If you have lost your pet: 

• Start looking immediately. Do not assume that your pet will “come back on his or her own”. Time is of the essence. The sooner you begin your search, the better the odds of finding your pet.
• Check with all your neighbors to see if anyone has spotted your pet. Even if they haven’t seen your pet, they can keep a careful eye out. 
• Contact all the animal shelters, animal control, veterinary offices, and police departments in your area as soon as possible. Provide a description of your pet including type of breed, color, gender, and any distinguishing markings that make your pet unique. 
• Place a classified ad in your local newspaper. Sometimes newspapers will run a lost & found ad at no charge.
• Visit http://www.petfinder.com/ and click on “post classified ads” to report your pet as missing. This service is at no charge. 
• Circulate flyers in your area with a recent photo and description of your pet. Create a business card of your pet and hand them out. It is handy, small enough to fit in a wallet, and less likely to be thrown away. Offering a reward isn’t a bad idea either!
• Make a trip to the local animal shelters and take a look for yourself. Don’t rely on others to make a positive identification of your pet.

If you have found a pet: 

• Contact all the animal shelters, animal control, veterinary offices, and police departments in your area. Provide a description of the pet including type of breed, color, and gender. Withdraw any specific information such as distinguishing markings or if the pet was wearing a collar. If someone inquires about the pet, this will help ensure the pet legitimately belongs to him or her. Insisting on a photo or veterinary records is even more conclusive.
• Place a classified ad in your local newspaper. Sometimes newspapers will run a lost & found ad at no charge.
• Circulate flyers in your area with a description of the pet and general location of where the pet was found.
• Visit http://www.petfinder.com/ and click on “post classified ads” to report the pet as found. This service is at no charge.
• Make a trip to a local animal shelter or veterinary office and have the pet scanned for a microchip. Most of these facilities will be happy to assist at no charge. 

Numbers to call if you have lost a pet: 

(Remember after reporting the lost pet, it is very important to go visit the shelters and give them a picture of your lost dog and make sure you walk through the kennels to make sure your pet isn't there.)

Animal Control & Humane Societies
Belleville Area Humane Society	618-235-3712
Alton Animal Control	618-463-3553
Collinsville Animal Control	618-346-5213
Granite City Animal Control	618-452-6233
Granite City APA	618-931-7030
Madison County Animal Control	618-692-1701
Metro East Humane Society	618-656-4405
Monroe County Animal Control	618-939-8681, x:238
St Clair County Animal Control	618-235-0585
Police
Belleville Police	618-234-1212
Swansea Police	618-233-8114
Freeburg Police	618-539-3131
O'Fallon Police	618-624-4545
Caseyville Police	618-344-2151
Centreville Police	618-332-1184
Collinsville Police	618-344-2131
Mascoutah Police	618-566-2976
Lebanon Police	618-537-4955
Granite City Police	618-451-9760
Newspaper
Belleville News Democrat	618-234-1000