Precautions:

• It is highly recommended that your dog is microchipped and registered with Petlog, the largest pet reunification scheme in the UK, as this can prove extremely effective in locating a lost pet. The Petlog Premium service can also alert local vets and dog wardens when an owner reports where their pet was lost. This can be done by telephone, SMS text message or via the Petlog website. However, it is vital to the effectiveness of this service that people keep their records up to date, including holiday and emergency contact details. Contact Petlog on 0870 606 6751 or visit www.petlog.org.uk to find out more.
• Take a photograph of your dog so that you can accurately describe it should it go missing. Up to date photographs are also useful should you need to create a lost dog poster. These posters can be created on the Petlog website.
• Take sensible precautions and never leave your dog unattended in a public place.
• Ensure all garden fencing and gates are secure.
• When out walking locally with your dog, get to know other dog walkers so that you form a secure network between you.
• Add the contact numbers for your vet and dog warden into your mobile phone. Add the microchip number into your mobile phone.
  

Be aware:

• Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, dog wardens are obliged to seize stray dogs. The police have discretionary power to seize stray dogs under the Dogs Act 1906. They are entitled to charge you fees before returning the dog.

Remember:

• If either the dog warden or the police seize your dog, they are only required to keep it for seven days before legally being able to sell it, give it away or even have it destroyed. Therefore, if your dog strays, you should notify both the dog warden and the police immediately.
• If a member of the public finds a stray dog they must return it to its owner, or take it to the local dog warden or police station. If the finder wants to retain the dog, this will probably be allowed provided they are considered to be capable of looking after the dog and they agree to keep it for at least 28 days. However, the original owner could still have a claim for the dog's return. Remember that it is illegal to take a found dog into your home without reporting it to the police first.

Tags:

• Make sure your dog wears an identification collar tag with your current contact details written on it. The Control of Dogs Order 1992 advises that any dog in a public place must wear a collar with the name and address (including postcode) of the owner engraved or written on it, or an indentification tag. Your telephone number is optional. The Kennel Club can provide these tags - visit the Online Shop.

Microchipping:

• Microchipping provides a permanent, inexpensive form of identification that cannot be lost or altered. The process is quick and painless and can help ensure a happy reunion should the pet become lost or stray. Microchips are no bigger than a grain of rice and are inserted in the scruff of the pet’s neck. Each microchip has a unique identification number that is never duplicated.
• Should your dog become lost or stray for any reason, it is likely that it will be picked up by the dog warden service, police or by one of the rescue organisations. They are normally equipped with a special scanner, which can read the pet's unique registration number, which will enable them to find your details through the Petlog database. The Petlog service is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. They will then contact you directly and reunite you with your pet.

Ways to help find your pet include:

• If you are a Petlog Premium member, you should contact Petlog immediately by text message, web or call 0870 606 6751. Petlog will send out a Lost Pet Alert to local vets, police and dog wardens within a 30 mile radius of where your pet was lost.  If you are a Petlog member, contact Petlog immediately by telephone - 0870 606 6751.
• Search your neighbourhood immediately, leaving the description of your pet, your name and telephone number with as many people as possible. Remember to ask postmen, milkmen, your neighbours and newspaper delivery staff if they have seen your pet.
• Advertise in the ‘Lost’ section of your local newspaper and be sure to read the ‘Found’ advertisements.
• Call your vet, dog warden and police station. If you believe that your pet has been stolen ensure that you report this to the police and get a crime reference number.
• Visit your local welfare centre. Ensure you look into each enclosure, as records may not always be accurate.
• Call radio stations that announce lost and found pets.
• Make posters/flyers and lots of them! Place them on street light poles, in pet shops, vets, supermarkets, restaurants, grooming parlours, dog clubs, local stores and post offices. For outdoor flyers you may want to place them in plastic sheet protectors.
• Take a photograph of your pet every few months to ensure it will be recognisable on posters if it does stray.
• Dogs and cats are not always predictable and can stray long distances. Look everywhere and tell everyone.
• Make sure you keep a record of some useful numbers to call if you lose a pet, such as your local welfare centre, vet, neighbour, dog warden, police and, of course, Petlog – 0870 606 6751.

 What to do if you find a pet:

• Local authorities have responsibility for dealing with stray dogs and they are required to employ dog wardens to collect any dog believed to be a stray. If a stray dog is located outside office hours, it can be taken to the local police station where it will usually be held until the dog warden can be contacted.
•  If the animal is microchipped, the dog warden service or police will have access to the Petlog database and will search for the details so that they can return the pet to its rightful owner as soon as possible.
• The Environment Protection Act 1990 requires the finder of a stray dog to return the dog to its owner, or contact the local authority (dog warden service) to report it and have it collected, or to take the dog to the police station nearest to where the dog was found. Remember that it is illegal to take a found dog into your home without reporting it to the police first.

Last updated - February 2008

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