What to Do When Your American Bully Is Lost in the United States

What should you do in the first hours after your American Bully is lost?

1. Search the house, yard, garage and car; a scared dog may hide close by.
2. Walk and drive your neighborhood, calling the dog's name calmly, with treats and a leash.
3. Ask neighbors to check sheds, garages and under decks, and to look at doorbell and security camera footage.
4. Call your city or county animal control and file a lost report with a photo and the microchip number.
5. Report the dog lost to the microchip registry and check that your phone number is current.
6. Post a lost dog ad and share it locally.

In hot weather, move fast. Heavily built, short-muzzled dogs overheat easily, so ask people who see your dog to offer water and shade.

How do you use the microchip to get your American Bully back?

Shelters and vets scan stray dogs and contact the chip registry. The ASPCA puts it plainly: microchips are only as good as the information provided to the chip's company. If you have moved or changed your number since the chip was registered, update it now.

If you do not know which company holds the record, enter the chip number in the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup. It searches participating registries and tells you which one holds it. Not every registry takes part, so check with the company that supplied the chip if nothing comes up. Keep the chip number, vet records and ABKC or UKC papers together; they are your proof of ownership.

Which shelters and agencies should you contact?

Strays go to the shelter for the place where they were found, which may be a different city or county. Shelters hold strays only for a limited time; most states set 3 to 5 days, and some as short as 48 hours.

How do you make a lost American Bully flyer and ad?

The ASPCA recommends a big, bold headline such as LOST DOG that can be read from a distance, and one consistent design. Include:

• A clear, recent photo showing the dog's color, head and build.
• Variety and size, for example Standard American Bully, male, about 19 inches, with natural ears.
• Where and when the dog went missing.
• A phone number you will answer, and whether the dog is friendly or shy with strangers.
• A request not to chase the dog but to call with the location.

The BBB suggests leaving one identifying detail off your flyer and posts, such as a scar or a white patch, so you can ask callers to describe it. Post a lost American Bully ad free, and check lost and found American Bully listings every day; save the search so new ads reach you.

What if you think your American Bully was stolen?

Theft is a real risk with this breed. In 2023 a litter of ten American Bully puppies was taken at gunpoint from a breeder's driveway in Dearborn, Michigan, and in 2024 police in Bellingham, Massachusetts valued two stolen micro Bully puppies at about $3,000 each.

1. File a police report and give officers photos, the microchip number and any camera footage.
2. Tell the microchip registry the dog may be stolen.
3. Watch sale and rehoming listings for a dog matching yours, including under other breed names.
4. If you find a matching dog, give the details to police rather than meeting the seller alone.
5. Ask local vets and groomers to scan any new Bully that looks like yours.

How do you avoid lost-pet scams?

The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers watch lost-pet posts and contact owners pretending to have found the dog, then ask for money or gift cards before returning it.

• Ask for a current photo and the detail you left off your flyer.
• Never wire money or use a gift card or prepaid card to pay someone you do not know.
• Meet in a public place, ideally a police station, with someone else present.
• Report suspicious messages with the Report Scam button.

Neighbors and passers-by can read how to help find a lost American Bully. Once your dog is home, a microchip check and a secure yard help stop it happening again; if you are looking for another dog, see how to post an American Bully wanted ad or how to adopt an American Bully.