Panic loses time; a plan finds pets. A calm, step-by-step checklist for the
first hour and the first day — plus how to be ready before it ever happens.
FIRST HOUR
Search smart, close to home
Don't chase. If you spot them, stop, crouch low, turn side-on, call
in a happy voice. A spooked dog runs from pursuit — even from you.
Search the immediate area first. Most lost pets hide close by —
check quiet spots: under hedges and cars, sheds, garages, gardens.
Leave a scent anchor. Put their bed or your worn clothing outside
your door, with water. Many pets find their own way back to a familiar smell.
Get help fast. One person stays home (pets often return); others
walk the usual routes calling — dawn-and-dusk quiet works best for a frightened animal.
FIRST DAY
Tell the right people
Your microchip database — report the pet missing and make sure your
phone number is current. An out-of-date chip record is the #1 reason reunions fail.
The local council dog warden — in the UK, councils handle stray
dogs. Call yours and neighbouring councils too.
Local vets and rescue centres — injured pets are usually taken to
the nearest vet; ring around with a description.
The neighbourhood — local Facebook groups, Nextdoor and community
lost-pet pages spread word fastest. Post one clear photo, the area, the date and one
contact number.
Posters still work — big photo, area last seen, one phone number.
Keep back one identifying detail (a marking, a scar) so you can verify real sightings.
Put them on dog-walking routes, at vets, shops and school gates.
Police — only if stolen. If there are signs of theft, report it and
get a crime reference number.
BEFORE IT HAPPENS
Sixty seconds of prep beats a day of panic
Microchip details up to date — it's the law for dogs in the UK (and
for cats in England), and it's how shelters and vets reach you.
A tag on the collar — the fastest reunions skip every database: a
neighbour reads the tag and calls you. A QR tag goes further — one scan
shows your pet's profile and pings you where they were scanned.
PetHub+ tags — free for UK members.
A ready-to-go poster — PetHub+ builds a lost-pet poster from your
pet's profile in one tap, with a QR code that routes sightings straight to you.
Lost Mode — flip your pet's PetHub+ profile to Lost and anyone who
scans their tag sees it immediately, with a one-tap "I've seen this pet" report.
Be ready in the app, not the panic
PetHub+ keeps your pet's profile, photos, QR tag, lost-pet poster and Lost Mode in one
place — so the worst hour of pet ownership has a plan attached.
We're giving our first 50 UK members a full year of Premium free: buy a premium
laser-engraved metal PetHub+ QR tag (£12.99) and the 12 months are yours. Your
Founding Member number stays on your account for good.