By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
When a dog or cat goes missing, the first few hours matter most. Most lost pets are found close to home, and the ones that end up in a council pound or shelter are only held for a set number of days before they can be rehomed. In Victoria that minimum is 8 days. In South Australia, council must give at least 72 hours' public notice for a found dog it can't match to an owner. Acting early, and contacting the right people in your state, gives your pet the best chance of coming home.
This guide covers what to do in every Australian state and territory. If you have a dog, read it alongside our lost dog guide. If you have a cat, our lost cat guide explains why cats need a different kind of search.
Key takeaways
- Search straight away. Don't wait to see if your pet comes home on their own.
- Mark your pet as missing on their microchip registry and check that your phone number is current.
- Call your council, nearby councils, shelters and local vets, then keep checking back in person.
- Pounds hold animals for a limited time, and that time varies by state and council.
- Cats usually hide close by. Dogs may travel further, so widen the search sooner.
Step by step: the first 24 hours
- Search your home and yard thoroughly. Check sheds, garages, under decks, inside cupboards and under cars. Frightened pets often hide silently, even when they hear you calling.
- Walk the neighbourhood and talk to people. Ask neighbours to check their sheds and garages, since pets get shut in by accident. RSPCA Victoria suggests concentrating on your usual walking routes for dogs.
- Mark your pet as missing with their microchip registry. If you don't know which registry holds your pet's chip, enter the 15-digit number at Pet Address and it will direct you to the right database. While you are logged in, check that your mobile number and address are correct. Our guide to updating microchip details in each state walks you through it.
- Call your council and the shelters near you. Start local, then contact neighbouring councils too. RSPCA Queensland suggests contacting councils outside your area too, and checking back daily or every second day.
- Call local vet clinics, including after-hours clinics. People often take found pets to the nearest vet to be scanned.
- Post on local lost and found groups. Use a clear, recent photo, the suburb and the time your pet went missing, and a contact number. Make the post public so it can be shared.
- Make flyers. RSPCA Victoria recommends including a photo, your pet's name and what they answer to, a detailed description, when and where they went missing, your contact number and a reward if you are offering one.
- Visit pounds and shelters in person, and keep going back. Descriptions over the phone can miss a match. Bring photo ID and proof of ownership.
Who to contact in each state and territory
Pet registration and microchip databases are separate systems in most of Australia, so it helps to update both.
New South Wales
Log in to the NSW Pet Registry with your MyServiceNSW account, link your pet using their 15-digit microchip number and set their status to "Missing". The Office of Local Government notes that your contact details must match the record for the link to work. If you can't update online, your local council can help with a change of details (C3C) form. Then contact your council pound, RSPCA NSW and local vets.
Victoria
Contact your local council, because a lost pet may be at the council pound or a resident may have reported a sighting. Agriculture Victoria says pounds and shelters must scan dogs and cats for a microchip within 3 days and can rehome unclaimed animals after a minimum of 8 days. RSPCA Victoria runs a lost pet report for animals lost near its Burwood and Peninsula shelters. RSPCA Victoria notes that you need photo ID to claim an animal, and proof of registration at council pounds.
Queensland
Call your local council, which runs the pound and keeps dog registration records. RSPCA Queensland runs a Lost and Found service on 1300 363 736 and recommends going to the pound in person. Check your microchip details through Pet Address.
South Australia
Log in to Dogs and Cats Online, open your pet's record, set "Animal Status" to "Lost" and add a public message with your phone number. The Dog and Cat Management Board also recommends contacting your council, the RSPCA, the Animal Welfare League and local vets, and checking any other microchip registry your pet is on. When council can't identify the owner of a found dog, it must give at least 72 hours' public notice before it can deal with the dog, so move quickly.
Western Australia
RSPCA WA notes that lost and stray animals are the responsibility of local government, so call your local government rangers first, and neighbouring local governments too. Then call local vets. In Perth, RSPCA WA points to the "Pets of Perth - Lost & Found" Facebook group.
