Found a pet
First of all, thank you for caring enough to pick up a lost or abandoned pet. If it is at all possible for you to keep the found pet for a period of time, that would hugely ease the pressure that individual organisations are under. Hopefully, a family out there is looking for him, and following these steps will help you get him home safely in the shortest time possible.
- Check for a microchip
- Notify the relevant authorities, as well as local vets and animal welfare charities
- Put up lots of posters
- Post a photo and details of the pet on Facebook, Twitter, etc.
- Post the pet’s photo and details on lost and found websites
- Place advertisements in local newspapers and freesheets
Click here to report a found pet.
1. Check for a microchip
Get the pet checked for a microchip at your local vet. This is a free service provided by vets – so you will not be charged for it.
2. Notify authorities and local charities
Report the found pet to the following:
- Local pounds
- Local animal welfare charities
- Local veterinary practices
- Local Garda station
Click here for contact details of vets, pounds and animal welfare groups.
3. Put up posters
Your poster should include a picture of the found pet, where it went missing from, and your contact details. Put lots of posters up as soon as possible in local shops, bus stops, post offices and pubs.
4. Use Facebook and Twitter
Post a picture of the pet and details of where it you found it on your Facebook and Twitter, and encourage friends in the area to share/retweet in order to get maximum exposure. You can also post on The Munster Lost and Found Pet Helpline’s Facebook and Twitter.
5. Post on lost and found sites
There are many websites maintained by animal welfare charities on which you can post the pet’s photo and details.
Click here to post on The Munster Lost and Found Pet Helpline’s website.
Click here for a list of other animal welfare charity websites that you can post on.
6. Place advertisements in newspapers and freesheets
Local newspapers and freesheets are an excellent way to further advertise your missing pet. You can place an ad in the Evening Echo’s Free Ads by calling 021-4274000, or email your ad to freeads@eecho.ie.
Important notice
By law all dogs found must be reported to the Garda and the dog warden in your area.
If you wish to keep a stray dog that you find – after making every effort to find the owners and being unsuccessful – bear in mind that legally the owners are entitled to come forward and reclaim their dog for a period of 12 months. This means that until a year and a day has passed the dog is not legally yours unless you have made an arrangement with your local authority.
