When a Pet Goes Missing: What to Do and How an AirTag Collar Helps
When a pet goes missing, it is hard to think clearly. A simple plan, made before you need it, makes those first hours easier.
Part of our AirTag collar guide. See also: dog trackers with no subscription.
When a Pet Goes Missing: First Steps
A quick Google search for how many pets go missing in Canada each year returns an estimate of over 1 million. It is an estimate, not an exact count, but it shows how common it is and why a plan helps.
Start close to home and search the places your pet likes to hide. Tell neighbours, check with local shelters and vets, and post in your community's lost pet groups. Share a clear photo and your contact details.
Try to stay calm and keep your phone close. Pets often hide nearby when they are scared, so searching quietly and calling softly can work better than shouting.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Right away | Search close to home and call your pet by name |
| Within the hour | Ask neighbours and share a clear photo |
| The same day | Contact local shelters and vets and post in local groups |
| Ongoing | Keep checking, and keep your contact details current |
Where an AirTag Collar Helps
If your pet wears an AirTag Collar with an AirTag in it, you can open Find My and see the last known location. That gives you a place to start. It works best where Apple devices are nearby, so it is not a guarantee, but it can shorten the guessing.
Read how the tracking works in our AirTag collar guide and compare options in our guide to dog trackers with no subscription.
Prepare Before It Happens
Keep a name tag on the collar, keep your phone number current and take a clear photo of your pet to have ready. Little habits like these save time when it matters.
If you have more than one pet, keep a photo of each one in your phone. It is a small thing, and it is easy to forget until the day you need it.
What should I do first if my pet is missing? Search close to home right away, call your pet by name and ask your neighbours.
Will an AirTag always find my pet? No. It shows a last known location when an Apple device passes nearby, so it works best in cities and suburbs.
Should my pet still wear an ID tag? Yes. A name tag and phone number are a good basic, and an AirTag collar adds to them.
A calm plan and a little preparation can make a hard day easier. Browse the Collars and Leashes collection.
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Willow loves eating out of this leaf feeder! The construction is very good quality and feels solid/ not like it’s going to break. She is a picky eater and doesn’t normally eat full meals but will eat full meals out of this! Love the grippy bottom so it doesn’t slip. Nothing to complain about :)
Golden Luca is pretty and it has my name and phone number on the flip side.
I bought it for Bao Bei to help him eat slower, also have a unique feeding bowl
He is busy with it for hours and also I can fetch the toy when we want to spend time together
It made Sabar’s meal time more than double and I enjoy watching him eating from his unique bowl
My paw was eating too fast and this bowl helped me to fix this problem
It can keep my cat's busy for a long time, but it should be under supervised I think. Long time playing with it can make them tired!
Maki playing with her ball. 😀
I'm using this stuff to keep my puppy busy and happy everyday.
It keeps my puppy busy for more than 30 mins every time for a meal. and even after that she plays with it around as long as She get tired!
Fun "beginner level" toy. Works for cats too:)
Durable plastic, feels nice.
it is a bit hard on the walls but the cat just watches it. Does not interact with it. The ball works really well for what it is supposed to do.
If it was a bit softer the cat might enjoy it more.
I gave one to a neighbour who's dog loves it. She has a small dog so the size is just right.
Great bowl and such fun. Amazing the difference in time it now takes for my puppy to finish her meals. Much healthier for her! And she loves to play with it once it’s empty
Got this toy for my girl Archie and she absolutely loves it! It’s super durable, keeps her entertained for hours, and the treat dispenser is a fun bonus. Totally worth it
As soon as this ball comes out he gets very excited. The ball allows him to play by himself with the ball. His favourite toy by far.
