Lost Dog
If you have lost your dog then it is most likely that the dog warden has collected it. We would advise contacting your local council or councils if on a border of two areas to report the dog lost. If a dog has a collar with ID which is the law under the Control of Dogs Act 1992 or it is microchipped then hopefully it will be returned promptly. Please check your contact details are up to date with the database with which the microchip is registered with. You may also wish to contact your local vets in case it has been in an accident and taken in, and also you may wish to speak to your neighbours as they may have seen the dog and asking around the area is important.
You may wish to place posters around the area, contact the local radio stations and newspapers as often many of these provide a lost and found service as well as the many sites on the internet.
If you have access to Facebook please post a picture and information to our Facebook page.
Found Dog
The above information does also apply to finding a dog. If it is healthy then please report it to the council area you found the dog or the nearest police station to where you have found it as the dog warden is responsible for found dogs. If it does have a collar please do check to see if there any details of an owner on the collar or tags so that it can be returned quickly. If you are close to the animal centre or a vet then we or they are generally happy to scan it for a microchip so it can be reunited with its owner.
Ask around the area and check local shops, vets, papers, radio stations in case it is advertised as lost.
If you have access to Facebook please post a picture and information to our Facebook page.
If the dog is sick or injured then please take it either to a vet or ring the RSPCA helpline on 0300 1234 999.
If you are thinking of keeping the dog then please still report it to the dog warden in case the owner comes forward.
Lost Cat
If you have lost a cat then there are a few things you can do:
- Report it lost to your vet, ourselves and any other lost and found service you can find
- Speak to your neighbours as often cats take shelter in out houses, sheds, garages, cars and houses. Cats are often out for a few days
- Unneutered cats often wander for days at a time so please ensure they are neutered
- Put posters around the area
- Contact local papers and radio stations
- If you have access to Facebook please post a picture and information to our Facebook page.
- If you fear your cat has been in a fatal accident then it is worth speaking to your local council as they pick up animals that may have been knocked down
- Try other cat charities in the area in case it has been handed in to them
Found Cat
A found cat does not always mean it is a lost cat and a cat that you may have been feeding for over a month will often think that you are its owner. Some tips to try and reunite a cat with its owner are:
- If the cat has a collar check to see if it has any details on it of the owner
- Ask around the area and check local shops, vets, papers, radio stations in case it is advertised as lost
- If you have access to Facebook please post a picture and information to our Facebook page.
- If you can bring it to ourselves or a local vet then we may be able to scan it for a microchip
- If healthy DO NOT feed the cat as it may well adopt you as its new owner
- If you can safely transport the cat to a vet, you could have it scanned for a microchip.
If this isn’t possible but you can get close enough to put a collar on it, then download our Paper cat collars which will alert an owner that this cat has been in your area and will give you peace of mind that there is a carer for the cat. Take precautions when approaching the cat and fixing the collar.
You can also download and print a Found poster and Lost and found contact list.
Report the cat found to as many of the local vets, rescue centre’s, and put notices up to try and find the owner
If you have no luck over 10 to 14 days in finding the owner then please contact us again and we can place you on our waiting list to try and take the cat in for homing. If the cat does become ill at any time please contact the RSPCA helpline on 0300 1234 999 or take it to a local vet.
Wildlife
For any found injured wildlife please contact the National RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.
Other lost animals
For any other species lost please report it to us and try much of the above advise if we do have a report we will let you know.
If you have access to Facebook please post a picture and information to our Facebook page.
Other found animals
Please contact the National RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 for further advice.