Poster templates: a few examples
Here are example posters made with the tool (fictional data). Cat or dog, in colour or in black and white for cheaper printing: start from one of these templates and swap in your own photo and details.
Emergency Guide: Optimizing your search
1. Keys to an effective poster
In a rush, it's easy to forget the essentials. To ensure your poster catches the eye of passersby, keep these rules in mind:
- A clear photo : Choose a bright, clear photo where the animal is highly visible. Avoid dark or blurry pictures.
- Distinctive features : A colored collar, a specific spot, or a folded ear are the details that allow people to positively identify your companion.
- Safe contact : Use a phone number with voicemail, or an Instagram account if you prefer not to display your personal number.
2. Where and how to distribute?
Fieldwork and neighbors
A frightened animal often hides during the day. Search at night when it's quiet. Put up posters strategically at red light intersections (where stopped drivers have time to look around), bus stops, and neighborhood bins. Most importantly, speak to your neighbors in person: your companion might simply be trapped in their garden or shed.
Trusted community hubs
Leave a poster with local shopkeepers (bakeries, pharmacies) and absolutely notify veterinary clinics in your area.
Lost dog poster or lost cat poster
Whether you are looking for a dog or a cat, a few species-specific details significantly increase your chances of being contacted:
Lost dog poster
Include the breed, collar color, and microchip status. For large breeds, mention the approximate weight: it reassures potential witnesses who might hesitate to approach.
Lost cat poster
Specify whether your cat is indoor-only (they rarely stray more than 200 m), their status (spayed/neutered, microchipped), and any distinctive features like a bell or an unusual coat pattern.
Where to share your poster for the best odds
A great poster is useless if nobody sees it. The goal is to get it circulating everywhere locals pass, on the ground and online, within the first few hours.
On the ground, aim for places where people stop and have time to read: red-light intersections and roundabouts, bus stops, mailboxes, community notice boards, and the entrances to schools and parks. Think of the people who cover the whole neighborhood every day too: your mail carrier, delivery drivers, dog walkers, and municipal staff often spot an animal before anyone else. A note dropped in a few neighboring mailboxes can be worth all the posters combined.
Online, share the story version on your social media and in your town's neighborhood and animal-help groups (local Facebook groups and regional 'lost & found pets' pages are very active). Also publish your report on Animalert: the alert automatically notifies people signed up near where your pet went missing, so you don't have to know everyone in the area.
Refresh posters damaged by rain after a few days, and always keep the same easily recognizable photo from one poster to the next: that's what people remember.
A poster isn't enough: the other helpful reflexes
Alongside your posters, a few simple steps clearly improve the chances of a reunion. Here are the ones not to forget in the first few hours.
Report the loss to the national pet registry (I-CAD in France): if someone has your pet's microchip or tattoo read at a vet, the record instantly shows as 'lost' and you get contacted. Then notify the vets, clinics, and pounds around you, plus local shelters, where a rescued animal is often brought within the day.
Remember the town hall and municipal police, who sometimes centralize sightings, and keep going back to the places where your companion was last seen. For a cat, search at dusk with your phone camera ready, and leave something carrying their scent near home (their litter tray, a blanket): it helps them find their way back.
Finally, stay reachable and careful: log every call, be wary of demands for money in exchange for a return (a common scam), and always ask for a photo before going anywhere. As soon as your companion is home, update your report and take your posters down.
Our commitment
Animalert is a community-driven tool. Unlike other platforms, we will never ask you to pay to find your pet. This tool stores no data: your poster is generated locally on your device.
Out of respect for the environment, please remember to take down your posters once your companion is found.
Going further
Before, during, after: our other free tools to help you.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
Should I offer a reward?
No. At Animalert, bringing an animal home is an act of solidarity, not a transaction. Offering money attracts scams and malicious calls, and it undermines the neighbourly help that actually works. What truly brings pets back: a clear poster, wide sharing, and an online alert that notifies people nearby.
Is the tool really 100% free?
Yes. You do not need to create an account or enter a credit card. You generate your poster and download it immediately. Our non-profit will never ask you to pay to find your pet.
Who should I notify first?
In addition to putting up posters, immediately report the loss to your national pet registry (like I-CAD in France) and notify local veterinarians, pounds, town halls, and shelters. Also publish your report on Animalert to alert people signed up near where your pet went missing.
Can I add a QR code to the poster?
When you publish your report on Animalert, the poster can link to your pet's online page: passersby find it at a glance, with the photo, location, and your contact details always up to date. It's more reliable than a number that changes, and it avoids displaying your personal information in large print.
Where should I put up and share my poster?
On the ground, favor red lights, bus stops, mailboxes, schools, and neighborhood shops, and talk to your neighbors, mail carrier, and vets. Online, share the story version in your town's neighborhood and animal-help groups, and publish the report on Animalert to reach locals in the area.
What formats can I download the poster in?
You can save a high-resolution PNG image, export a print-ready A4 PDF, or print directly. The story format suits social media. The PNG image also drops easily into a Word or Google Docs document if you prefer.
Should I report the loss to a pet registry and shelter?
Yes, it's essential. Report your pet as 'lost' with the national registry (I-CAD in France, the database of identified animals): as soon as a vet reads their chip or tattoo, they see it is being searched for. Also notify local shelters and pounds, where rescued animals are often brought.
How long before an animal comes back?
There's no rule: some return on their own within the day, others are found after several weeks. A frightened cat often hides very close to home for several days before daring to come out. Don't give up: keep searching, keep posting, and keep your reports alive over time.
Does it work for a cat, a dog, or a small pet too?
Yes. You can create a poster for a cat, a dog, a rabbit, a ferret, or any other companion animal. Just enter the species, breed, distinctive features, and where they went missing: the template adapts to each companion.