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Lost and Found Dogs

Losing your Dog.

Losing your dog can be a very stressful time. Many dogs do find their own way home, but it is recommended that you take immediate action if your dog is lost. The more identification your dog is wearing if he becomes lost, the easier it will be for anyone finding him to get him back home. It is a legal requirement that all dogs should wear a collar and tag, with the owner's name and address inscribed on it. More and more dog owners are having their dogs tatooed or an electronic identity chip implanted in the neck, so that they can more readily identify their dog.

If your dog gets lost on a walk, turn round and follow the route by which you came, back to its starting point. The dog has two oportunities to pick up your scent, and can also follow his own tracks. A dog will often return to the place where you parked the car.

Many dogs will remain close to the place they became lost, especially when in woodland, but if the dog has become bewildered it may conceal itself from humans, even its owners.

Visit the place in which the dog was last seen early in the morning and at dusk each day and be prepared to wait quietly for some time after putting bowls of food and water down. Walk about slowly as dogs see moving figures more easily than those which remain still.

It may help to take a familiar canine companion to the scene, a bitch in season can work wonders for attracting a male.

Report the loss separately to every police station, veterinary center and rescue kennels in the area incase the dog has been found injured.
If your dog is wearing an ID tag it is likely that the police or local authority will return him to you.

In the UK Medallions obtainable from the National Canine Defence League bear the words 'If found injured, call a veterinary surgeon, the fee will be paid'. The vets charges remain the owners responsibility, but you are assured that no-one will be reluctant to have the dog treated. Most canine veterinary insurance policies give some cover towards the costs of advertising and reward for a missing dog.

Most dog wardens work normal office hours Monday - Friday.

Dacorum	01442 228418
Three Rivers	01923 776611
Watford	01923 226400
St Albans	01727 819371
Hertsmere	0208 2077435
Welwyn Hatfield	01707 357822
Broxbourne	01992 785577
East Herts	01279 655261
North Herts	01462 474000
Stevenage	01438 242908

Local Authority Dog Wardens: These are the people who will probably pick up your dog if it is straying onto the streets. To find a contact for your local authority dog warden service visit the National Dog warden Association website.

Find a Dog Warden

www.ndwa.co.uk

The main role of the dog warden service is to promote responsible dog ownership. The council has a statutory duty in respect of stray dogs and the enforcement of by-laws. On a day to day basis dog wardens deal with stray dogs, dog fouling complaints (including alleged nuisance caused by dog fouling on private land), and the complaints of dog barking and dangerous dogs (liasing with the police where Pit-Bull type dogs are concerned). They have delegated powers under the Animal Welfare Act to tackle complaints of neglect or ill treatment - they liase closely with the RSPCA in these cases.

Local Authority Environmental Health Department: These are the people who will likely pick your dog up if it has been run over and killed.

Police station: Give them a detailed description of your dog and a contact number in case he is found. Be sure to get a report reference number and keep in regular contact with the officer handling your case.

Kennels and rehoming centres: Many local authorities have contracts with bigger kennels, such as the NCDL and RSPCA, and they may have your dog in their care.There are also many smaller private kennels where your dog may have been taken. Look in your local phone book for details.

Notices: Sometimes a kind hearted member of the public may have taken your dog in; we strongly recommend against this, but it does happen. Put up posters in your local area, in shops, libraries, supermarkets and veterinary surgeries. Also consider contacting Pet search, a National network of volunteers who will help you look for your dog. Call them on 01225 705175.

It is essential that you provide your pet with enough mental and physical stimulation to try and avoid him straying. Dogs stray when they are bored and looking for adventure.

Another reason for straying is biological urges. To avoid this get your dog neutered. It will also help you to avoid the unwanted patter of tiny feet. Soon the 'urge' will go away and he will stop trying to escape.

How to go about finding your pet

What To Do If Your Dog Is Stolen

1.    Report the crime to the police and obtain a crime reference number

2. Hand out leaflets and put up posters

3. Register the theft on online lost dog websites. Set up a social networking group to raise awareness of your dog's theft

4. Contact your local dog warden

5.   Give posters and details to all vets/pet shops/kennels in your area

6. Double check all contact details are up to date with tattoo and microchip companies

7.    Speak to the "traveller" liason officer in your county and neighbouring counties

8.   Place an advert in the local press

9.    Contact your local radio stations

10. Contact your local animal rescue centres

If you find a dog~ The law says you must;

Return it to its owner if you know who they are

Do not be too hasty in collecting a dog which you think is lost. It may know its way back home and it may be best to leave it.

Examine the dog running loose for a collar tag and any tatooed numbers possibly in the ear or in the inside thigh. This may give some indication as to the owners. If the dog is wearing a name tag contact the owners direct. Be tactful at all times as some owners can be abusive because they feel worried or guilty.

If you find a dog without a name tag you are legally required to contact the local dog wardens as near as possible to the place where you found the dog. If the dog wardens are unavailable take the dog to the nearest rescue centre or vet and ask that the dog be checked for any form of ID for example a microchip.

