What to Do If You Find a Lost Pet in the UK
Finding a lost pet can be stressful — for you and for the animal. The good news is that most lost pets are reunited with their owners when the right steps are taken quickly. Here is exactly what to do.
Step 1: Check for a tag or chip
The first thing to do is check the animal’s collar for a tag. Modern smart tags — like a Taggzi — contain a QR code or NFC chip. Simply tap your phone against the tag or scan the QR code and you’ll be taken directly to the owner’s contact page in seconds.
If there is no tag, or the tag details are out of date, take the animal to the nearest vet or RSPCA centre to be scanned for a microchip. Microchip scanning is free and vets are legally required to scan stray animals brought in.
Step 2: Keep the animal safe
If the animal appears friendly and it is safe to do so, keep them with you while you search for the owner. If the animal is injured, aggressive, or a wild species, call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.
Do not post the animal on social media and arrange to hand them over to strangers without verifying they are the owner — sadly, pet theft does occur.
Step 3: Report it
Report the found animal to:
- Your local council — they have a legal duty to collect stray dogs
- Local vets and rescue centres — owners often ring round when their pet goes missing
- DogLost.co.uk or NextDoor — community lost and found boards
- Local Facebook groups — “Lost and Found Pets [your town]” groups are very active
Step 4: Post locally
Take a clear photo and post it in local community groups. Include the location you found the animal, the time, and a brief description. Do not include your phone number publicly — use the private message function.
Step 5: If no owner is found
If no owner comes forward after a reasonable search, contact your local council. For dogs specifically, you must inform the council within 24 hours of finding a stray. The council will hold the dog for at least 7 days before rehoming.
How NFC tags make this instant
The problem with traditional engraved tags is that phone numbers change, owners forget to update them, and tags wear down over time. A Taggzi works differently — the owner’s details live online and are always up to date. A finder simply taps the tag with any smartphone (no app needed) and reaches the owner directly.
If you’ve found a pet with a Taggzi, you can also press the “I Found This Pet” button on the profile page to alert the owner immediately, even if their phone is off.
Before handing a found pet back to someone who claims to be the owner, ask them to show their Taggzi Verified Owner badge in the app. It’s a quick, tamper-proof confirmation that the person collecting is the tag’s registered account holder β not just someone who saw the lost pet post.
