This page is for advertising dogs that are lost or found and dogs in rescues around the country that are looking for their new forever home.
There are some steps you can take to speed up your dog's return and make it easier for dog wardens, vets, rescue organisations and helpful members of the public to match found dogs with their owners. The following tips are for owners and finders of dogs.
Tags and chips:-
It is the law that ALL DOGS carry a tag with their owner's name, address and contact number inscribed on it, lack of this can result in a substantial fine and prevent your dog being returned to you as his details will be listed as unknown.
It helps if there is an ID disc on your dog when at home as you never know when a helpful delivery man or neighbourhood child will leave a gate not quite closed and Fido decides it is time for walkies. If your dog has a habit of losing tags you can buy an ID bar that your dog's collar can be threaded through. A microchip is not enough as not all small rescues or members of the public has access to a scanner, especially on a Sunday evening when the vets are closed!
Know your numbers:-
Council lost dog lists are usually handled by the environmental services dept. and the local dog wardens but they may not operate an out-of-hours service and some councils contract out the dog warden service. Contact your council and find out who is responsible for lost dogs, what the 'out of hours' phone numbers are and the procedure for locating dogs in your council area.
Keep a list of local vets, pet shops, groomers, dog walkers, trainers, pet sitters and rehoming organisations, you would be surprised who people will turn to in the abscence of a 24 hour council line if they find a stray dog.
Posters:-
Flood your local area with details of your dog with an idea of the date, place and time he went missing you stand a better chance of getting him back. Posters are a great idea, send them to all the places listed above and supermarket notice boards, telegraph poles etc. but don't offer a reward and use your mobile number rather than a landline if possible, unless you are directed to do otherwise by an experienced organisation such as Dog lost (details on our links page).
Most dogs are found fairly close to home and are returned quickly but you need to know where to look and who to ask, they can't tell you where your dog is if they don't know your details.
If you have to go away without your dog make sure the person looking after your dog knows the drill too!
Although your dog is more likely to be straying, dog theft is becoming more and more prevalent. Ensuring your dog is tagged, tattooed and microchipped will make it more difficult for thieves to pass your dog on. Dog Lost and petlog will be able to advertise your dogs details nationally and notify vets, groomers, trainers etc. If you are contacted and asked for a reward for information or return of your dog contact the local police and dog lost who offer support and advice on how to proceed.
If you find a stray dog it is most likely somebody's beloved pet not a new friend for you. You are required by law to hand the dog in to your local council's dog warden service and in the absence of a service to notify the council giving your full contact details, details of where and when you found the dog, a full description of the dog and where the dog will be staying whilst the owner is located.
If you are taking care of a dog whilst the owner is found, do your best to help by putting up posters, contacting vets, dog walkers, groomers etc asking if anyone recognises the dog, give the councils contact details rather than your own and let them be go-between and always keep them updated of any new information.