How to post a pet sighting that's actually useful
3 min read
Sightings are the connective tissue of a search. Even an unconfirmed one tells an owner which way to walk next — as long as it carries the right three facts.
The three facts that matter
When you saw it (time, not just 'today'), where you saw it (street and suburb is plenty), and which way it was heading. Direction of travel is the detail most people leave out and the one owners need most.
Add size, colour, coat length and whether it wore a collar. Say if it looked injured or limping.
Photograph from a distance
Don't chase an animal to get a better shot — you'll push it further from home. A distant, blurry photo with an accurate location beats a sharp one taken two streets on.
If you can't photograph it at all, post anyway. A described sighting is still a data point.
Location precision and privacy
Give the street and suburb rather than a house number, and never post someone else's address. Pet Social pins to an approximate point so the map stays useful without exposing anyone.
Setting your suburb correctly matters: it decides which owners see your post at all.
Not just lost pets
Sightings aren't only for emergencies. Plenty of people post the neighbourhood cat asleep on their car or the beagle that visits every afternoon — and owners love seeing where their pet actually goes all day.
Post a free alert on Pet Social
Free to post, free to search, and every first conversation stays private inside the app.
Reunions, sightings and tips daily on Instagram — @petsocial2026