When a pet goes missing, every minute counts — and knowing what to do before panic sets in makes all the difference. This page walks you through what to do before your pet goes missing, the moment they disappear, and in the days that follow. Resources and contact numbers are listed at the bottom.
Be Prepared
The best time to plan for a lost pet is before it happens. A few simple steps now can dramatically improve your chances of a reunion later.
Microchip your pet — and register the chip. A microchip is only useful if it’s registered. Many pets are chipped but never entered into a database, which means a scanner finds the chip but can’t find you. Registration is free at several registries including the ASPCA’s database. When you move or change your number, update it.
Use a collar with current contact info — but think carefully about what you put on it. A name and phone number is standard. Some owners skip the address for privacy reasons, which is reasonable.
Consider a GPS tracker. Collar-mounted GPS devices have become affordable and reliable. Worth it for escape artists or dogs off-leash in unfenced areas.
Have a flyer ready before you need one. If your pet goes missing, you’ll be in no state to hunt for photos and remember details. Keep a simple document updated with: name, age, sex, breed, color and markings, a clear face photo and a full-body photo, and any important notes. Pet FBI will generate a free flyer automatically when you file a report — but having your information organized in advance makes that process faster when minutes matter.
Lost Pet
The moment you realize your pet is missing, time matters more than anything else. Work through these steps as quickly as you can.
The first few minutes
Search your yard, house, and immediately neighboring yards. Call your pet and use expressions they respond to — “Treat!” or “Want to go for a ride?” are often more effective than anything else.
If you have a second dog, consider bringing them with you to search. A familiar scent can help draw a lost pet out of hiding.
Before you leave to search
Grab a leash, treats, and a photo of your pet. If you drive, put your flashers on and consider a sign in your window: “Lost Dog” or “Lost Cat.” Talk to everyone you pass — mail carriers, delivery drivers, landscapers, and neighbors are often the first to spot a loose animal.
Important: tell anyone helping you search not to chase or call out to your pet. A scared animal will run. Instruct helpers to crouch down, avoid direct eye contact, and toss treats toward the pet to lure them closer.
Leave scent items at the last known location — bedding, worn clothing, or a pillowcase work well.
⚠️ In the Lowcountry, leaving food outside may attract wildlife including alligators. Use judgment based on your specific location.
Take action immediately
File a report at petfbi.org — it generates a free flyer and lists your pet on a national database that connects with Lost Dogs of America and Lost Cats of America‘s Facebook networks
Post on Nextdoor and local Facebook lost pet groups
Contact BCAS at (843) 255-5010 and local vet offices and shelters
Check your microchip registry. If your pet is microchipped, contact the chip registry and report them as lost
Update your outgoing voicemail: “If you’re calling about our lost pet, please leave sighting information including time, location, and your callback number.”
Notify your neighborhood association if you have one
Make it visible
Print small handouts with your pet’s photo and your contact number. For posted signs, slip flyers into clear page protectors mounted on bright poster board — they hold up in weather and stand out. Post within your immediate area and at major nearby intersections. Pets often travel farther than owners expect.
Keep searching
Check Pet FBI, PawBoost, Nextdoor, and local Facebook lost pet groups daily. Search for “lost and found pets in your area” to find active local groups. Consider creating a dedicated Facebook page for your pet if the search extends beyond a few days.
Watch for scams. When a pet goes missing, scammers sometimes make contact claiming to have your pet and asking for money before they’ll return it. A legitimate finder will never ask for payment upfront. If someone contacts you and something feels off, ask them to describe a detail about your pet that isn’t in your flyer before agreeing to anything. Never meet a stranger alone or in an isolated location.
Found Pet
Found wildlife? This page is for domestic pets only. For injured or orphaned wildlife, visit our Wildlife Resources & Rehab page.
If you’ve found a dog, cat, or other domestic pet, here’s how to help them get back home.
Snap a photo first
If the animal is loose and you’re not sure you can approach safely, get a photo immediately. You may only have seconds before they move on, and a photo is essential for posting later — include the date, time, and location where you spotted them when you share it. “Is anyone missing this dog?” with no other context is far less useful than people realize.
Approach carefully
Don’t rush toward a frightened animal. Crouch down, avoid direct eye contact, and move slowly. Toss treats if you have them. A scared pet is more likely to bolt than accept help, so patience matters more than speed here.
Check for ID
Once you’ve secured the pet safely, check for a collar and tags. A license or rabies tag can be traced — contact BCAS at (843) 255-5010 or your local non-emergency police line and they can help identify the owner from the tag number.
Also look for a tattoo — usually a series of numbers on the inner right hind leg, belly, or ear. For help tracing a tattoo, lostdogsearch.com/links has useful registry information.
Get the pet scanned for a microchip
Most vet offices, shelters, and BCAS can scan for a microchip at no charge. This is the fastest path to an owner if there’s no collar.
Keep them separated from your own pets until you’ve had them checked out. A found animal may be carrying illness or parasites without obvious symptoms.
Report it
Contact BCAS at (843) 255-5010 and your local shelters listed on this page — this is often the first place a pet owner calls
File a Found Pet report at petfbi.org — it automatically matches against lost pet reports and generates a shareable flyer
Post on Nextdoor and local Facebook lost and found pet groups
Talk to people in the area where you found them — neighbors, mail carriers, delivery drivers. Hilton Head has a small enough community that word travels fast.
Verify before you hand the pet over
If someone contacts you claiming to be the owner, ask them to describe something specific about the pet that isn’t in your post — a marking, a behavior, something a stranger wouldn’t know. Ask for a photo ID and note their vehicle. Legitimate owners will understand.
Be cautious of anyone who seems evasive about identification, or who contacts you wanting to adopt the pet if you can’t find the owner. This is a known method used by people who collect animals for profit.
If you can’t find the owner
If you’re unable to locate the owner and cannot keep the pet, visit our Adoption & Rescue page for a list of local shelters and rescues who may be able to help.
Numbers & Resources
Save these before you need them. The contacts below cover lost and found pets and local intake resources.
Local Contacts
Beaufort County Animal Services (BCAS): (843) 255-5010 — animal control, intake, lost and found reports
Hilton Head Humane Association — The Shelter (10 Humane Way, Hilton Head Island): (843) 681-8686. Open 11am–4pm Mon–Sat, closed Sundays.
Hilton Head Humane Association — New Animal Campus (10 Pritcher Point Rd, Okatie): (843) 645-8400. Open 11am–4pm Mon–Sat, closed Sundays.
Non-emergency police line (Hilton Head Island Police Department): (843) 341-4600 — useful for tracing license and rabies tags on found pets
National Databases & Resources
Pet FBI — petfbi.org — free lost and found database; generates flyers automatically and connects to Lost Dogs of America and Lost Cats of America Facebook networks
PawBoost — pawboost.com — free lost and found listings with local alerts
Lost Dogs of America — lostdogsofamerica.org — resource library and Facebook network for lost dogs
Lost Cats of America — lostcatsofamerica.org — resource library and Facebook network for lost cats
HomeAgain — homeagain.com — microchip registry and lost pet alerts
Free Pet Chip Registry—freepetchipregistry.com—free microchip registry; anyone can search a lost pet
The Center for Lost Pets — centerforlostpets.com — free database for dogs and cats
Dog tattoo registry resource — lostdogsearch.com/links — useful if you’ve found a dog with a tattoo and need to trace it
Social Media
Nextdoor — search your neighborhood and surrounding areas
Facebook — search “lost and found pets Hilton Head” for active local groups