Where Can I Put Up Lost Pet Posters and Flyers Legally?

If you’ve recently lost your pet, you may want to put some lost pet posters up in your community. However, it’s important to keep in mind that you can’t just post these flyers anywhere. It’s illegal to put up posters in certain locations. Don’t worry, we have you covered! In this blog, we’ll outline all the places where you can put up lost pet flyers, as well as the places you can’t, so you can get more people searching for your furry friend. Read on to learn more, or click below to make a lost pet listing right away on PawBoost!

1. Posting in Your Neighborhood

When a pet goes missing, there’s a good chance they haven’t gone far. That’s why posting missing animal flyers in your neighborhood is one of the best places to start. Concentrating your efforts in a several-mile radius around where your pet went missing will ensure that people in that area are looking out for them.

It’s not a bad idea to go door-to-door to speak with your neighbors and provide them with some lost pet posters. Also, it’s important to make sure that your poster stands out and has all the necessary information about your missing pet. You should have a clear, recent photo of your missing pet on the poster, along with information like the pet’s name, breed, gender, size and where it was last seen. Make sure your contact information is also on the poster so people know how to get a hold of you.

So, other than speaking to neighbors, where should you be posting your flyers?

It Is Illegal to Put Flyers in Neighbors’ Mailboxes

First, it’s important to know where you shouldn’t be posting your flyers. In most states, it is illegal to put posters in mailboxes. The U.S. Postal Service stipulates that only authorized mail carriers should be putting items into mailboxes. Putting the lost pet posters in the mailbox could result in fines or other legal consequences. However, there’s nothing wrong with going door-to-door, though this may take a while. Instead, tucking a folder flyer into the carrier signal flag on the side of the mailbox is generally okay. However, you should still check your local laws to ensure this is allowed.

Don’t Post Flyers on Utility Poles, Street Signs or Bus Stops

You may have seen people post flyers on utility poles, but it’s important to remember that this is also illegal in most states. Specifically, you aren’t allowed to put your lost pet posters on utility poles, street signs or bus stops. Doing so can lead to fines or other legal consequences. Instead, you should focus on legal ways to post your pet flyers.

Now that we know that we can’t post flyers on utility poles, street signs, bus stops or in mailboxes, we can move on to the places where you can put your posters.

2. Community Bulletin Boards

One of the best places to post lost pet flyers is on community bulletin boards. These boards can typically be found in local grocery stores, libraries, community centers, coffee shops and other public spaces. Posting your flyers on these boards can help you reach a wide audience of people in your community who can keep an eye out for your pet. Make sure to follow the previously mentioned instructions for making your poster eye-catching and informative so you have the best chance of getting people to pay attention to your poster. Also, it’s a good idea to include tear-off tabs with your contact information so someone can easily reach out to you if they happen to see your pet later on.

To post on a community board, simply check with an employee or manager and ask if you can post your lost pet flyer. Most places will be happy to let you do so. Just make sure to come take it down if your pet is found!

3. Pet-Related Businesses and Organizations

All of the above businesses are great places to start but don’t forget about pet-related businesses and organizations. These places are sure to have animal lovers visiting regularly, so you’re likely to reach some motivated pet owners who understand what it’s like to lose a pet. Some good places to start could be local pet stores, grooming salons and pet hotels. Remember, the goal is to get as many people as possible in your local community to look out for your pet. Posting in these businesses can only help your cause.

4. Veterinarians and Animal Hospitals

Of course, one of the most valuable resources for finding your lost pet will be local veterinarians and animal hospitals. If your pet is microchipped, these businesses should be your first call. They will be able to flag your pet as missing in the system and will be notified if your microchipped pet is brought in. Also, they often have community bulletin boards of their own where they can put your posters. Even if they don’t have a board, they will likely let you leave a stack of flyers so other pet owners who come in can see them and keep a lookout for your pet.

5. Local Animal Shelters and Rescue Organizations

Finally, local animal shelters and rescue organizations are also invaluable resources for finding a lost pet. The employees at these organizations are animal lovers and they’ll be able to assist in spreading the word about your missing pet. In addition to posting your flyer in their physical location, many have social media pages where they may be able to post your lost pet poster as well.

Additionally, many people bring lost pets to local animal shelters or humane shelters. If someone happens to find your pet and they aren’t aware it’s missing, they may bring them to one of these locations. If the shelters have already met you and are keeping a lookout for your pet, they’ll know to contact you right away if your lost pet is brought in.

Create a Free Flyer for a Lost Dog or Cat with PawBoost

As you can see, there are plenty of good places to post your lost pet flyer. However, as mentioned, you need to make sure you have an informative, eye-catching flyer to get people’s attention. PawBoost can help. PawBoost offers a completely free tool for making lost pet posters. Simply fill in the information and print it off.

PawBoost also offers numerous other free services to help reunite you with your lost pet. When you make a free lost pet listing on PawBoost, we push it to our online lost & found database, our email list, our Facebook pages and our mobile app. Get millions of eyes on your lost pet listing and raise local awareness about your missing loved one with PawBoost. Make your free listing today!