HomeWagger Support Guide
Lost, found or stolen dogs
Whether your dog is missing, you have found a wandering dog or you believe a dog has been stolen, knowing what to do quickly can make a significant difference.
This guide explains the safest next steps, who to notify and where to find official support across the UK.
If a dog is seriously injured, trapped, on a motorway or creating an immediate danger, go directly to the emergency guidance.
If your dog is missing
I have lost my dog
Start searching and reporting your dog as soon as possible. Even if you believe they will return by themselves, notifying the right organisations gives them the best chance of being identified and reunited with you.
Try to remain calm and act methodically
It is completely understandable to feel panicked. Working through each step carefully will help you cover the most important places and reporting routes without losing valuable information.
Search the immediate area
Begin with the place where your dog was last seen and expand the search gradually.
- Call your dog calmly rather than shouting continuously.
- Bring high-value treats, a favourite toy or familiar bedding.
- Check gardens, sheds, garages, woodland and quiet hiding places.
- Ask neighbours to check enclosed areas on their property.
- Walk familiar routes and places your dog regularly visits.
- Leave someone at home in case your dog returns independently.
A frightened dog may hide or avoid approaching people, even when they recognise them. Avoid chasing if your dog is moving away.
Report your dog missing
Contact the organisations most likely to be notified if someone finds your dog.
- Your local council or dog warden service.
- Neighbouring councils if your dog may have travelled.
- Nearby veterinary practices.
- Local rescue centres and animal welfare organisations.
- Your dog’s microchip database.
- DogLost and reputable local lost-pet networks.
Keep a record of who you have contacted, when you contacted them and whether you need to follow up.
Mark the microchip record as missing
Contact the database holding your dog’s microchip registration and make sure the record is marked as lost or missing.
Check that the following details are correct:
- Your current mobile telephone number.
- Your home address.
- Your email address.
- Any secondary or emergency contact.
Do not publish your dog’s full microchip number publicly. Keep it available for vets, the council, police and recognised recovery organisations.
Create a clear missing-dog appeal
Share accurate information through local community groups, neighbourhood networks and reputable lost-dog organisations.
Include:
- A clear and recent photograph.
- Your dog’s name, breed, size and colouring.
- Distinctive markings or features.
- The date, approximate time and location last seen.
- Whether your dog is nervous, injured or likely to run.
- A safe contact number or recognised lost-dog listing.
Avoid publishing your home address, full microchip number or unnecessary personal information.
Ask people not to chase
If your dog is frightened or in survival mode, attempts to catch them may cause them to run further.
Ask anyone who sees your dog to:
- Stay calm and avoid running towards them.
- Note the exact location, time and direction of travel.
- Take a photograph or video from a safe distance if possible.
- Contact you or the nominated search coordinator immediately.
Continue checking and updating reports
Dogs can be found days or weeks after first going missing. Keep reports active and continue contacting councils, vets and local organisations.
- Revisit reliable sighting locations.
- Check online comments and messages regularly.
- Verify sightings before moving the search area.
- Update posters and social posts with new information.
- Tell every organisation when your dog is safely home.
Protect yourself
Be alert to false sightings and recovery scams
Sadly, people searching for a missing dog can be targeted by scammers or individuals claiming to have information.
Ask for evidence
Ask anyone claiming to have your dog for a current photograph or identifying information that was not included in your public post.
Do not send money immediately
Be cautious if someone demands payment, vouchers, bank details or a transfer before providing proof that they have your dog.
Do not recover a dog alone
If you suspect theft, threats or criminal activity, contact the police rather than arranging a meeting by yourself.
If you have found a dog
I have found a wandering or stray dog
Thank you for helping. A lost dog may be frightened, disorientated or injured. Prioritise your own safety, secure the dog only when it is safe to do so and report them through the appropriate official route.
Do not put yourself or other people at risk
Do not chase, corner or attempt to handle a dog that is behaving aggressively, moving through traffic or showing signs of extreme fear. Contact the appropriate authority and observe from a safe distance where possible.
Assess whether it is safe to approach
Use calm, slow movements and give the dog space.
