What should I do first if my pet goes missing?

File a report with your microchip database (Petlog in the UK) immediately — not after you've spent hours searching. Then alert your local council dog warden, check their shelter in person, and post on local lost-pet Facebook groups and Nextdoor. Don't wait: the first three hours are the highest-yield recovery window.

How long does a dog warden keep a stray dog?

In the UK, local authorities must hold stray dogs for a minimum of seven days before they can be rehomed or euthanised (under the Environmental Protection Act 1990). The clock starts from when the dog is collected, not when you report it missing. You should contact your warden every 24 hours even after reporting.

Should I poster my neighbourhood if my pet goes missing?

Yes — physical posters in the immediate area work well for pets that haven't travelled far. A-vis format (A4 or A5, clear photo, big phone number, "REWARD" if you're offering one) within a 500m radius of where the pet was last seen is the standard recommendation from rescues. Combine with online posting to local groups, not instead of.

Do microchips show my phone number to whoever finds my pet?

No. A microchip contains an ID number that links to a database record — the finder's vet or warden uses the database to look up your contact details and contacts you directly. Your number is not displayed on the chip or to the person who finds your pet. With a QR tag like Snifftag, you control exactly what information is shown.

What's the best order of actions for finding a missing cat?

Cats often hide close to home when stressed. Start by searching under bushes, in garages and sheds (ask neighbours), behind fridges and inside cupboards — anywhere dark and enclosed. Shake the treat bag and call their name. Only expand the search radius once you've exhausted the immediate area. Report to local rescues and vets even if your cat is indoor-only.

Recovery

Lost pet recovery: every scenario, every step

Practical step-by-step guides for the moment your pet goes missing. By scenario, by species, by stage. What rescues actually recommend, plus the printable poster templates that work and a cost calculator if you want to know what a search will actually cost.

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Always-relevant recovery playbooks for dogs and cats.

How to find a lost dog
The first hour matters more than the next three days. A calm step-by-step that the rescues actually recommend.
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How to find a lost cat
Cats hide close, in silence, at twilight. Different rules from dogs — what the rescues actually recommend.
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Lost dog: the first 24 hours
A deep-dive recovery playbook — first 30 minutes, hour-by-hour through the first day, and the escalation that follows.
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Lost dog or cat while on a walk
The first five minutes matter most. Stay where you last saw them, sit, whistle, walk back the route. Then escalate.
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By scenario

Different escapes need different responses. Pick the closest match to your situation.

Tools

Posters, calculators and printables you can use right now.

By city

City-specific recovery playbooks. Council rules, local rescue centres, and the geography quirks that change the search pattern in each city.

If you’ve found a pet

I've found a lost pet — what next?
A 60-second checklist for a kind stranger who has just stopped a dog from running into traffic.
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Tag your pet for next time

The fastest recovery is the one where the stranger who finds your pet can text you within seconds. A Snifftag QR tag on your pet’s collar links to a public scan page with your pet’s photo and any safety notes; one tap from the finder sends an SMS with what3words coordinates accurate to ~10 metres to up to five contacts you’ve nominated.

From £2.50 / $2.99 a month with a 14-day free trial. UK + US fulfilment, cancel anytime.

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How to find a lost dog

How to find a lost cat

Lost dog: the first 24 hours

Lost dog or cat while on a walk

By scenario

Indoor cat escaped

Lost dog after fireworks

Lost cat after a house move

Lost pet while on holiday

Tools

Lost dog poster template

Lost cat poster template

Lost pet cost calculator

By city

Lost dog in London

Lost dog in Manchester

Lost dog in Birmingham

Lost dog in Edinburgh

Lost dog in Glasgow

Lost cat in London

Lost cat in Manchester

Lost cat in Birmingham

Lost cat in Edinburgh

Lost cat in Glasgow

Lost cat in Bristol

Lost cat in Liverpool

Lost cat in Leeds

Lost cat in Newcastle

Lost cat in Cardiff

Lost cat in Sheffield

Lost cat in Nottingham

Lost cat in Belfast

Lost cat in Brighton

Lost cat in Aberdeen

Lost cat in New York

Lost cat in Los Angeles

Lost cat in Chicago

Lost cat in Miami

Lost cat in San Francisco

Lost cat in Boston

Lost cat in Seattle

Lost cat in Atlanta

Lost cat in Washington DC

Lost cat in Houston

If you’ve found a pet

I've found a lost pet — what next?

Tag your pet for next time