Missing Pets UK Advice

We have put together some useful advice you may wish to consider when searching for your missing pet.

Of course we can't guarantee your missing pet will be found by following any tips we provide, but we know in such circumstances, anything is worth a try if it could bring your pet back home.

Useful Tips

Canvas Your Neighbourhood
The first thing you should do, which you may have already tried, is to create missing pet posters for your missing pet and pin them around your neighbourhood. Attach them to street lamps, ask local shops to put one in the window, and post some through doors on your street and surrounding streets.

Talk To Neighbours
As well as handing out missing pet posters, asking your neighbours directly if they have seen your pet can be helpful. You can always describe where, when and how they went missing better in person than you could on a flyer - and everyone walks their local roads at some point, they may just have seen your pet wandering around.

Also pass copies of your missing pet poster to people you see out walking their dogs. They are more likely to come across stray animals, as many head to parks and isolated locations.

Contact Animal Professionals
Be sure to get in touch with local vets, pet shops, pet groomers, kennels, catteries etc and especially animal rehoming centers, pet wardens and authority outlets such as the RSPCA. Contacting these is vital as there are laws dictating just how long some of them are allowed to hold onto any found pet before they should be rehomed - for Dogs it is just 7 days, for Cats they can rehome them immediately so be quick to contact these organisations.

Contact Local Press
Contacting local newspapers or radio stations could help. Many may operate some kind of local missing pets feature and putting your pet in may give them the exposure they need to be tracked down.

List on Missing Pet Websites
Add your pet to missing pets websites, such as this one. Include a photo of your pet where possible as the chances of your pet being found as a result of a missing pets website listing are slim - but it's definitely worth trying.

Road and Cleansing Agencies
Your local council may operate their own road/highway and cleansing departments. These should be your last resort, for the emotional attempt of finding out if your lost pet has been hit on the roads or found dead somewhere nearby. If the unfortunate happens and you find they've passed away, knowing may be more comforting than worrying about where they could be and in what state.