- Avoid direct staring, sudden movements and loud voices.
- Do not chase the dog if they move away.
- Allow the dog to approach you where possible.
- Keep children and other animals away.
- Offer water if it is safe and appropriate.
Check for visible identification
Look for a collar tag or identification details without placing your hands close to the dog’s mouth.
If an owner can be contacted safely and their identity is clear, arrange a safe reunion. If you cannot contact the owner, continue with the official reporting steps below.
Keep the dog secure if you can do so safely
Use a secure room, enclosed garden, lead or other safe space while waiting for advice or collection.
- Keep the dog separate from your own pets.
- Do not allow unfamiliar children to approach.
- Provide access to fresh water.
- Do not give medication or large amounts of food.
- Prevent the dog from escaping back onto a road.
Report the dog through the official route
The correct reporting route varies slightly across the UK, but your local council or local authority should normally be your first point of contact for an uninjured stray dog.
Arrange a microchip scan through the proper service
The council dog warden or authorised stray-dog service can scan the dog and attempt to contact the registered keeper.
Some veterinary practices may also be able to scan a found dog, but availability and local arrangements vary. Contact the practice before travelling and do not assume they can admit or house a stray dog.
Share carefully while the owner is being traced
A local post may help locate the owner, but avoid publishing every identifying feature.
Ask anyone claiming the dog to provide evidence such as:
- Clear photographs taken before the dog went missing.
- Veterinary or microchip records.
- Knowledge of an undisclosed marking or characteristic.
- Details of the collar, harness or circumstances of loss.
Do not hand the dog to someone solely because they respond to a social media post. Where possible, allow the council, vet or microchip database to verify ownership.
Can I simply keep a dog that I have found?
No. A found dog should not simply be treated as abandoned or available for adoption. You must follow the reporting process for the area in which the dog was found and give the authorities a reasonable opportunity to trace the lawful keeper.
Do not sell, give away, privately rehome or permanently retain a found dog without following the relevant legal process.
Official reporting
Report a lost or found dog in your UK nation
Local services and responsibilities differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
England and Wales
Contact the local council dog warden service
Use the GOV.UK service to find the council responsible for the area where the dog was lost or found.
Scotland
Report the dog to your local council
mygov.scot provides the official route for reporting a stray or abandoned dog and explains what to do in dangerous or injured-dog situations.
Northern Ireland
Contact the district council dog warden
Councils in Northern Ireland are responsible for dog licensing, straying and the operation of council dog pounds.
If theft is suspected
I think my dog has been stolen
If there is evidence that your dog has been deliberately taken or unlawfully kept, report the incident as a crime and preserve as much information as possible.
Report suspected theft to the police
Call 101 or use your local police force’s online crime-reporting service. Call 999 only when a crime is happening now, there is an immediate threat to safety or urgent police attendance is required.
Ask for and retain your crime reference number.
Rule out an accidental disappearance
Check whether your dog could have escaped, been collected by a known person or been taken for a walk by someone with permission.
If you still believe the dog has been deliberately taken or retained, report the matter to the police.
Give the police detailed information
Prepare:
- Your dog’s microchip number.
- A full physical description and recent photographs.
- The exact date, time and location last seen.
- Details of any suspicious people or vehicles.
- Witness names and contact information.
- Relevant disputes, threats or messages.
- CCTV, doorbell footage or photographs.
Notify the microchip database
Ask the database to mark your dog as stolen and confirm that your contact information is correct.
Tell the database immediately if anyone attempts to change the registered keeper details or contacts you about the dog’s record.
Preserve evidence
Save original copies wherever possible.
- Download CCTV and doorbell recordings before they expire.
- Screenshot messages, adverts and online profiles.
- Record telephone numbers and account names.
- Write down witness accounts while memories are fresh.
- Do not alter or publicly edit important evidence.
Notify recovery networks and local professionals
Contact:
- DogLost.
- Local veterinary practices.
- Local council dog wardens.
- Rescue and rehoming organisations.
- Reputable local community networks.
