Our favourite furry friends love us, but some also love seeing the world solo regardless of how many walks and cuddles they get from their human families.

If your dog was spooked by fireworks or thunder and ran away, what would be your plan of action? You might design some flyers and print hundreds ready to be plastered over every street pole.

Despite this still being a popular choice, the second preferred option has become taking advantage of social media. Facebook is filled with groups dedicated either to lost dogs or community groups where the community spirit is high. Group members are always happy to take on the role of sharing the post, sending their best wishes and joining the search.

Sharing one of these posts by a distressed friend to my own personal wall resulted in another friend responding straight away, informing us that she’d seen the dogs posted about in another group. My friend’s pampered pooches had been rescued by a fellow fur-loving Facebook user who was desperately seeking their owner. This all happened within 15 minutes - and on Christmas Day of all days. It’s crazy how quickly it’s all fixed when we band together.

Frankston Council has embraced the online strategy, recently making the move to join an online impound registry for lost dogs and cats. The council has joined the North Melbourne Lost Dogs Home registry, which is a huge win for pets from the City of Frankston.  The registry lists animals from the Bayside, Brimbank, Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Greater Dandenong, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Kingston, Macedon Ranges, Maribyrnong, Port Phillip, Wyndham and Yarra councils.  Animals that are found in other council areas will be added to the system as the Lost Dogs Home rolls out the service to participating councils.

Now, if you’ve been keeping count that’s three (count them) ways to get lost kitties and puppies back home to their beloved humans. This move certainly gets our bark of approval.

So, if the unfortunate happens, don’t think “Paw me!”. Instead, remember our little spiel to get your treasured little friend home faster. We’ll take our thankyous in the form of petting your dog!

Visit dogshome.com to find your friend.