Lost a dog

Lost & Found

Losing a beloved pet can be a very stressful time.

Here are St Francis, we know that sometimes trying to find your dog can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack, but there are things you can do to recover them.

Take a look below to see what you can do.

I’ve lost my dog, what can I do?

Microchips are Essential

Your dog’s microchip is essential to finding them should they go missing. By law, all dogs must be microchipped at 8 weeks old. The microchip holds all of the key information that is needed to reunite you with your dog. Contact the database that your dog is registered with and report them as missing so that their status is immediately updated.

It is also advisable to contact your local dog warden and notify them that your dog is missing. We also highly recommend that you visit the Dog Lost website and register your pet as lost there.

Check your local area

Here you can find important contact information for local areas. These can help aid the speedy recovery of your dog should they go missing. 

  • Where you lost your dog
  • A brief description of him/her
  • Whether they were wearing a collar and ID tag or are microchipped
  • Monday to Thursday: 09:00 – 17:00
  • Friday: 09:00 – 16:30

Don’t forget!

Talk to people who regularly walk around the area (milkman, postman, newspaper delivery people) and to your neighbours – they may have seen your dog. You could also contact local TV and Radio stations – they may be able to run ‘LOST’ adverts for you. 

I’ve found a dog, what can I do?

Contacting the council

If you find a stray dog on the streets, it is imperative that you report the stray dog to the council. Local police no longer have any responsibilities for stray pets and therefore cannot answer calls.

Remember, even if the dog is friendly or looks abandoned it is illegal to keep a dog without informing the authorities and Animal Welfare Officers. Below is some information that may be useful when trying to contact your local council.

Don’t forget!

You can also ring local vets and rescue centres to see whether they can check and scan the found pet for free for a microchip.

If the dog is friendly and approachable, you can also check whether the dog is wearing a tag – call the number and leave a message for the owner.

Want to Volunteer?

To apply for volunteering please telephone the shelter or call in for an application form. All volunteers must be over 18.