Lost pet: what to do in the first 24 hours
The first hours matter. Where and how to search, what to post and where, what to do if your dog is licensed, and how to avoid scammers.
Stay calm and start straight away. Most pets that come home are found close by, and the first hours count the most.
Search close by first
- Cats usually hide very close and stay silent: under cars, in stairwells, basements and on roofs, on neighbours' balconies, anywhere dark and tight. Search with a torch at night; their eyes shine in the light.
- Dogs can travel further. Walk the surrounding streets and go back to their usual walking spots.
- Call its name calmly, and shake the food box or a toy it knows.
- Ask doormen, security guards, neighbours and shopkeepers nearby.
- Ask neighbours to check their balconies, storerooms and garages.
Spread the word fast
- Post a "Lost" alert on BesBes in Lost and found with clear photos and where and when your pet was last seen. BesBes alerts people nearby.
- Share it in your area's or compound's Facebook and WhatsApp groups.
- Make a poster with a large photo, the word "LOST" and your phone number, and put it up at gates, supermarkets and clinics.
- Call nearby vet clinics and shelters: people who find a pet often take it there.
Licensed dogs
Law 29 of 2023 requires owners to report a dog that escapes, so tell your Veterinary Directorate, and keep a photo of the licence and its number. See how to license your dog.
Watch out for scams
- "I found it, send money first and I'll send it to you" is usually a scam.
- Never send money before you see your pet. Ask for a photo or video right now, and ask about the hidden detail.
- Meet in a public place and bring someone with you.
At night and in the days after
- Leave something with your scent or your pet's (a T-shirt or blanket) by the door, with some water.
- Search again when it's quiet, early morning and late at night: frightened pets come out when things calm down.
- Keep calling clinics and shelters, and update your alert with anything new.
When your pet comes home
Take it to the vet for a check, and mark your BesBes alert as "found" so people stop searching.
So it doesn't happen again
- An ID tag with your number on the collar.
- Ask your vet about a microchip. See microchipping your pet.
- Netting on windows and balconies, and care at the front door.
If you're the one who found a pet, read found a lost pet? How to help.