Lost Your Dog? What to Do in the First 24 Hours (UK)

If your dog is lost in the UK, start by searching the immediate area and calling your dog's name, then contact your local council's dog warden, report your dog as missing to the microchip database it is registered with, and phone local vets and rescue centres. Share clear photos and your contact details on community lost dog sites and local social media groups. If you believe your dog has been stolen, report it to the police.

Losing a dog is frightening, and it is easy to feel overwhelmed. The good news is that there is a clear set of steps that gives your dog the best chance of coming home, and most of them can be done within the first few hours. Work through this list calmly, and ask friends and family to share the load. For more on ID and microchips, see our complete collar and ID guide.

In the first hour

1. Search the immediate area

Go back to where your dog was last seen and work outwards. Call your dog's name calmly and bring a squeaky toy, treats or a familiar sound such as a treat tin. Check gardens, garages, sheds, under cars and behind bins, as frightened dogs often hide close by.

2. Leave someone at home

Many dogs find their way back to their own front door. If you can, leave someone at home, or leave a gate open into a secure garden with water and something that smells of you.

3. Gather the essentials

Find a few clear, recent photos of your dog, ideally showing distinctive markings, and your microchip number if you have it. You will need both for every call and post.

In the first few hours: make the calls

4. Contact your local council dog warden

Local councils are responsible for stray dogs, and the dog warden is often the first to collect a dog found wandering. Report your dog as missing and give its description and microchip number. Contact neighbouring councils too, as dogs can travel surprisingly far. You can find your council on gov.uk.

This step is important because a council only has to hold a stray dog for seven days (five in Northern Ireland) before it can be rehomed or passed to a rescue organisation, so make sure the council knows you are looking.

5. Report your dog missing to the microchip database

Contact the database your dog's microchip is registered with and report it as lost. Dogs Trust advises that the database can alert you if anyone tries to change the chip's details. If you are not sure which database holds your dog's record, our guide to updating your dog's microchip details explains how to find out. Check your contact details are current at the same time.

6. Phone local vets

Someone who finds an injured or lost dog will often take it to the nearest vet to be scanned. Call every practice in your area and nearby, give your details, and ask if you can leave a poster in the waiting room.

7. Phone rescue and rehoming centres

Contact local rehoming centres and kennels, including the large national charities such as Dogs Trust, RSPCA, Blue Cross and, in London, Battersea, as well as smaller local sanctuaries. A finder may have taken your dog straight to one.

Spread the word

8. Post on lost dog websites and social media

• Register your dog on a community lost dog site, such as one of the national lost and found dog registers in the UK.
• Post in local Facebook groups, neighbourhood apps and lost dog groups for your area, with clear photos, where and when your dog went missing, and how to contact you.
• Check those same groups for found dog posts, as someone may already be looking after yours.

One sensible precaution: hold back one distinctive detail about your dog from public posts, so you can check that anyone who contacts you genuinely has your dog.

9. Put up posters

Ask local shops, newsagents, libraries, supermarkets and vets if you can put up a poster. Keep it simple: a large photo, "LOST DOG", the area, the date and your phone number.

10. Tell local dog walkers

Speak to people walking dogs in your local parks and on your usual routes. Dogs often return to familiar walks, so ask regulars to keep an eye out and call you.

If you think your dog was stolen

If there are signs your dog was taken, such as a gate opened that should have been locked, or a witness, report it to the police and ask for a crime reference number. Tell your microchip database that your dog may have been stolen, and continue all the steps above, as stolen dogs are sometimes abandoned or handed in.

When your dog comes home

• Let the council, vets, rescue centres and your microchip database know your dog is safe, so records are updated.
• Take down posters and update your online posts.
• Check your dog over for injuries, and see your vet if you have any concerns.
• Look at how your dog got out and fix it: gates, fences, doors and routines.
• Check the collar fits properly, as a loose collar can slip off. See how tight a dog collar should be.

Prevention: make your dog easy to identify

In the UK, dogs must be microchipped and registered on an approved database, and in public places must wear a collar with the owner's name and address on it or on an attached tag. A phone number is not legally required, but it is the quickest way for a finder to reach you. Our Kensington Collar is engraved with your dog's name and your number on the clasp; add a separate tag with your name and address to meet the legal minimum. Read more in our guide to dog ID tag law in the UK.

Frequently asked questions

Who do I contact first if my dog is lost in the UK?

Search the immediate area first, then contact your local council's dog warden, your microchip database, local vets and rescue centres.

How long does the council keep a stray dog?

Councils only have to hold a stray dog for seven days before it can be rehomed or passed on, so report your dog missing as soon as possible.

Should I call the police if my dog is lost?

Contact the police if you believe your dog has been stolen. For a dog that has strayed, the council dog warden is the right first contact.

Should I tell my microchip database my dog is missing?

Yes. Report your dog as lost and make sure your contact details are up to date, so you can be reached quickly if your dog is scanned.