Hopefully you will never have to go through this. But odds are good at one time or another, either you or a friend will have a pet that goes missing. You can be the most careful person and through no fault of your own, something happens.

I had first hand experience of this last Tuesday when I got the phone call two of my dogs, Bailey & Hooch decided to go for an adventure. There are several steps to take when you find out your pet is missing.

The first thing is to confirm they are actually missing. Check over your house & property. They could have gotten locked in the basement or barn somehow.

The next most natural step is to just start looking. Either walk or drive around your neighborhood calling out your pets name. When youre out looking for your pet, talk to as many people as possible. Give them your name, number and a description of your pet. You'll increase the chances of finding your pet when more people know that its missing. Also, call your friends and family; enlist their help in finding your pet.

Depending on the city of town you live in, either call your local humane society or sheriffs office. Notify them of your pets status.

If your pet has been missing for more than a day, its a good idea to start posting signs. For local stores & gas stations, use colored signs if you can that have a good picture of your pet. When posting poster board size signs outside, use fluorescent colors they provide much more visibility. A couple of words of caution only post the basics about your pet & your phone number. Dont put your address on it & if youre offering a reward, just list Reward Offered, dont list the amount.

Hopefully, with a little luck and a little prayer you'll find your pet safe and sound. Thankfully I had a happy ending when I found Bailey and Hooch the next morning. They were cold and tired, but as happy to see me as I was them.