Include the police crime reference number where appropriate, but do not publish sensitive evidence that could compromise the investigation.
Monitor adverts without putting yourself at risk
Keep screenshots of any advert or account that may relate to your dog and provide the information to the police.
Do not threaten a suspected seller, attempt to recover the dog by force or attend a meeting alone. Follow police advice.
Emergency situations
The dog is injured, trapped or creating an immediate danger
Do not enter traffic, railway land, water, unstable ground or any other dangerous environment to catch a dog.
Immediate danger to people or traffic
Call 999 where there is an immediate danger to life, a serious road hazard or an urgent police emergency.
Dog on a motorway or major high-speed road
Do not stop or leave your vehicle in an unsafe location. Contact the police and provide the road name, direction and nearest junction or marker.
Sick or injured dog
Contact an emergency veterinary practice and the relevant animal welfare organisation for your UK nation. Explain that the dog is found or stray before travelling.
Frightened or aggressive dog
Do not corner or attempt to restrain the dog. Keep people and animals away and contact the council or police for advice.
Animal welfare emergency contacts
- England and Wales: report an animal welfare concern through the RSPCA.
- Scotland: contact the Scottish SPCA animal helpline on 03000 999 999.
- Northern Ireland: contact the appropriate council animal welfare service or an emergency veterinary practice.
Useful services
Organisations and official resources
These services can help you report a dog, circulate accurate information or understand the correct local process.
DogLost
A UK-wide volunteer network and searchable database for lost and found dogs.
Visit DogLostMicrochip database
Notify the database where your dog is registered and confirm that your contact details are accurate.
View microchip guidanceLocal council
Councils and local authorities manage or commission stray-dog services and should be notified when a dog is found.
Find a local councilPolice
Report suspected dog theft online through your local force or by calling 101. Use 999 only for an immediate emergency.
Find police contact optionsHomeWagger Support
Need help finding the right support?
Explore HomeWagger’s growing directory of practical guides, trusted organisations and welfare-first support for people with dogs.
💜 The HomeWagger Promise
Support first. Welfare always.
HomeWagger exists to help people explore realistic support before making a permanent decision about their dog’s future.
Sometimes that means finding practical assistance. Sometimes it means adjusting routines or accessing professional guidance. And sometimes it means recognising that responsible rehoming is the safest way forward.
Whatever your circumstances, the goal is always the same: better outcomes for dogs and the people who care about them.
Common questions
Lost and found dog FAQs
Should I contact the police if my dog is simply missing?
A dog that has escaped or wandered away should normally be reported to the local council dog warden, microchip database, nearby vets and lost-dog organisations.
Contact the police if there is evidence of theft, criminal activity, an immediate danger or another matter requiring police assistance.
Will a vet scan a found dog for a microchip?
Many veterinary practices can scan a found dog, but arrangements vary and a practice may not be able to admit or house a stray. Contact the practice before travelling.
You should still report the dog to the relevant council or local authority.
Can I keep a dog that I have found?
You should not simply keep, sell, give away or rehome a found dog. Report the dog through the official local process so that reasonable attempts can be made to identify the lawful keeper.
Should I post a found dog on social media?
A carefully written local post may help, but it should support rather than replace official reporting.
Hold back at least one identifying detail and ask anyone claiming the dog to provide convincing evidence of ownership.
What if the dog has no collar or readable microchip?
Continue with the official reporting process. The council or local authority can record where the dog was found and follow its procedure for attempting to identify the keeper.
My dog has been missing for several days. Should I stop searching?
No. Dogs can be reunited after days or weeks. Keep reports active, follow up with councils and vets, check reliable sightings and update your appeal when new information becomes available.
What should I do once my dog is safely home?
Arrange veterinary help if your dog appears injured, unwell or dehydrated. Tell the council, police, microchip database, vets and recovery networks that the dog has been found.
Remove or update public posts and review how the dog escaped so that you can reduce the risk of it happening again.
Please note: This guide provides general UK information and is not a substitute for advice from the police, your local authority, a veterinary professional or an animal welfare organisation. Services and procedures may differ by location.