Questions
Short answers. If yours is not here, write to us and we will add it.
Do I need a microchip, a collar or a tag?
No. Nothing needs to be on your pet. You make a page with photos and a description, and the page does the work. A microchip is still worth having, and a tag gets your pet back to you faster, but neither is required.
My pet is already missing. Is it too late to sign up?
No. You can start a page after your pet is gone. Fill in the details and photos first and only give an email address at the end, and the page is live a few minutes after you start.
My pet is safe at home. Why register now?
Because someone may find your pet before you know they are out. A finder who reports a pet here sees registered pets nearby that fit, and can message you, but only pets that are already registered can show up. It is also the better time for photos: calm day, good light, a pet who will sit still. The page is not listed anywhere and cannot be browsed. If your pet ever goes missing, one short form turns it into a public lost page with everything already in place.
Is it free?
Yes. The page, the printable flyer, sighting reports and messages from finders are free, and there is no paid tier that shows your pet to more people. Optional collar tags will be a paid extra when they launch. There are no ads.
Will my phone number or address be shown?
No. Your phone number and email are never published. People who find or see your pet contact you through the page. Your address is never shown either: the page shows a general area about one kilometer across, not a pin.
How is this different from posting on Facebook or Nextdoor?
You still post there, and you should. The difference is that you post one link instead of rewriting the details in every group. Sightings from every group arrive in one place, and when your pet comes home you update one page and every post that links to it shows the news.
What if my pet has no distinctive markings?
Add several photos from different angles, and describe size, coat, behavior and where your pet was last seen. Location and timing narrow things down far more than markings do: a plain black cat seen two streets from home the day after it went missing is a strong lead.
What happens to my tag if the service shuts down?
We will not promise a number of years. Instead there is a mechanism: your pet's data can be exported at any time in a documented format, and if Lost Pet Network ever winds down, the imlo.st address that tags point to will be handed to a nonprofit or shelter so that tags keep resolving.
Why are reward amounts not shown?
A published reward turns a lost pet page into a target for scammers who claim to have the animal and ask for money first. You can mention a reward privately once you are talking to someone who has your pet.
What kinds of pets can have a page?
Any pet. Dogs and cats are most common, and pages also work for birds, rabbits, reptiles and other animals.
Where does it work?
Pages, flyers and sightings work anywhere in the United States. We are starting in Austin, Texas, where features that depend on having many registered pets nearby will arrive first.
Do people need an account to report a sighting?
No. Anyone can report a sighting or message the owner from a pet page without signing up. Asking strangers to create an account is how sightings get lost.
I found a pet. What should I do?
Check for a tag and scan or type its code. If there is no tag, report what you found here: you will see any pets registered nearby that fit and can message the owner. Any vet or shelter can also scan for a microchip, usually at no charge. The guide for finders walks through each step.
Do you post to social media for me?
No, never. You share the link yourself. Automated posting breaks the rules of neighborhood groups and gets links blocked, which would hurt every pet on the service.
Still stuck? hello@lostpet.network