What to do if you lose your Pet

If your pet wandered off too far or is an outdoor cat that hasn't been around in a while it is important to stay calm. First you need to collect yourself and get all neccessary items for your search. Here is a breif checklist:

• Phone, charged and ringer on

• Wallet with cash, ID, and credit card

• Keys

• Leash for dog / cat

• Water and water bowl (for you and found pet)

• Treats: bring fragrant treats or your pets favorite especially if their recall isn't great

• Clothes: wear familiar clothes to your pet; their noses will find you before their eyes do so wear what you normally do on walks or around the house

Timing is everything. Start by checking all of your pets favorite areas to visit or hang out within the first hour. Check any spots that you frequent with your pet such as parks, neighbors, trails, schools etc. Once you have checked the obvious places start sending alerts to your neighbors and friends via text, facebook, instagram, etc to get the word out. You should also contact the local animal shelter to see if your dog has been picked up by them, Call #311. If your pet is chipped obtain the microchip ID number from your vet, shelter, or pet records. Chips are not trackers but they can help ID your pet.

After the initial search its time to quickly print out some flyers. No need for a fancy design, just go to word/docs and make a page with the following information:

• Missing: pet name and breed.

• Identifying Details

• Photo: 1-2 photos of the missing pet

• Last Seen: Location and date.

• Responds to:

• Nature: friendly, skittish, agressive, etc.

• Reward: $100 -$200 rewards are optimal

• Contact Information: name, number, email.

• contact cut out: strips at the bottom to cut out and keep in case one finds your pet later and needs to recall your phone number.

Once your Flyers are printed go back to all the frequently visited spots from before and post them up there while conducting a second search. Next expand your search radius and put flyers out in a 5km radius, if you have an animal that you suspect may travel further then put them out further. Over the next few days continue check in with 311, make your flyer more eye catching and checking nearby spots that your pet may be attracted to.

Hopefully this guide will maximize your chances of finding your pet. If you do manage to find them and want to prevent them running again, give them a tracking collar and register them in the Piko App.

Piko is for pets

At Piko, our mission is to make every part of the pet ownership journey easier and more connected. That means building features that support everyday life from our AI-powered personality posting, to the resource hub, event center, and dog walk tracker. But it also means thinking about the unexpected moments too. That’s why we created a feature we hope you never need to use: the Lost Pet Finder.

Piko Is Your Lifeline

Losing a pet is every owner’s worst nightmare. In the past, your options were limited. You could put up flyers around the neighborhood, a slow and often ineffective process. Or you could post across social platforms like Instagram or Facebook, but those posts rarely reach the people who matter most: the ones actually nearby who might see your pet. Communities are fragmented, and timing is everything when a pet goes missing.

That’s where Piko helps out.

How the Lost Pet Finder Works

With our built-in map feature, reporting a lost pet takes just a few taps. Simply navigate to the map, click “Post,” and select “Report Lost Pet.” From there, you can add important details such as:

• Height, weight, and age

• Gender

• “Responds to” (their name or a cue)

• Whether they are spayed or neutered

• Any other identifying details

You can also upload the most recent photo of your pet to make sure other users know exactly who to look for.

Once posted, Piko turns all of that information into a digital alert. Every Piko user in your area will be notified on the map about your missing pet and where they were last seen.

A Community Effort

Your lost pet post will remain active for as long as you choose, giving you the best chance of being reunited. This feature becomes even more powerful as more people join the app. That’s why we encourage every pet parent, even if you’re not a “social media person” to set up a profile in order to protect all pets.

Having your pet’s information ready means that if the worst happens, you can act immediately. And by being part of Piko, you also play an important role in helping your friends and neighbors if their pets go missing. Together, we create a safer, more supportive community for pets everywhere.

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