Keep your number private if you want replies screened
Leave your phone number off the advert and sightings come through us first, so you are not fielding calls from strangers at your worst moment.
Keep the search public, protect yourself from scams.
When your dog is missing you need fast replies, and that is exactly what scammers count on. Keep the search loud, but keep yourself safe with a few simple habits.
Never pay anyone for proof or a release fee
A genuine finder does not ask for money up front. Requests to pay for a photo, a courier, or the dog's release are the most common lost-pet scams.
Verify a sighting before you travel
Ask for a clear, current photo and exactly where and when they saw your dog. Scammers reuse old photos and vague locations.
Be wary of courier and transport scams
If someone claims your dog has travelled far and needs paying to be shipped back, stop and check. This is almost always a scam.
Keep official channels active
Alongside your advert, contact local shelters, vets, the council or animal control, and your microchip registry. Report a found dog to them too.
Trust your instinct, and take someone with you
If a meeting to collect your dog feels off, meet in a public place in daylight and bring a friend. Your safety comes first.