Found a lost pet? How to help it get home
Found a cat or dog that looks lost? How to approach it safely, tell whether it has an owner, spread the word, and check that whoever calls really is the owner.
Thank you for stopping. A lost pet can be home within hours when someone cares enough to spread the word quickly.
Lost pet or street animal?
Signs it's probably a lost pet:
- It wears a collar or an ID tag.
- It's clean, used to people and comes up to them.
- It's a recognisable breed, or clearly raised in a home and struggling on the street.
Cats and dogs that live on the street usually have their own spot and people who feed them. If you find kittens on their own, don't take them straight away: the mother may be out looking for food. Watch from a distance for a few hours.
Approach safely
- Approach calmly and from the side, without staring into its eyes.
- Use food or water to win its trust.
- Don't grab a frightened or injured dog. Fear makes any animal bite. If it's aggressive, call a shelter or rescuer.
- If you're bitten or scratched, wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and see a doctor the same day because of rabies.
Look for the owner
- Check the collar: a phone number? An ID tag with a serial number? Licensed dogs must wear a tag with their number, and the Veterinary Directorate can trace the owner.
- Take it to the nearest vet clinic: many clinics have a scanner that reads a microchip, if it has one. See microchipping your pet.
- Post a "Found" alert on BesBes in Lost and found with a photo, the place and the time. BesBes alerts people nearby, and the owner may already have posted.
- Tell doormen, security guards and shops in the area, and post in local groups.
Until the owner turns up
- Give it water, a quiet spot and a light meal.
- Keep it away from your own pets: you don't know whether it's vaccinated.
- If it's injured or unwell, take it to the nearest vet. See how to choose a vet.
Checking the owner
- Ask for older photos of the pet with its owner, or its vaccination card or licence.
- Ask about the detail you kept back.
- Hand it over in a public place or at the clinic.
If nobody comes forward
After a reasonable time, contact a shelter or rescuer, or post an adoption listing on BesBes so it finds a home. See adopting from a shelter. Never sell it: it isn't yours to sell, and an owner may still be searching.
If it's your own pet that's missing, read lost pet: the first 24 hours.