FLYERS

FLYERS

It is extremely important to post MANY flyers about your lost pet within at least a 1-mile radius of where it was lost. Further if you can stand it. Overall, flyers or posters produce more "finds" than anything else. But contiue with everything else that has been suggested. Your budget will determine how many flyers you can afford to post, but the more the better.

You want to make a FLYER that has a good color picture of your pet, but doesn't show EVERYTHING about your pet. You want to hide one or more distinguishing characteristics. This will eliminate a lot of time and energy pursuing useless, time consuming leads. For example, was your pet wearing a collar when he was lost? What color? Don't tell the person that found your pet the color! Get them to describe it! Since a collar could've come off you may wish to use another distinguishing characteristic of the pet that only a person with the pet right in front of them would know.
DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME OR ADDRESS ON YOUR FLYER!
Use 8-1/2" X 11" fluorescent color paper for high visibility, but don't use a color of paper that will diminish your pet's picture. If white paper shows the picture off best then use white!
List that your pet was lost, the pet's picture and your telephone number. NO MORE THAN THAT! It has been suggested that you don't put the name of the pet on the flyer. Don't even put the general area that the pet went astray! Again, this will give scam artists ammunition. And they are out there!
Offer a reward, but don't state the amount. A numerical figure listed just gives scam artists more ammunition and if it's a very large amount people may pursue an animal, chasing the pet into traffic. There are exceptions of course. If you KNOW the animal is in a particular area, posting a LARGE reward in that area may have good results, but only post the flyer in that area!
If someone sees your pet, ask, (on the flyer), for them to call immediately rather than pursue the pet. Depending on the animal, write on the flyer, that they approach a large dog very slowly and even on hands and knees. This will indicate a submissive pose and show the dog that the dog is dominant. That will help the dog to feel less threatened. Ask, on the flyer, that they remain in that position until the dog accepts them and then ask them to call you right away. With smaller dogs, the usual whistling, friendly gestures, kind words and food should work.
Post the flyers at waist level on telephone poles and at eye level in such places as veterinary offices, pet shops, barber and beauty shops, grocery stores, community bulletin boards, churches, pizza parlors, laundromats, convenience stores, near schools and on school bulletin boards. You may even ask the principal of the school if the teachers could show the flyer to the children in his/her class. Show and give your flyer to your neighbors and their children! Children see much of what goes on within their neighborhood when they are outside playing.
Examine your posted flyers frequently and replace the ones that are missing or damaged. Keep a record of where you have placed flyers. Tell disgruntled store managers that you will be back to pick the flyers up after the animal is home.
DO NOT go alone to meet someone who says they have found your lost pet! Meet them at a public place or better yet, take someone with you to ensure the pet stays there rather than escaping again!

PRINTING FLYERS

The copier places below have offered a 10% discount for 100 or more flyers for LOST PETS to those who mention they saw their logo on the LostPetInAustin.com website. Keep in mind that the more flyers purchased at one time, the cheaper the cost per flyer. Ask about laminating as well!

Quik Print

Quik Print has 6 Austin locations.

The Insty-Prints offer is only at the north store, Hwy 183 & Burnet Road.

Insty Prints 459-4139

We are in the process of negotiating, but the Kinko's located at 2901-C Medical Arts Parkway will extend this offer to Lost Pet in Austin persons if you mention that you saw this on http://www.LostPetInAustin.com!