By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
A lost dog can cover ground quickly, cross roads and end up at a pound in the next suburb within hours. Dogs that can't be identified are held for a limited time before they can be rehomed, so the steps you take today matter. The good news is that most lost dogs are found, and having a clear plan makes the search calmer and faster.
This guide is for dog owners. For contacts in every state and territory, see our Australian lost pet guide.
Key takeaways
- Start searching straight away, beginning with your home, yard and usual walking routes.
- Report your dog as missing to their microchip registry and your council on day one.
- Call shelters and vet clinics in your area and the next council areas over.
- Don't chase a frightened dog. Crouch down, stay quiet and let them come to you.
- Keep visiting pounds in person until your dog is home.
What to do right now
- Check home first. Look in sheds, garages, under the house and in cars. Scared dogs sometimes hide and stay quiet.
- Search where your dog knows. RSPCA Victoria recommends focusing on the areas where you usually walk your dog and any places you have visited recently. Take a family member, a lead and some favourite treats.
- Keep someone at home. Some dogs make their own way back, so make sure someone is there if they do. Put a piece of clothing you've worn and a bowl of water near the spot your dog got out.
- Mark your dog as missing with their microchip registry. Use Pet Address to find which registry holds the chip, or log in to the NSW Pet Registry or SA's Dogs and Cats Online if you live in those states. Check your phone number while you are there. Our guide to updating microchip details explains each state.
- Call your council. In WA, lost and stray animals are a local government responsibility, so call your rangers and the neighbouring local governments. In the ACT, call Access Canberra on 13 22 81 and ask for Domestic Animal Services.
- Call shelters and vets. Contact the RSPCA, local shelters and vet clinics, including after-hours clinics. Tell them even if your dog is chipped. RSPCA Queensland notes that microchips can occasionally fail or move.
- Post a clear lost dog notice. Share it on your suburb's lost and found pets page and community noticeboards, and put up flyers. Include a photo, breed, sex, age, colour, any distinguishing features, whether your dog was wearing a collar, and when and where they were last seen.
- Go back to the pound and shelters regularly. RSPCA Victoria recommends repeated visits. Bring photo ID, and proof of registration for council pounds.
How to approach your dog when you spot them
Even a friendly, well-trained dog can bolt when they're frightened. Calling loudly or running towards them can push them further away. Instead:
- Stop, crouch or sit down side-on, and avoid staring at them.
- Talk quietly, toss a treat a short distance away and let them come to you.
- Keep away from roads and don't chase them into traffic.
How far do lost dogs go?
There is limited Australian data. A well-known US study, published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in 2007, surveyed the owners of 187 dogs lost in Montgomery County, Ohio. In that study, 71% of the dogs were recovered, with a median time to recovery of 2 days. Owners who called or visited an animal agency, or put up neighbourhood signs, were more likely to get their dog back. The RSPCA notes that dogs frightened by fireworks can end up kilometres from home, so widen your search if the first day turns up nothing.
How pounds work in your state
Hold periods differ across Australia, and some councils set their own rules.
- Victoria: pounds and shelters must scan dogs for a microchip within 3 days and can rehome unclaimed dogs after a minimum of 8 days.
- South Australia: if council can't identify the owner of a found dog, it must display a public notice for at least 72 hours. Contact your council straight away to find out its process.
- ACT: impounded dogs are listed online and held for at least 7 business days.
- Other states: check with your local council, because hold periods are set locally.
Make your dog easier to return next time
In the same Ohio study, a dog licence tag was one of the main ways dogs got home (18% of recovered dogs), and dogs wearing a licence tag were more likely to be recovered. In Australia, microchipping dogs is compulsory in every state and the ACT, and in the NT it is compulsory within the City of Darwin. The RSPCA still recommends a collar tag with your phone number, because anyone can read a tag without a scanner. In Tasmania, a council registration tag is also part of the system. Read our guide on what to put on a dog tag.
New Year's Eve fireworks and summer storms are common triggers for escapes. Our fireworks escape guide, fireworks anxiety tips and fireworks training guide can help you prepare.
When your dog is home
Check your dog over for limping, cuts, sore paw pads or tiredness, and offer water. If you're unsure whether anything needs attention, real vets and vet nurses can talk it through with you on a Dial A Vet video consult and help you work out whether to see your regular vet in person. Remember to change your dog's status back to "home" on the registry.
FAQ
How long should I wait before reporting my dog missing?
Don't wait. RSPCA Victoria advises against waiting a few days to see if your dog comes home, because pounds only hold animals for a limited time.
Will a microchip get my dog home on its own?
Only if your contact details on the registry are current, and only once your dog is taken somewhere with a scanner. That's why the RSPCA recommends a tag as well.
What should I take to collect my dog from the pound?
Bring photo ID and proof of ownership or registration. Some pounds charge release fees, so ask your council what applies.
Where can I post about my lost dog?
Your suburb's lost and found pets page, community noticeboards and your local council's lost pet page if they have one. In Perth, RSPCA WA suggests "Pets of Perth - Lost & Found", and in SA the Dog and Cat Management Board mentions "Lost Pets of South Australia".
My dog has been missing for a week. Is it too late?
No. Keep checking pounds and shelters and keep your posts active. RSPCA Queensland notes that pets have been found months, and even years, after going missing.
References
- Lord LK, Wittum TE, Ferketich AK, Funk JA, Rajala-Schultz PJ. Search and identification methods that owners use to find a lost dog. JAVMA 2007;230(2):211-216. (US data.) https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/230/2/javma.230.2.211.xml
- RSPCA Queensland. Lost and found pets. https://www.rspcaqld.org.au/our-services/pet-services/lost-and-found-pets
- RSPCA Victoria. Lost and found pets. https://rspcavic.org/what-we-do/lost-pets
- RSPCA WA. Get help. https://www.rspcawa.org.au/get-help/
- RSPCA Queensland. What to do if your pet is lost. https://www.rspcaqld.org.au/resources/pet-care/what-to-do-lost-pet-MCKQKZPSTI2NCEDE447HR45IXV7I
- RSPCA Knowledgebase. Is microchipping mandatory for cats and dogs? https://kb.rspca.org.au/categories/legislation/companion-animal-legislation/is-microchipping-mandatory-for-cats-and-dogs
- Agriculture Victoria. Requirements for shelters and pounds. https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/domestic-animal-businesses/shelters-and-pounds/requirements-for-shelters-and-pounds
- Agriculture Victoria. Microchipping for domestic animal businesses. https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/domestic-animals-act/registration-legislation-and-permits/microchipping-of-dogs-cats-and-horses/microchipping-for-domestic-animal-businesses
- Dog and Cat Management Board (SA). Lost and found. https://dogandcatboard.com.au/dogs/lost
- Dog and Cat Management Board (SA). Easy guides for Dogs and Cats Online. https://dogandcatboard.com.au/dogs-and-cats-online/guides
- RSPCA Knowledgebase. How should I care for my pets during fireworks displays? https://kb.rspca.org.au/categories/companion-animals/pet-ownership/how-should-i-care-for-my-pets-during-fireworks-displays
- ACT City Services. Lost, found and impounded dogs. https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/pets-and-wildlife/dogs/impounded_dogs
- Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet. Microchipping, registration and desexing dogs. https://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/government-information/local-government/dog-control/microchipping-registration-and-desexing-dogs
- Pet Address. https://www.petaddress.com.au/
This article is general information only and isn't a substitute for advice from your own vet.