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Safety & help

Lost or Found Pets

Lost a pet? Search nearby, call clinics and shelters, share photos. Found one? Check its ID or microchip and confirm the owner before handing it over.

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Compiled from the listed sources with AI assistance. How we prepare and review content

About this guideCompiled from the official sources listed and approved for publication by the editor (Kaiser Khan, 1 October 2026). This is not a review by a veterinarian or wildlife expert; in an emergency, follow the instructions of responders or health workers.
Put safety first. For urgent situations, contact appropriate medical, veterinary, or authorised responders. This page does not receive incident reports or dispatch help.

Quick answer

Key points

  • A collar with a phone number and a microchip with up-to-date details are the fastest ways to reunite a pet with its owner.
  • A veterinary clinic can check whether a found animal is microchipped.
  • Ask for proof of ownership, such as older photos or vaccination records, before handing an animal over.
  • Beware of scams: someone who wants money transferred before showing you your pet may not have it.
In this guide (9)

Start with these steps

  1. Lost pet: search your home carefully (under beds, in cupboards, dark corners), then walk the neighbourhood with a recent photo.
  2. Contact local vet clinics, shelters and rescue groups; visit in person if you can.
  3. Share a notice with a clear photo, distinguishing marks, when and where it was last seen, and two contact numbers.
  4. If your pet is microchipped, update your details with the chip registry.
  5. Found an animal: do not approach one that is aggressive or looks ill. Check the collar, or ask a vet clinic to scan for a microchip.
  6. Hand the animal over only after the claimant shows proof.
  7. If you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes, then go to a health facility straight away.

What should I do if my cat or dog goes missing?

Act quickly. The ASPCA, the US animal welfare charity, suggests asking everyone at home when they last saw the pet, then searching the house carefully, including under beds, in cupboards and in dark or small spaces, because pets may hide or sleep there. Then walk the neighbourhood with a recent photo and ask neighbours to check sheds and garages.

Contact nearby vet clinics, shelters and rescue groups; the ASPCA advises visiting in person with photos and checking back regularly. The RSPCA also advises contacting local vets. The ASPCA notes that many lost animals find their own way home.

Evidence: ASPCA — Finding a lost pet ↗ · RSPCA — Lost and found pets ↗

How do I make an effective lost-pet notice?

The ASPCA recommends a big headline readable from a distance, such as LOST CAT or LOST DOG, a clear recent photo, the breed, sex, colouring, age, distinguishing features, and when and where the pet was last seen. Give two phone numbers, yours and a relative's, in case you cannot be reached. Share it in neighbourhood groups and local social media, and post it at vet clinics, pet shops and busy places.

Evidence: ASPCA — Finding a lost pet ↗

What should I do if I find a stray cat or dog?

Put safety first. Do not approach an animal that is aggressive or looks ill. Kemenkes urges people to avoid contact with animals that may carry rabies. If the animal is calm and wears a collar, call the number on it.

The RSPCA advises contacting local vets to check for a microchip. The ASPCA suggests asking a local shelter for guidance. Also look for lost-pet posts in neighbourhood groups, but do not reveal every identifying detail, so you can test anyone who claims the animal.

Evidence: Kemenkes Ditjen Kesehatan Lanjutan — Mengenal penyakit rabies ↗ · RSPCA — Lost and found pets ↗ · ASPCA — Finding a lost pet ↗

How can I be sure a claimant is the real owner?

Los Angeles Animal Services requires proof of ownership before releasing an animal, such as photos, vaccination records or adoption certificates. The same approach works when you hand over an animal you found.

The agency also warns of pet recovery scams by people who insist on payment or a money transfer before they return your pet. Ask them to send a photo of your pet; if they refuse, they may not have it.

Evidence: LA Animal Services — Lost pet ↗

How can I stop my pet getting lost?

The ASPCA recommends that every pet, including indoor-only ones, wears a collar with a tag showing your name and current phone number, and notes that a microchip only helps if its details are kept up to date. BNPB also advises an ID tag and keeping photos of your animals. The West Jakarta food security and agriculture office has microchipped pet dogs alongside free rabies vaccination, so that lost or stolen dogs can be identified. Kemenkes also says owners must have pets vaccinated against rabies regularly.

Evidence: ASPCA — Finding a lost pet ↗ · BNPB — Buku saku Tanggap Tangkas Tangguh Menghadapi Bencana (pet section, p. 70) ↗ · Pemkot Jakarta Barat — Anjing peliharaan dipasangi microchip ↗ · Kemenkes — Kemenkes urges stronger rabies prevention (2025) ↗

Sources & references

  1. ASPCA — Finding a lost pet ↗
  2. RSPCA — Lost and found pets ↗
  3. LA Animal Services — Lost pet ↗
  4. BNPB — Buku saku Tanggap Tangkas Tangguh Menghadapi Bencana (pet section, p. 70) ↗
  5. Pemkot Jakarta Barat — Anjing peliharaan dipasangi microchip ↗
  6. Kemenkes Ditjen Kesehatan Lanjutan — Mengenal penyakit rabies ↗
  7. Kemenkes — Kemenkes urges stronger rabies prevention (2025) ↗

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Cite this page

Credit PanduanHewan when referring to this page. Check the original evidence sources before reusing a claim.

PanduanHewan. Lost or Found Pets. Last substantive update: 1 October 2026. https://panduanhewan.org/en/emergency/lost-found-pets/

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