Key takeaways
Missing pet flyers can be very effective for finding your lost pet, but it's important they are designed well in order to grab the attention of passers-by.
We'll be exploring top tips for designing your lost pet flyer before looking at specific advice for missing dogs and cats.
It's also important to consider trying digital missing pet posters. By using the power of social media, you can reach thousands of people and make them aware of your lost furry friend.
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Designing the best lost pet flyer
Color pallet: Sticking to two or three colors will make the flyer clear and attention grabbing. Use primary colors and ones associated with urgency or emergency, like reds and yellows. Don't use pastel colors or very dark colors.
Title: Make sure your title is short and bold. It should take up a quarter of the poster and be written in a sans-serif font.
Photos: Photos should be high quality and printed in color. Avoid blurred or zoomed-out images.
Printing: Print your poster in color and ideally on waterproof paper. If you can't do this, either laminate it or put it in a clear plastic wallet to avoid the ink running in the rain.
Information: Keep writing to a minimum, and make sure it is in a large and clear font. Try using bullet points instead of paragraphs.
Reward: Offering a reward is a personal decision. It can catch people's attention and motivate them to actively search for your furry friend, so it's worth considering.
Lost pet poster for dogs
Photos: A clear photo of your whole dog is essential, but remember also to include close-up, high-quality images of memorable physical traits like markings, a short tail, or white socks.
Temperament: Something that's important to include for dogs is a description of their temperament. If your dog is likely to be frightened or timid, then you need to prevent members of the public from approaching them. Similarly, you should make it clear if you think they could be aggressive to avoid any unfortunate situations.
Contact details: As well as the general area where you live, you should include a contact phone number or an email address so people can easily report sightings.
90% of lost dogs are found. So, the odds are in your favor!
Lost pet poster for cats
Focus on specific physical traits: Many cats look the same, so be sure you mention specific and memorable physical traits. This can include the collar they are wearing, the type of cat they are, and specific markings.
Include where they like to go: We know our cats have their favorite spots to snooze in and their favorite places to explore. Make sure you include this information on the flyer so people know where to look!
Use PetRadar's free lost pet flyers
Why?
Unfortunately, making your contact number available does invite prank calls and misuse of your data. This is the last thing you need when you're in an already distressing situation.
How can I download them?
1.
Start a PetRadar search
2.
Go through the signup flow, filling in the details about your missing pet and your contact details
3.
Either pay for our digital search or simply stop the process if you'd just like the free posters
4.
We will then email you your downloadable personalized poster featuring your missing pet
Try digital missing pet posters
How does a PetRadar search work?
Provide you with a personal dashboard where you can manage the search, monitor sightings and interactions with the post, and increase the search radius
List your pet as missing on our website
Send you our free printable lost pet flyer
Offer personal support and guidance throughout the whole process
FAQs
What should be included in a lost pet flyer?
In your lost pet flyer, you should include high-quality images, a physical description, your contact details, and where your pet was last seen.
Do lost cat posters work?
Yes, lost cat posters work when trying to spread the message of your missing pet. Lost pet flyers help notify as many neighbors as possible so more people are on the lookout for your furry friend.
How do you make a flyer for a lost dog?
To make a flyer for a lost dog, you need to include high-quality images, a contact number, a description of your dog, and where they were last seen. Design it in a clear and eye-catching way and print it in color. Make sure you print on waterproof paper or put it in a clear plastic wallet before hanging it up.
How do you hang lost pet flyers?
To hang your lost pet flyer, you'll need to first print it in color on waterproof paper. If you haven't got waterproof paper, you can laminate it or put it in a clear plastic wallet. You can then hang it on public notice boards, lamposts, or in community centers using a staple gun, nail gun, or waterproof tape.
Do lost pet flyers work?
Yes, lost pet flyers work by spreading the message of missing pets to a community. This means as many neighbors as possible are aware that your furry friend is lost.
Are you allowed to put up lost pet posters?
Different countries have different laws about hanging missing pet flyers. Make sure you check the rules in your area first.
Final thoughts
Written by
In this blog, I combine my two areas of expertise: pets and writing. I share my personal experiences alongside plenty of animal behavior research to help owners look after their pets. I have always lived with furry friends and am now a loving cat mum to two orange kitties.
