Lost dog or cat? Who to call and what to do now
Stay calm and act fast. Do these steps in this order. Most lost pets are found near home.
In the first hour
- Search the area where you last saw your pet. Call its name in a calm voice. Stop often and listen. Ask a second person to stay at home in case the pet comes back.
- Report a lost dog to your council. The council dog warden collects stray dogs. Use theGOV.UK missing dog service to find your council.
- Report the loss to the microchip database. In the UK, all dogs must have a microchip. In England, cats must also have a microchip. If you do not know which database holds the record, useCheck-a-Chip. Make sure that your phone number on the record is correct.
- Call the local vets and rescue centres. People often take a found pet to a vet to scan the microchip. Give each vet a description and your phone number.
- Put a report on the lost-pet registers. UseDogLost for dogs andAnimal Search UK for dogs and cats. In London, you can also use the Battersea lost dogs and cats line.
In the first day
- Make a poster. Use a clear, recent photo and a phone number. Put posters at eye level near the place where you lost your pet, at vets, shops and parks.Make a free poster now.
- Post in local groups. Share the social media version of your poster in local Facebook groups, on Nextdoor and in lost-pet groups for your area.
- Leave a scent item. Put an item of clothing that you wore, and your pet’s bed, at the place where your pet was last seen. Many dogs come back to a familiar smell.
- Search at dawn and at dusk. The streets are quiet at these times, and a hiding pet is more likely to move.
- Think about a search from the air. If your pet can be in fields, woods or large gardens, a drone with a thermal camera can search that land fast. Read how drone searches work, and who does them.
Dogs and cats need different searches
| Lost dog | Lost cat | |
|---|---|---|
| Usual distance | Can travel far, mostly when frightened | Usually hides near home |
| Where to look | Paths, fields, woodland edges, roads that the dog knows | Sheds, garages, under decking, under cars, in thick plants |
| Who to tell first | Council dog warden, microchip database | Neighbours, microchip database |
| Best search time | Dawn and dusk | Night, with a torch |
If you think that someone stole your pet
Report the theft to the police. Call 101, or 999 if the crime is happening now. Ask for a crime reference number. Give the number to the microchip database.
Get help from a searcher
Volunteer groups in the UK search for lost dogs with thermal drones, free of charge. Paid pet detectives also search for lost and stolen cats and dogs. Our drone search page lists them, and tells you when a drone search helps.
Questions
Who do I call when I lose my dog?
Call the dog warden service of your local council first. Then report the loss to the database that holds your dog’s microchip record, and call the vets and rescue centres near the place where you lost your dog.
Who do I call when I lose my cat?
Report the loss to the database that holds your cat’s microchip record. Then call the vets and rescue centres near your home, and speak to your neighbours. Councils do not usually collect stray cats.
How far does a lost dog go?
It depends on the dog. A frightened dog can run several kilometres and hide. A friendly dog often goes to people or to a house. Start the search at the place where the dog was last seen and make the search area larger in steps.
Where do lost cats hide?
Most lost cats hide near home: under decking, in sheds, in garages and in thick plants. Ask your neighbours to look in their sheds and garages. Search at night with a torch, because a cat’s eyes reflect the light.
When does a drone search help?
A drone helps most when the pet can be in open land, fields, woodland edges or large gardens. A thermal camera works best at night and in cool weather, when an animal is warmer than the ground.