When a dog or cat is missing for months or even years, the most effective search methods are not necessarily the same as those used in the first few days or weeks.  This is especially true when there are few to no confirmed sightings of the missing pet.  

The goal of this research project is help determine what search methods are most effective for conducting a long-term search.  Some of these methods may work best if maintained over time such as online posting and posters.  Others are perhaps new ideas to try when nothing else has worked so far.

The preliminary research for this project is published on the Lost Pet Research Blog.  See Effective Long-term Lost Pet Search Methods.

If you have found a missing pet after a long-term search, please consider sharing your story in the comments and/or completing this short survey about your experience.  

A long-term search is not specifically defined, but most pet detectives surveyed considered a search long-term after 2-4 months.  However, anything over a month, especially without sightings, could be considered long-term for this project.

The Lost Pet Research Blog is home to my current research articles.  Most of these articles are based on research studies published in the scientific literature.  A few articles are summaries of my own research such as the Cat Homing Behavior Survey.  These articles go back as early as 2011 and some could probably be updated with new research.  But there are so many new topics to explore as well.

Upcoming Blog Article Topics

Some of the articles that I plan to work on this year include:

• Do owner scent articles work as an attractant for lost cats?
• A review of Bluetooth tracking devices
• Characteristics of cat remains from coyote attacks
• How much can raptors (eagles, hawks, owls) lift?  
• A review of pet GPS trackers

Suggestions for Research Topics

Do you have any suggestions for lost pet research topics?  Submit one in the comments or send a contact form.  I periodically run surveys in the Lost Pet Research Facebook Group to determine what article I will work on next.