Should you offer a reward for a lost pet, and how much?
Yes, if you can pay it, but print the word REWARD without an amount and never pay anything until your pet is in your arms.
The short answer
Yes, offer a reward if you can afford to pay one, but print only the word REWARD and keep the amount off the poster. There is no standard figure, so pick an amount you could pay without hardship and keep it to yourself until someone really has your pet. The word gives people a reason to look twice at a poster and a reason to call. A printed amount gives scammers a target and can bring out the wrong kind of help. Whatever you offer, pay it only in person, after you have your pet, and never in advance.
Why the word works without the number
A reward is mostly an attention signal. Someone walking past wants to know three things: what happened, what the animal looks like and how to help. REWARD adds one more reason to stop. It does not need a dollar figure to do that, and leaving the figure off lets you talk privately with a real finder. If you later feel you need to raise the stakes in a long search, you can do so by adding REWARD to a new version of the poster, without having committed to a number in public.
How to pick an amount
Nobody can tell you the right number. Choose an amount based on what you can really pay, not what you think will sound impressive. There is no evidence we know of that a larger reward finds pets faster, so do not stretch your finances because you are scared. Some finders refuse a reward anyway. If they do, you could offer to donate to a local shelter or simply thank them. Write down the amount and the rule you set, such as one payment on safe return of the pet, so that a tired, frightened version of you does not agree to something different at midnight.
What a printed amount can attract
The Better Business Bureau warns about people who answer lost pet posts claiming to have the animal, make excuses about sending a photo, and ask for money or a gift card. A large number on a poster tells those people what the job is worth. It can also encourage people to go after your frightened animal, chasing it into traffic or further from home. For that reason, pair the word REWARD with a line that tells people to call instead of chase. It reminds them that information is what you want from them.
How to pay safely
Agree on one safe plan. Meet in daylight in a public place, such as a vet clinic or shelter, and bring someone with you. Check that the animal is yours before any money changes hands, using a marking or habit you kept off the poster, or a microchip scan at the vet. Then pay. Cash is fine in person. Do not use a gift card, wire transfer, payment app or crypto for anyone who has not physically handed your pet to you. Requests for a deposit, shipping fee, kennel fee or vet bill before you see your pet are warning signs, whatever the story attached to them.
Rewards for information
You may get calls from people who saw your pet but do not have it. Think about this before it happens. Many owners decide that the reward is for the safe return only, and that useful sightings earn a thank you. If you want to reward a sighting, wait until it actually leads to your pet. Keep your wording simple. Reward for safe return is clear, and it helps avoid arguments later on.
What to say on the poster and in posts
Keep the same words everywhere. On the poster, REWARD in large letters near the top, and PLEASE DO NOT CHASE, CALL OR TEXT near the phone number. In online posts, write: A reward is offered for his safe return. If you have added a reward partway through the search, update your master copy, replace the old posters in the busiest spots first, and change the pinned post so all your versions agree.
After the reunion
Pay what you promised, promptly, and thank the finder in person. Then keep it private unless they say you can share it. Do not post their name, phone number or address. Take down your posters and remove any line about a reward from your online posts so that nobody keeps calling.
Sources
BBB Scam Alert on lost pets: bbb.org/article/scams/8612-lost-pet-watch-out-for-this-text-message-scam.