Animal Charity | Animal Aid UK

Frequently asked questions & other information...

Using the same format when posting makes it easier for people to skim read pet profiles when looking for their lost pet or wanting to help find missing pets in their area, it also means people are less likely to miss out important information such as location or contact details.

Why do I have to use a certain format when posting a lost or found animal?

Can I post the description of the criminals who stole my pet?

Yes, you can post number plate details and vehicle description etc including photos you own the right to as part of your pets missing profile but please be sure to also contact the police too.

Can I add a reward to my pet profile?

Yes, you can add a reward next to your contact details.

What do I do if my pet is missing?

If your pet has gone missing, here are some things you can do:

Contact your local authority dog warden, via your local council – they are legally responsible for stray dogs and may well have picked up your pet. They will hold on to stray pets for seven days but, after this time, pets will be rehomed or put to sleep if no home can be found for them.
Call the microchip database they are registered with and report them as lost or stolen. Make sure your contact details are always up to date.
Contact neighbouring local authorities too as pets may move across local council borders.
Call local kennels/charities – it’s possible someone has found your pet and taken them to a local rehoming centre or kennels.
Contact local vet surgeries or animal hospitals – if your pet has been injured, they may have been taken there for treatment.
Check online lost and found websites and notice boards in your local area. Register your dog on DogLost, a free national database which is run by volunteers who will help you to search for your dog. Register your lost pets on our website and share to our Facebook page, we too are a nationwide charity and have volunteers all around the UK.
If you think your pet has been stolen, call the police.
Put up notices in your local area with an up to date photo of your pet, newsagents also often have a display you can pay to add your notice to.
Visit places where other dog walkers and pet owners go and ask them to keep an eye out for your pet.

What do I do if I find a stray pet?

Firstly make sure it is safe to approach the animal, if they are trapped or injured then they could act aggressively out of fear or due to pain, if you are not certain it is safe then call a professional such as an animal warden.

If you’ve found a stray pet, check to see if they’re wearing a tag with the owner’s details on. If they are, and you’re happy to do this, contact the owner and arrange to give them back the pet.

Otherwise contact your local authority animal warden via your local council. In the case of dog's dog wardens are legally responsible for strays and will come and collect the dog from you and take them to a holding kennels while they wait seven days to see if their owner will claim them, if they are not claimed then they will be put up for rehoming or put to sleep if no home is found.

Register the dog as “found” on DogLost, which is a national online lost and found website or register the pet on our website and share to our Facebook page, we too are a nationwide charity and have volunteers all around the UK.

Although it might be tempting to keep the pet, you’re legally required to let the local authority know about any stray pets and, if you don’t, you could be accused of theft.

There may be a loving owner out there who is desperately searching for their missing dog and, if the dog is microchipped, it could be really easy to reunite them and vets offer to scan strays for free.

It’s very easy to get attached to a dog the longer you keep them, so please do let someone know as soon as possible.

If you do want to keep the dog, let the local authority know and they may be able to arrange for you to rehome them if no one claims them.

If I find a stray dog can I keep it as my own?

Disclaimer:
It depends. You are legally required when you find a stray dog to report such a finding to your community's law enforcement association or animal control officer within 48 hours. If you do not do so you can be found guilty of a misdemeanor.

If you do report the finding of a stray animal within the time given under the law, and there is no owner registered for the animal than you may keep it as your own if you wish. However, keep in mind that if you steal or take a dog, which is registered, without the consent of the dog's owner you will be subject to criminal liability.

Animal Aid UK only takes animals to rescue centres with a no put to sleep policy and where possible we find foster families for lost and 'free to good home' pets.

If you would like to become an Animal Aid UK foster family or join our family of volunteers then email ali.bell67@yahoo.co.uk

We do not discriminate against species and our website is open to all animals.

You can search the livestream forums for keywords such as location, breed etc, this may make it easier to look for a lost or found pet.

Animal Aid UK can also be accessed using the Wix app for updates on the move!!

All our staff and volunteers are unpaid so please be patient in regard to emails.

If you have any technical problems in regards to our website then contact the website creator using animalaiduk@gmail.com with the subject 'Kayleigh Kennedy'.