Every dog owner's nightmare - somehow your pup has gotten out of the yard, bolted out an open door, or broken free from their leash. It doesn't matter at that point, that issue can be addressed once your buddy is safely home, how they got away - they are lost!!! You immediately alert family, friends, and neighbors through phone calls, social media, and flyers posted around the area. You check with local shelters and other animal organizations. Your best chance of getting your dog home safely and unharmed though is, in part, going to be determined by what you did before the dog got lost. Have your dog microchipped as a puppy or when you adopt them. This technology has been invaluable in helping get dogs back to their owners. However in order to read the chip & get the owner information a microchip reader is required. Vet's offices, local rescue groups, and many law enforcement agencies carry or have access to these readers. It's not likely that someone coming across your dog on the street has immediate access to these. So please make sure your dog has an ID tag or collar with your contact information! If you don't like the sound of tags clinking together you can get dog tag silencers to put on them, purchase an embroidered collar, or a collar with an engraved buckle. I know I personally will return a dog to its home or contact the owner if I have that information. The lack of a tag and just a microchip will delay the process of your dog being returned. Having both the tags and the microchip for your dog increases the likelihood of them being returned safely to you in a timely manner. I hope you never have to experience this situation but having these safety measures in place will increase the likelihood of a happy ending.