[Someone]

> I have a feeling the websites aren’t much help

Doesn’t surprise me. Who would periodically go to a website to check whether there are any pets missing in the neighborhood?

A targeted RSS feed or email service would IMO work better, but likely still not good.

Back to the pet posters: a large reason for them is to console the owner or their kids.

[jstarfish]

Yeah, unless there's a bounty most people on lost pet sites are only there because they too have lost one. It's more like a memorial page in practice.

Nextdoor works better for this since people go there for other reasons.

Pet posters aren't as useful as they should be. If you find an animal, call the Humane Society and let them handle custody. Owners checking in with local shelters is step 1 in every "I lost my pet" procedure.