Lost pet search & recovery
When your pet goes missing, you don't have to search alone.
Few experiences are more frightening than discovering that a beloved pet has disappeared. Whether your cat has slipped outside, your dog has escaped the yard, or your pet has been missing for days or weeks, knowing what to do next can feel overwhelming.
At Anna's Pet Care, we provide compassionate, evidence-informed lost-pet search and recovery assistance to families throughout the Memphis area.
Combining an understanding of animal behavior, organized search strategies, community outreach, and K9-assisted scent work when appropriate, we help families develop a plan, investigate leads, and work towards bringing their pets safely home.
My pet is missing. what should i do first?
- The actions you take early in a missing-pet situation can make a meaningful difference. Start here: 1. Gather essential information. Record when and where your pet was last seen, the circumstances of the disappearance, and any confirmed sightings. 2. Check nearby hiding places. Frightened pets, particularly cats, may hide close to where they disappeared. Search carefully without forcing an animal out of hiding. 3. Notify your microchip company. Confirm that your contact information is current and report your pet as missing. 4. Alert nearby veterinary clinics, shelters, and neighbors. Provide a clear, recent photo and accurate contact information. 5. Avoid chasing a frightened pet. Even normally affectionate animals may flee when frightened or disoriented. 6. Ask for help. A structured search plan can help you prioritize your efforts and respond appropriately to new information. Every missing-pet situation is different. The most effective approach depends on your pet's species, temperament, environment, and the circumstances of the disappearance.
Our lost pet recovery process
Step 1 - Tell Us About Your Missing PetContact us for a complimentary consultation. We'll gather essential information about your pet, the disappearance, and any steps you've already taken.
Step 2 - Develop a Search StrategyWe'll review the circumstances, available evidence, and your pet's behavioral characteristics to identify an appropriate approach.
Step 3 - Conduct Field Search ActivitiesWhen appropriate, we'll schedule an on-site search. This may include K9-assisted scent work, environmental assessment, neighborhood canvassing, and documentation of relevant observations.
Step 4 - Evaluate Leads & Plan Next StepsWe'll discuss findings, potential sightings, and recommendations for continuing the search. When appropriate, we can also assist with additional recovery tools and outreach.
Step 5 - Support a Safe ReunionOur priority is helping families make informed decisions that support the safe recovery of their pets.
Step 2 - Develop a Search StrategyWe'll review the circumstances, available evidence, and your pet's behavioral characteristics to identify an appropriate approach.
Step 3 - Conduct Field Search ActivitiesWhen appropriate, we'll schedule an on-site search. This may include K9-assisted scent work, environmental assessment, neighborhood canvassing, and documentation of relevant observations.
Step 4 - Evaluate Leads & Plan Next StepsWe'll discuss findings, potential sightings, and recommendations for continuing the search. When appropriate, we can also assist with additional recovery tools and outreach.
Step 5 - Support a Safe ReunionOur priority is helping families make informed decisions that support the safe recovery of their pets.
How we help families find missing pets
Complimentary Lost Pet Consultation & Case Assessment
We begin by learning about your missing pet and the circumstances of the disappearance.
We'll discuss your pet's behavior and history, the last known location, previous search efforts, sightings, and any other information that may help guide the next steps.
Our goal is to help you understand your options and determine whether professional field-search assistance would be appropriate.
Field Search & Recovery Assistance Starting at $200
Our initial field-search service includes a structured assessment of the search area, followed by field work, which may include K9-assisted scent searching when conditions are suitable.
Depending on the circumstances, field work may involve evaluating the last known location, investigating potential travel routes or hiding areas, documenting scent indications, identifying search priorities, and coordinating with the pet's family.
A field search does not guarantee a recovery, but it can provide information to help guide the ongoing search.
Search Strategy & Follow-Up
Finding a missing pet often involves more than one search effort.
We can help families evaluate new sightings, organize information, develop neighborhood outreach strategies, and identify appropriate next steps as the situation evolves.
Additional services may include follow-up field time, assistance with cameras or humane trapping, and coordination of missing-pet awareness materials.
Services and any additional expenses are discussed with the client before proceeding.
