8:20 pm, Wednedsay, Aug. 20

About 20 minutes ago, I posted a plea from a teacher who lives in Fort Lauderdale who had been desperately looking for her minature pinscher, Chyna, since last week. Jessica Reynolds particularly was worried because tiny Chyna is 10 years old -- not exactly a youngster -- and had intestinal problems that required a special diet.

Jessica sounded so sad the few times I talked to her, and I felt the same as I put her information on Sit, Stay, Speak!, hoping for her dog's safe return.

And now I am rewriting and reposting. Because Jessica called me a few minutes ago to say Chyna had been found.

And I think the reason why is worth mentioning.

Because Jessica's "lost dog" posters that she plastered around the neighborhood, and rechecked after Tropical Storm Fay blew through, did the trick.
Animal experts have told me previously that while microchips and tatoos are fine, the old-fashioned poster still is one of the best ways to get back your MIA dog or cat.

In Jessica's case, a woman living about two miles away from her house happened to mention to her neighbors that she had seen a small black-and-tan dog out in the rain squalls sweeping through yesterday and today post-Fay. "Gee," said someone who was listening. "Go look at that poster over there. It sounds like the same dog."

They called the phone number on the flier. And by the time Jessica called me, Chyna was home having a late dinner.

Somehow, Chyna had managed to cross the bustling Oakland Park Boulevard-Federal Highway intersection, possibly during rush hour, given when she escaped. The dog was close to the house where Jessica had been living up to three months ago, and she wonders if Chyna was looking for her old home as the storm approached.

So: Welcome back, Chyna.
And the lesson for the rest of us is, Jessica agrees: Posters do work.

So always keep a current photo of your pet on hand, especially during storm season when you may have to evacuate.

Click here for some great tips on effective posters from Missing Pet Partnership, an organization promoting effective search techniques for lost animals that was started by a California police officer turned pet detective. You really should read the entire piece, as it gives super helpful advice.

But in a nutshell:
* Make posters large so people can't miss them.
* Use bright-colored paper, so they attract attention.
* Put them at major intersections near where you lost your pet and near where others have sighted your pet.
* Keep them brief and to the point.
* And include a current photo.

Feel free to post your own "lost pet found" story and what worked for you. We love happy endings like this one.