You should not defer sending it to a rescue society "because you think they will put it down", since this reduces the owner's chance of finding it. Remember that however neglected a dog looks, this could be a result of living rough rather than bad treatment, and somewhere the owner could be desperately searching for it.

You may be able to keep the dog in your home untill the owners are found or you may be able to retain it. A dog warden will visit you and you will be required to keep the dog at your address for a period of one month and must be prepared to hand the dog back to the original owner if they claim him back. If you dont keep the dog it will be cared for in kennels for 7 days after which it becomes the property of the Local Authority. They can "dispose of it as they think fit" which may mean putting it down but many areas rehome the dogs or give them to re-homing charities. Your Dog Warden can advise about shelters in your area who operate a 'non destruction poilicy'

In the case of a dog being retained by the finder, the dog legally remains 'found property' and the original owner can reclaim him at any time. Therefore, the dog never truly becomes the property of the finder.

Change of responsibility for Stray Dogs

If you find a dog and would like to adopt it yourself you need to follow the following procedures:

Report the fact you have found the dog to the relevant authorities.

When you do this give them your details and let them know you are interested. You will then go through the usual adoption procedure (if the owner of the dog has not been found). If the organisation feels you are the right person for the dog you can adopt it. Remember to keep in touch with the kennels or dog warden as this will show that you are serious about rehoming the dog.

If you want to do more, notify rescue groups and Pet search of your find and put notices in local shop windows/ newpapers.

If you want to keep the dog, ask the Dog Warden for a notice entitling you to do so. If you just keep it you are guilty of theft.

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Keeping Your Dog Safe

Don't leave your dog outside when you're not around.

Never leave your dog unattended. It takes only a moment to untie him and lead him off.

Be aware, and make sure your neighbours are aware, of the problem of pet theft. Let your neighbours know if you are expecting people on your property if you are not around, so they know to call the police if someone unexpected shows up.

Never allow your dog to roam free in the neighbourhood for everyone's sake. Male dogs are more motivated to wander from home than females. Secure your property. Ensure the fence is solid and unbroken, and of a height to enclose the dog. For dogs with an inclination to dig or burrow, fencing must be buried in the ground. Make sure your gate is closed (and preferably locked).

Never leave your dog unattended in a car.

Always make sure he wears a collar with his ID tags. You might want to consider implanting a microchip under his skin. Rescue Centers and veterinary hospitals use microchips to identify lost animals and reunite them with their owners.

Keep recent photos of your dog, taken from different angles that clearly show coat type and colouring, close-ups of the face and any exceptional physical characteristics.

Keep all your proof-of-ownership papers (adoption, breeding contract, bill of sale) in one place to prove ownership.

If the unthinkable happens, don't panic. Call the police and the local dog warden if you believe your dog has been stolen, then begin your own search. Contact your local vet surgery. Staff will be able to keep an eye on the animals coming in but ask them if you can also put up a poster about your missing dog. Search the area, talk to neighbours and passersby. Get in touch with all animal rescue centers in your area and contact your local media - newspapers, radio and TV if possible. The more publicity, the greater the chances are that your dog will be found. Walk or drive slowly through the area several times daily. Hand out copies of recent photographs. Notify The Kennel Club if your pet is a pedigree and let your insurers know. Post an entry on missing pet websites.

If you are reunited with your pet remember to notify everyone.

Lost Dog Kit

Groups to help
Alfies Lost Dogs	http://www.alfieslostdogs.com	admin@alfieslostdogs.com
Animal Search UK:	http://www.animalsearchuk.com/	info@animalsearchuk.com 0788 43 169 43 01432 761 406 (9am-9pm,7 days a week)
DogLost.co.uk	http://www.doglost.co.uk	admin@doglost.co.uk, 0844 800 3220.
Detect a Pet	http://detectapet.co.uk/default.aspx	01628-525485 £10 charge to enter details
UK Pet search	http://www.ukpetsearch.freeuk.com/	ukpetsearch@freeuk.com Free to enter details 01225-705175
National Strays Bureau.	Lost reports Found reports	0897-123999 0990-168220
Lost Dogs UK.	http://www.lostdogsuk.com/
Pet Detectives	June Bailey mailto:petdetectives50@hotmail.com	01903772176
Dog Theft Action	http://www.dogtheftaction.com/	admin@dogtheftaction.com 07990 540 338 or 07788 934 455.
Lost-Doggies	http://www.lost-doggies.com/	enquiries@lost-doggies.com
Missing Pets Bureau	http://www.missingpetsbureau.com
Animal Search UK	http://www.animalsearchuk.com	Email info@animalsearchuk.com Tel: 01432 761 706 Tom 0788 43 169 43
PetLog	http://www.petlog.org.uk
National pet Register	http://www.nationalpetregister.org/	http://www.nationalpetregister.org/contact.php