own then, 

• Favourite place you have gone with the lost dog
• Stalls with the lost dog's favourite food
• tea stalls
• familiar neighbourhood or people
• Municipal Garbage tanks
• other street dogs
• search of water 
• search of herbs (if your lost dog feels sick or in the verge of death due to diagnosed sickness)

How To Find A Lost Dog In India?

Reasons for dogs getting lost are either running away from the home or lost outdoors.  Dogs, especially rare breeds, can be kidnapped or stolen by people looking for the breed or to sell them. 

So it is important to take all the possible actions or remedies to find your lost dog in India.

" According to the ASPCA, the odds of finding a stray dog are about 93% within the first 24 hours. These chances drop to about 60% after that."

India, as a country, has many chances to aid the lost dog.  Here are few tips to go-to if you have lost your dog.

1. Don't Panic! Keep Calm

It is common that you panic in the situation of your lost dog.  But, being anxious or stressed out can only pause your thinking progress in this critical situation. So it is best to keep calm and think of the series of actions you can take in order to instantly find the lost dog of yours.

2. Take Instant Action

This step is the most important because the sooner you take action, the better you find the lost dog in India.  

If it is a puppy, it must not have gone that long as they tend to wander off easily.  Thus it is advised to maximise the search within a 24 hour window.

3. Search For Your Dog

You can start by searching the lost dog in last-seen areas within the last 24 hours.  For this, you must assess the situation in which your dog got lost.  This will help you trace their track.  

Walk or drive through all the last-seen areas.  Note to check gutters, corners of the roads, under parked cars , patches of trees or with other street dogs.  

Since it is in India, check roadside tea stalls, butcher shops, food carts, butcher shops, food carts and garbage dumps to find your lost dog.  Your dog may get hungry in the last 24 hours.  Also search your regular walking routes, if you have one. 

Dogs tend to trace familiar routes and it is easy to find a lost dog in India with this tip.  Do not forget to keep your ear out open for faint noises.

4. Checklist To Find The Lost Dog

• Call out his/her name - Call your lost dog's name clearly and loudly.  Or you can use the names or sounds your lost dog responds to easily.  

• Ask others to help you search - This way you can know if your neighbours or others have seen your dog in the last 24 hours.  It is easy to locate your dog in a country like India.
• Leave the door open - Make sure one of you stays home.  In India, it is possible for your dog to trace back to your home or for anyone to report to you about the lost dog.
• Use favourite items - Lure the lost dog using its favourite items like play toys or food items.  
• Ask the locals - Ask around the neighbourhood in India for the whereabouts of the lost dog in the last 24 hours or use the identification of your dog to enquire.   

5. Report Your Dog Lost

Reporting the lost dog is another important step in your search spree.  Here are various tips to go ahead with reporting lost dogs.

• Post lost dog flyers - Hand over flyers with the clear and full picture of your lost dog.  In India, you can paste them around the neighbourhood with permission.  Make sure the picture is taken from the last 24 hours.

The flyers must contain,

-description of the dog (with name  and other recognizable features)

-Photo collar tag details

-Last-seen location (within 24 hours)

-GPS tracking ID number, if any

-Your contact details (Phone number, Permanent address or other alternatives)

-Cash reward (optional)

• Social Media - Make a post in social media platforms like Whatsapp, Facebook or Instagram to let your followers know the identifications of the lost dog.

• Word of mouth - Since it is India, let your neighbour know that you are searching for the lost dog of yours and request them to report to you if they find any lost dog within 24 hours.

• Newspaper ads - Place large advertisements in English or vernacular newspaper dailies.

5. Check Dog Shelters

Check with all the dog shelters in your city in India.  It is a common practice in India to dial dog shelters or animal helplines within 24 hours, if a lost dog is found on streets.

6. File An FIR

In India, you can file a report on a lost dog at the nearby police station (best before 24 hours of missing).  This works best if the case is abduction, as it is a common practice in India.

7. CCTV Footage

Make sure to check the CCTV footage in your area, if present.   You can check the public or private CCTV footage, if necessary. Get in touch with the police station or seek the help of a guide.

There are many reasons why your dog got lost.  But never stop looking for your lost furry friend, because he/she needs you no matter what.  Find the best option that suits you from the list given above.

There are cases where, if the lost dog was not found within 24 hours of missing, the lost dog turns up after months or years.  Hope is the only key you can hold on to. Take care!