Make the best of lost pet flyers

There are so many ways to help animals - helping lost animals to make their way back home is an important job.

Statistics show that 1 in 3 pets will be lost in their lifetime.
Less than 3% of lost cats will make it back home.
Less than 15% of lost dogs will make it back home.

As Steve Wozniak (founder of Apple Computers) says, "In a technologically connected world and in Silicon Valley specifically, why can't we fix the lost pet problem?" Too true, Woz.

Just this morning, I took my dog out for her walk and along the way, I counted no less than eight lost pet fliers. I studied them for a moment and found some interesting talking points that may help:

1. Many lost dog flyers will be seen while walking...
   
2. But most people do not carry a pen and paper with them to write down the information.
   
3. Many flyers do NOT have a photo of the pet.
   
4. Descriptions are too long and detailed. (People are much more likely to remember an image and will avoid reading more than a 2-5 words of a description.)
   
5. An old flyer that has been sitting on a telephone pole may cause some to assume that
   
   
   
   • It is out-of-date or;
   • That the pet has already been found.

How can we make the best of Lost Pet Flyers?

Some solutions can be taken from basic company advertising models.

1. Make the flyer easy for the viewer.
   
   
   • Include a photo
   • The area the pet was lost 
   • A phone number
   • ...too much info and the reader will NOT read it. Less is best.
     
2. Create a flyer with tear-off tags of your phone number, including a color photo of the pet with the tear off tag!
   
   
   • Imagine having someone tear off a tag, get home and forget the description!
   • Include a photo directly on the tear-off to make it most useful for your viewer.
     
3. Update your flyers regularly. Make a map (Google Maps works great!) of the areas you already  posted flyers and go back and check them weekly, replacing those that look old.
   
   
   • The flyers with tags that have already been torn-off should be replaced.
   • Someone who sees that most of the tags were already removed will be less inclined to help in the search, assuming that others are already 'on the case'.
     
4. Grab attention - with LARGE words at the top "LOST" or "HELP". You are much more likely to get the attention of those who are naturally inclined to help in troubling situations.
   
   
5. Diversify your outreach -
   
   
   • Post flyers in coffee shops, dog parks, near school yards, near bus stops. 
   • Anywhere that people will go on-foot and have a tendency to stand for longer periods of time are more likely to read your flyer by default.

As of now, there aren't many alternatives to helping lost pets return home. Until a company provides a new option to reach the consumer market, these are some helpful points if you've lost a pet and would like to make the best of your lost-pet flyers.

• Be persistent, keep an open mind and check the shelters daily (yes, daily) for at least 3-4 weeks. 
• Remember, there are quite a few shelters in your area other than the County-run shelter. 
• Call all cat rescue and dog rescue groups, email them the flyer, so they can also help.

Our hearts go out to those who have lost a pet, we know that it is a very troubling situation. Best of luck in your search.