• Be sure to explore your property, searching both indoors and outside as thoroughly as you can. Check under beds, on top of and in cupboards, airing cupboards, drawers, spare rooms, bathrooms, utility rooms (washing machines and dryers), conservatories, garages, sheds, greenhouses and anywhere else that is warm or quiet.
  • The next step is to notify the database with which your dog’s microchip is registered. This will ensure that your dog is listed as lost, should anyone find it wandering.
  • Place some items of your clothing outside your property. This helps to strengthen your scent and location to a disoriented dog.
  • If your dog is familiar with the sound of a whistle and associates it with something positive (such as feeding time), use it in each area that you search.
  • If you have lost your dog whilst out walking, trace the steps of your usual walk, calling your dog’s name. Take your dog’s lead and blanket (unwashed) with you, as well as your dog’s favourite treats.
  • Search your surrounding area and neighbourhood, calling your dog’s name loudly. This will alert other people to the fact you are looking for your dog.
  • Speak to as many people as possible and provide them with your mobile telephone number. This should include postmen, bin men and other servicemen who cover the wider region surrounding your home. Keep your mobile phone on loud and with you at all times.
  • Contact your local animal warden, vet and rescue centres to report your dog as missing.
    • To find your local animal warden, please visit DEFRA
    • To find your local vet practices, please visit the RCVS
    • To find your local dog rescue centres, please visit the Kennel Club 
    • To speak to the RSPCA, please click here
    • To speak to the SSPCA (Scotland), please click here
  • Contact your local newspapers and radios and ask them to include a lost pet notice with your dog’s details. Social media is also a very powerful tool. Create a lost pet post on Facebook and Twitter which includes a full description of your dog and ask people to share and comment on it. Visit local Facebook discussion pages and post your dog’s description and a brief account of when your pet went missing.
  • Post a description of your dog on as many local lost and found webpages as possible. Dog Lost is a nation wide lost and found site, which may be helpful.
  • Put up posters within a 1-2mile radius of where you lost your dog. When compiling your poster, give a physical description only. No names or behavioural traits as name recognition and behaviour can both be affected when a dog is lost or afraid. Consider labelling the poster with ‘reward’ to attract more attention, but avoid specifying an amount, to prevent dishonest calls. Include a photograph or drawing that shows any distinguishing features so your dog is easily identifiable. Avoid stating that your dog was stolen as this may alarm the finder and have a counter productive effect. Place posters on lamp posts, in supermarkets, shops, post offices, restaurants and any other public areas that will allow it. Be sure to check with the necessary people, before posting information.
  • If you have lost a dog that has been microchipped outside of the UK or that has been lost outside of the UK, please check Europetnet. Europetnet incorporates a broad number of databases in Europe and will be able to tell you if your dog has been found and will help to reunify you with your dog.
  • If you believe that your dog has been stolen, contact your local police station on their non-emergency number to report it.

 

If you find your lost dog, please do notify us so that we can update your records.