Red Collar Rescue & Recovery
Red Collar Rescue & Recovery
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  • What we Do
    • What We Do
    • Our Leadership Team
  • Recovery Help Request
  • Rescue starting line
  • Testimonials
  • Lost Dog Toolbox
    • Quick Action Steps
    • Flyers
    • Where to Look?
    • Feeding & Scent Station
    • Social Media & Your Dog
    • Shy Dog Tactics
  • Volunteer With Us
    • Volunteer Roles
    • Join Our Crew
  • Ways To Donate
  • Media/Community Outreach
  • More
    • Home
    • What we Do
      • What We Do
      • Our Leadership Team
    • Recovery Help Request
    • Rescue starting line
    • Testimonials
    • Lost Dog Toolbox
      • Quick Action Steps
      • Flyers
      • Where to Look?
      • Feeding & Scent Station
      • Social Media & Your Dog
      • Shy Dog Tactics
    • Volunteer With Us
      • Volunteer Roles
      • Join Our Crew
    • Ways To Donate
    • Media/Community Outreach

  • Home
  • What we Do
    • What We Do
    • Our Leadership Team
  • Recovery Help Request
  • Rescue starting line
  • Testimonials
  • Lost Dog Toolbox
    • Quick Action Steps
    • Flyers
    • Where to Look?
    • Feeding & Scent Station
    • Social Media & Your Dog
    • Shy Dog Tactics
  • Volunteer With Us
    • Volunteer Roles
    • Join Our Crew
  • Ways To Donate
  • Media/Community Outreach

rescue starting line

This Rescue Starting Line walks you through the most important things to do in the first 24–48 hours after your dog decides to go on an unapproved solo adventure. We know this moment feels terrifying, and we’re here to help you move from panic‑mode to action‑mode with confidence.


Take a few minutes to read this page — yes, the whole thing, links included — before submitting a Red Collar Recovery Request for Help. Future‑you will want to high‑five present‑you for it.


Once you’re connected with a Red Collar Lost Dog Consultant, you’ll get a ton of guidance, next steps, and a Roadmap Checklist that actually works. And if your situation calls for trapping… well, surprise — we do that too.

Begin with these five critical steps

Quick Action Steps

Taking proactive steps when your dog is missing is so important to your ultimate recovery efforts. These are steps we ask that you start now while you're waiting for your Lost Dog Consultant to contact you by phone if you've submitted your Recovery Help Request. 


Following these 5 Action Steps to get started on your rescue search.

FLYER best practices

Paper flyers are the #1 way to successfully reunite dogs with their families! When you think about it, the more dog missing flyers you distribute, the more eyes will see them, increasing the chances of finding your pet. We suggest putting up at least 100 flyers within a 2-mile radius of where your dog went missing. These flyers don’t need to include a lot of detail. If you don’t receive any reported sightings within the first 3 days, consider expanding your reach.  We recommend expanding your flyer radius in 1 mile increments if you do not get sightings, ideally aiming for 50 flyers per mile that you expand.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR FLYER PAGE

WHERE TO LOOK

If you are in Pima County - there are several places that you should physically visit, specifically your local shelters. Click below for contact information for your local shelters

WHERE TO LOOK

Set up a feeding station

Establish a feeding and scent station close to the spot where your dog made its escape. We suggest placing one food bowl filled with ½ cup of dry dog food alongside something aromatic, like a chopped-up cooked hot dog or a small portion of wet dog food. Don’t forget to include a water bowl as well. 

CLICK HERE FOR FEEDING STATION INFORMATION

don't rely soley on social media

Click here to learn why

Shy Dog Protocal

A lost dog is often frightened and should be treated with care. 

Click here to go to our Shy Dog Tactics page

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