Tasmania
Contact your local council. Under the Dog Control Act, Tasmanian dog owners must tell council in writing within 14 days if their dog is lost, and council issues the registration tag your dog wears. Check the microchip registry through Pet Address too.
Australian Capital Territory
For dogs, call Access Canberra on 13 22 81 and ask for Domestic Animal Services, and check the online list of impounded dogs. Impounded dogs are held for at least 7 business days. For cats, contact RSPCA ACT on 02 6287 8100, because all found cats in the ACT are housed at RSPCA facilities. RSPCA ACT also suggests posting on the Canberra Lost Pets Database on Facebook.
Northern Territory
Microchipping isn't required statewide in the NT, but it is compulsory within the City of Darwin. Contact your local council and nearby shelters and vets, and check your pet's microchip registry if they have one.
Don't stop after the first day
Keep searching, posting and visiting shelters. RSPCA Queensland notes that pets have turned up months, and even years, after going missing. When your pet is home, update their status on the registry and take down your posters so people stop searching.
Prevention: make your pet easy to return
The RSPCA recommends a microchip plus external ID: a collar and tag showing your phone number, and a quick-release collar for cats. A microchip needs a scanner, which means a vet, council or shelter. A tag can be read by anyone who finds your pet on the street. Our guide on what to put on an ID tag covers the details.
Peak times for escapes include New Year's Eve and summer storms. See our guide to keeping pets safe during fireworks before 31 December.
When your pet comes home
Pets that have been missing can come back hungry, dehydrated, footsore or with small wounds. If anything seems off, or you just want a second opinion, real vets and vet nurses at Dial A Vet can talk it through with you over video and help you decide whether your pet needs to see your regular vet in person. Book a video consult if that would help.
FAQ
How long does a pound keep a lost pet in Australia?
It depends on the state and council. In Victoria the minimum is 8 days. In the ACT, impounded dogs are held for at least 7 business days. In South Australia, council must give at least 72 hours' public notice for a found dog it can't identify. Contact your council as early as possible.
How do I find out which registry my pet's microchip is on?
Enter the 15-digit microchip number at petaddress.com.au. It searches the major Australian registries and directs you to the right one. In NSW, use the NSW Pet Registry.
I don't know my pet's microchip number. Where can I find it?
Check your pet's vaccination or desexing certificate or other vet paperwork. Your vet or council can usually help too.
Should I offer a reward?
RSPCA Victoria suggests mentioning a reward on your flyer if you are offering one. Be careful with anyone who asks for money before showing you your pet.
Can a vet keep my pet if someone hands it in?
Vets and shelters scan found pets and try to contact the owner. Bring proof of ownership, such as a registration notice or vet record. RSPCA Victoria notes that proof of ownership may be required, and photo ID is needed to claim an animal.
References
- RSPCA Victoria. Lost and found pets. https://rspcavic.org/what-we-do/lost-pets
- RSPCA NSW. Lost or found an animal. https://www.rspcansw.org.au/information-and-advice/animal-advice/straying-animals/lost-or-found-an-animal/
- RSPCA Queensland. Lost and found pets. https://www.rspcaqld.org.au/our-services/pet-services/lost-and-found-pets
- 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 WA. Get help. https://www.rspcawa.org.au/get-help/
- RSPCA Knowledgebase. What should I do if my cat is missing? https://kb.rspca.org.au/categories/companion-animals/cats/general/what-should-i-do-if-my-cat-is-missing
- 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
- NSW Office of Local Government. Lost pets. https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/pets/nsw-pet-registry/owners/lost-pets
- 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
- 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
- ACT City Services. Lost, found and impounded dogs. https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/pets-and-wildlife/dogs/impounded_dogs
- ACT City Services. Cats. https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/pets-and-wildlife/cats
- RSPCA ACT. Lost and found. https://rspca-act.org.au/our-services-services/lost-and-found
- Pet Address. https://www.petaddress.com.au/
- NSW Office of Local Government. Get started on the NSW Pet Registry. https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/pets/nsw-pet-registry/owners/get-started-nsw-pet-registry
This article is general information only and isn't a substitute for advice from your own vet. Local rules change, so check with your council.