Meet Bette: our canine search partner
Bette is more than a beloved member of the Anna's Pet Care family. She's also developing her skills in scent-trailing work to assist with missing-pet searches.
Working alongside Anna Wells, Bette uses her remarkable canine sense of smell to investigate scent information under suitable conditions.
Scent work is one tool within a larger recovery strategy. Indications from a search dog are interpreted alongside sightings, environmental conditions, and other available information rather than treated as proof of a pet's location.
Together, Anna W. and Bette bring dedication, curiosity, and compassion to helping missing pets and the people who love them.
A happy reunion: gt's story
When hope was fading, a new search brought new leads and renewed hope.
When GT, a beloved black cat from Cordova, went missing in September 2026, his family did everything they knew to bring him home. They notified his microchip company, posted on FaceBook, alerted neighbors, and visited the local animal shelter.
But after more than two weeks without finding him, they were beginning to fear the worst. They worried GT might have died and that they would never see him again.
That's when Anna W. and her canine search partner, Bette, joined the effort.
Using GT's scent, Bette followed a trail into another nearby neighborhood, where conversations with residents uncovered two recent sightings of GT. These new leads gave the family a reason to keep searching.
Together with GT's family, we developed a more focused search strategy, coordinated missing-pet flyers, canvassed the neighborhood, and concentrated search efforts in the areas where Bette had shown interest and neighbors had reported sightings.
Although our search couldn't establish exactly where GT was, we found no evidence confirming the family's worst fears. Combined with the new sightings, that helped restore hope and encouraged them to keep GT's disappearance visible in the community. And that persistence mattered.
GT was eventually brought to a local veterinary office by someone from the neighborhood where we had been searching and he was reunited with his family!
We can't know exactly which part of the search led to his recovery. But by uncovering new leads, focusing on community outreach, and helping his family stay engaged in the search, we were able to make a meaningful contribution to GT's journey home.
Welcome home, GT! 🖤
Every missing-pet case is different, and no search method can guarantee a reunion. Our goal is to provide families with useful information, a thoughtful search strategy, and support when they need it most.
Missing pet flyers, yard signs & community awareness
- Getting accurate information into the community is an important part of many missing-pet searches.
For veterinary professionals & community partners
Veterinary teams, shelters, rescue organizations, and community members play an important role in helping missing pets return home.
Anna's Pet Care welcomes opportunities to share educational resources, provide missing-pet recovery guidance, and collaborate with local professionals who support pets and their families.
We also offer brief educational presentations for veterinary teams interested in learning more about lost-pet behavior, search strategies, and recovery resources.
Resources for missing-pet families
Knowledge can make a difference when every decision feels urgent.
Explore helpful information about:
Explore helpful information about:
- What to do during the first 24 hours
- Searching for a missing indoor cat
- Searching for a missing dog
- Microchips and lost-pet notifications
- Creating effective missing-pet flyers
- Responding to sightings and avoiding common search mistakes
Let's work toward bringing your pet home
When a pet goes missing, having guidance and support can make an overwhelming situation more manageable.
We're here to help you take the next step.
Frequently asked questions
Can you guarantee you'll find my pet?
Unfortunately, no professional can guarantee a successful recovery. Missing-pet searches involve many variables, including animal behavior, environmental conditions, elapsed time, and available information. Our role is to provide thoughtful search assistance and practical guidance.
Can Bette track any missing pet?
Not necessarily. K9-assisted scent searching depends on factors such as the availability and quality of a scent article, environmental conditions, safety, and the suitability of the case. We'll discuss whether scent work may be appropriate during your consultation.
What if my pet has been missing for several weeks?
You can still contact us. The amount of time that has passed is one of several factors we consider when evaluating a case.
Do I need to be present during a search?
We highly recommend that you accompany us during the field search. Your familiarity with your pet, their behavior, and the surrounding area can provide valuable information throughout the process. We'll discuss participation, access permissions, and any necessary arrangements during your consultation.
How do I get started?
Contact Anna's Pet Care to request your complimentary lost-pet consultation. We'll review your situation and discuss next steps. The best way to contact us is by submitting an inquiry through our website or by texting 901-236-4925 directly.
Anna's pet care | Memphis, Tennessee
Compassionate care for pets. Peace of mind for the people who love them.