My dog is missing — what should I do?
A calm, coordinated search, practical notifications and privacy-conscious missing-dog notices.
Safety, recovery and life together
Lost, Found & Stolen Dogs
Choose the situation first: a missing dog, a dog you have found, and suspected theft need different responses. Practical steps can improve coordination, but no search method guarantees recovery.
Choose your situation
I found a dog — safe next steps
Keep yourself safe, arrange identification and follow the correct local stray-dog process.
I think my dog has been stolen
Report suspected theft, preserve evidence and coordinate recovery safely.
Preventing loss and theft
Reduce escape opportunities, maintain identification and prepare ownership records.
A dog lost away from home or abroad
Adapt your recovery plan to the location, transport operator and local authorities.
Missing-dog scams and verifying claims
Protect personal details and verify anyone claiming to have found your dog.
Missing Dog Action Checklist
A printable, checkable action sequence for coordinating a missing-dog search without sharing personal records.
What needs attention?
- Act now: immediate danger, injury or the urgent signs above.
- Arrange professional advice: uncertain local procedures, unexpected recovery or recurring behavioural tension.
- Routine management and prevention: prepare boundaries, individual care and records before a problem occurs.
Evidence and review
- GOV.UK: reporting stray dogs (England and Wales)
- mygov.scot: stray or abandoned dogs
- nidirect: lost and stray dogs
- Irish Government: responsible dog ownership
- Metropolitan Police: dog crime
General guidance, not an individual medical, behavioural or legal assessment. The treating veterinary team’s instructions take priority. Search outcomes, recovery and dog relationships vary. Local services and legal arrangements must be confirmed for the location; procedures here are verified for the labelled UK nations and Republic of Ireland, not assumed to apply elsewhere.
Behaviour support should use humane, reward-based methods. Ask your vet about pain or illness and referral to an appropriately qualified clinical behaviour professional for safety concerns. In the UK, the ABTC register identifies assessed roles; check relevant species, role and referral requirements.
About this guidanceReview details and sources
Evidence and review
Reviewed 3 October 2026 · Review sooner if law, services or guidance change.