Large signs are the most important tool for most lost dogs and some lost cats. A search dog may or may not be helpful, depending on the circumstances, and a search dog may not be available when you need one. Large, bright signs, done right, result in the highest rate of return for lost dogs. Large signs have also helped find many lost cats, when they have wandered farther from home than typical.
A common way to make posters is with neon paper, 22 x28 inches, (commonly available at local stores like Fred Meyer) with bold black letters 6 inches high at the top and bottom, and two standard sheet protectors taped side by side in the middle. One sheet protector has a clear, sharp, simple picture of your dog. The other sheet protector contains an information sheet with a few descriptive words, and your phone number. Most important of all, your phone number is in a font of 100 or larger, and when you place your poster and go sit in your car in the road, you can read the phone number without getting out of the car. Make it as easy as possible for people to help you. The other descriptive words are along the lines of “OLD BLACK SHAGGY DOG” or “BROWN PIT BULL MIX”. Be sure to place the sheet protectors with the openings down, to keep the rain out. Once your inserts are in, secure them with a tab of tape. The large black letters read REWARD at the top and LOST DOG at the bottom. You can do the lettering with a thick black marker. Be sure to trace the outlines of the letters in pencil before you start, to get the spacing right.
Make at least ten of these signs, although twenty would be better. To generate immediate impact, you might tape a few to stop signs or telephone poles in your neighborhood. This might not be allowed by local codes. To make your signs last longer, mount them on cardboard with duct tape, and then tape them to wooden frames on stakes. Make your signs even more durable by getting blank plastic signs from the hardware store. They usually come with their own metal legs to stand on. Then get permission from key property owners at the best intersections, and place your signs on private property where they are clearly visible from the street. If your sign is on private property, chances are that the local government employee in charge of code enforcement won’t remove your signs. You can also tape your signs to sandwich boards like real estate agents use.
Choose intersections near the point where your dog was last seen. Intersections with stop signs or stop lights are best, so you can catch people when they aren’t moving. Think about how people normally get in and out of your neighborhood, and choose your sign locations to catch the attention of the most people possible. Check your signs every day or two, and make sure they are intact and legible. If you have a storm, chances are your signs will need repair or replacement. Don’t let your signs get weathered, bent, torn, and illegible; this tells people you have given up looking. For at least a month, or as long as your dog is missing, keep your signs refreshed and easy to read. Don’t be surprised if someone vandalizes your posters. Some people will become irrationally angry that anyone would put this much effort into finding a dog. Whatever the reason, these signs are vandalized from time to time. If this happens to you, replace them immediately with new signs, perhaps in a slightly different location. Make a simple map of where you placed the signs, and use your map to make sure they are all maintained properly. If you get reported sightings in a new area, and you don’t immediately find your dog in that area, be sure to put up new posters there.
You may want to direct people to social media with your signs. You can do this with a QR code they can scan, or you can say, “Search Facebook for Bring Reginald Home.” This is helpful in getting the most recent information out to people. Your signs are difficult to change with new info, but you can update a Facebook page instantly, right from your phone, if there is a new sighting of your dog or cat.
To make your signs more effective, you may wish to edit a photo of your cat or dog so that the background is erased. I use the Pixelmator app on my iPhone. This makes the picture stand out, and catches people’s attention. It also helps people be on the lookout for a distinctive silhouette. Anything you can do to make your signs clear, simple, sharp, and bright, is going to increase your chances of catching the attention of the right person.
Another upgrade to your signs is to use a laminator instead of sheet protectors. This really makes the picture clear and easy to see, and protects it from the weather. A decent laminator costs around $25, and can be very worthwhile. If your first batch of signs is looking beat up, and your dog is still missing, you can contact a local print shop to make custom lost dog signs with your number preprinted. Using these preprinted signs, with your picture and information laminated and taped to the front, your signs will be much clearer and have a greater impact.
Making good signs can be time consuming. Chances are there is a volunteer group near you that would be willing to help. I have personally assisted with at least 3000 lost dog cases, and I have knowledge of hundreds of thousands of other instances of lost dogs. In less than 2% of these cases did the dog’s owners put up optimal signs. Making great signs doesn’t guarantee that you will find your dog, but it greatly improves your chances. It’s something that almost everyone can do, without special training or equipment.
Last but not least, take your signs down once you find your dog or cat. This is very important for the next lost pet. Old signs are a distraction, and they may be wasting time and energy if people are looking for pets that were already found. Plus, it’s just part of being a good citizen, to not litter, and clean up your signs after your pet is found. You asked for the community’s help in finding your lost cat or dog, so please take the time to make sure you clean up after.
