Including the pet's name personalizes the poster and makes the pet more than a generic dog or cat that's missing it is Sammy, Harriett, Dylan, Jackpot, Missy, Precious and so on. Over the years we have heard from worried pet owners and a few animal rescue organizations that if the person finding the missing pet knows their name, they can control them. The benefit derived from putting the name on the poster outweighs the fact that the finder can make them sit and stay. If it is an unusual breed, describe it, as looking like a certain pet on television or an animal that people would know. Be careful not to describe the coloring as sable, seal pointe or blue merle.
Most people have no idea what that means.
Scars, nicks on ears, certain spots and eye color are easy marks to identify. Recently, we received a call from a veterinarian who was treating a dog because someone was trying to get a tattoo off a dog s ear with acid and the acid got into the brain of the dog. If you don't even know the approximate weight, don't list it at all on the poster. Never list your home address on the poster. If you know or suspect your pet was stolen or removed from the area in a vehicle, just list the city and state.