Have you ever lost your beloved family pet?
 
If you have, where did you start looking? How long was it before you started phoning around asking if your pet had been handed in?
 
To our amazement, the number of pets that we reunite with their worried owners is very low. We had hoped that the numbers would have increased, but they haven't.
 
Did you know that the legal requirements of keeping a 'stray', is ONLY 7 days, and then it can be cleared to be rehomed. Yet we are still confronted by anxious owners only just starting to look for their pets, sometimes 3 weeks or more AFTER they have gone missing. Most animal charities have a time limit of how long they keep a stray before it is available for rehoming.

All dogs and cats should be microchipped which must be the safest way to ensure if someone finds your pet you will be reunited with the minimal delay.  Microchipping is painless and incredibly cheap, especially compared to the time, money, effort & heartache involved in losing a pet.  It costs £10 when done by the RSPCA postcard scheme - please see our news items on microchipping. Or other local animal charities also offer this service.

PLEASE consider the following starting points should your pet should go missing -
* Call all of the local Vets to see if they have been handed in. LEAVE YOUR DETAILS
* Call your local Animal Charities and ask if they have had your pet handed in &  LEAVE YOUR DETAILS.
* Make some posters and put them up around your area, the more details the better.
* Place an advert in your local paper, again, the more details the better.
* Local radio stations sometimes hold a list of lost & found pets (eg Lincs FM advertise lost and found pets on their mid-morning show).
* Remember to make a list of the people that you have called, as it would be appreciated by them if you called to take your details off the list, when you find your pet.
 
We are always happy when we reunite a most loved pet, as it is a very traumatic time for both owner and pet.
 
HELP US TO HELP YOU

USEFUL LINKS

Many of these sites have further advice / checklists that may be useful.

By following these links you are leaving RSPCA Lincoln's site, and we are not responsible for content.

Lost and Found Pets (Lincoln City Council)

Dog pages - lost pets forum for any pet

CatChat forum - for cats, including more useful tips

Animal Search - for all pets

Dog Theft Action - focussing on when you suspect your dog has been stolen 

LosersWeepers - National Website for all lost and found items, including pets

DogLost.co.uk - register of missing dogs

Lincoln Cats in Crisis - hold local lost and found register for cats