A common way to make posters is with neon paper, 22 x28 inches, (commonly available at local stores like Fred Meyer) with bold black letters 6 inches high at the top and bottom, and two standard sheet protectors taped side by side in the middle. One sheet protector has a clear, sharp, simple picture of your dog. The other sheet protector contains an information sheet with a few descriptive words, and your phone number. Most important of all, your phone number is in a font of 100 or larger, and when you place your poster and go sit in your car in the road, you can read the phone number without getting out of the car. Make it as easy as possible for people to help you. The other descriptive words are along the lines of “OLD BLACK SHAGGY DOG” or “BROWN PIT BULL MIX”. Be sure to place the sheet protectors with the openings down, to keep the rain out. Once your inserts are in, secure them with a tab of tape. The large black letters read REWARD at the top and LOST DOG at the bottom. You can do the lettering with a thick black marker. Be sure to trace the outlines of the letters in pencil before you start, to get the spacing right.
Make at least ten of these signs, although twenty would be better. To generate immediate impact, you might tape a few to stop signs or telephone poles in your neighborhood. This might not be allowed by local codes. To make your signs last longer, mount them on cardboard with duct tape, and then tape them to wooden frames on stakes. Make your signs even more durable by getting blank plastic signs from the hardware store. They usually come with their own metal legs to stand on. Then get permission from key property owners at the best intersections, and place your signs on private property where they are clearly visible from the street. If your sign is on private property, chances are that the local government employee in charge of code enforcement won’t remove your signs. You can also tape your signs to sandwich boards like real estate agents use.
Choose intersections near the point where your dog was last seen. Intersections with stop signs or stop lights are best, so you can catch people when they aren’t moving. Think about how people normally get in and out of your neighborhood, and choose your sign locations to catch the attention of the most people possible. Check your signs every day or two, and make sure they are intact and legible. If you have a storm, chances are your signs will need repair or replacement. Don’t let your signs get weathered, bent, torn, and illegible; this tells people you have given up looking. For at least a month, or as long as your dog is missing, keep your signs refreshed and easy to read. Don’t be surprised if someone vandalizes your posters. Some people will become irrationally angry that anyone would put this much effort into finding a dog. Whatever the reason, these signs are vandalized from time to time. If this happens to you, replace them immediately with new signs, perhaps in a slightly different location. Make a simple map of where you placed the signs, and use your map to make sure they are all maintained properly. If you get reported sightings in a new area, and you don’t immediately find your dog in that area, be sure to put up new posters there.
You may want to direct people to social media with your signs. You can do this with a QR code they can scan, or you can say, “Search Facebook for Bring Reginald Home.” This is helpful in getting the most recent information out to people. Your signs are difficult to change with new info, but you can update a Facebook page instantly, right from your phone, if there is a new sighting of your dog or cat.
To make your signs more effective, you may wish to edit a photo of your cat or dog so that the background is erased. I use the Pixelmator app on my iPhone. This makes the picture stand out, and catches people’s attention. It also helps people be on the lookout for a distinctive silhouette. Anything you can do to make your signs clear, simple, sharp, and bright, is going to increase your chances of catching the attention of the right person.
Another upgrade to your signs is to use a laminator instead of sheet protectors. This really makes the picture clear and easy to see, and protects it from the weather. A decent laminator costs around $25, and can be very worthwhile. If your first batch of signs is looking beat up, and your dog is still missing, you can contact a local print shop to make custom lost dog signs with your number preprinted. Using these preprinted signs, with your picture and information laminated and taped to the front, your signs will be much clearer and have a greater impact.
Making good signs can be time consuming. Chances are there is a volunteer group near you that would be willing to help. I have personally assisted with at least 3000 lost dog cases, and I have knowledge of hundreds of thousands of other instances of lost dogs. In less than 2% of these cases did the dog’s owners put up optimal signs. Making great signs doesn’t guarantee that you will find your dog, but it greatly improves your chances. It’s something that almost everyone can do, without special training or equipment.
Last but not least, take your signs down once you find your dog or cat. This is very important for the next lost pet. Old signs are a distraction, and they may be wasting time and energy if people are looking for pets that were already found. Plus, it’s just part of being a good citizen, to not litter, and clean up your signs after your pet is found. You asked for the community’s help in finding your lost cat or dog, so please take the time to make sure you clean up after.
