Lost and found pets: what to do and how to post a notice
Coming very soon
Lost and found is the free Miwuki Pet Shelter section for posting and searching notices of lost or found dogs, cats and other animals, wherever you are in the world. It opens in the coming days; meanwhile, here is what to do.
Lost and found at a glance
The essentials of the section, straight to the point.
- What it is
- Notices of lost and found animals on Miwuki Pet Shelter, with a map and filters
- Price
- Always free. Also for animal shelters
- Who can post
- Individuals and animal shelters with a Miwuki account
- Animals
- Dogs, cats and other species
- Where
- Any country: choose the country when posting and search for notices near you
- Duration
- 30 days; before it expires we ask whether it is still active
- Privacy
- Approximate area with a 500 m to 5 km radius, never the exact spot
- Contact
- Miwuki chat; your phone number is shown only if you want
- Alerts
- By province or by a point with a 1 to 25 km radius
If you have lost your dog or cat: what to do now
The first hours matter. This is the order to follow, whether your pet escaped, went missing or you suspect someone took it.
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Search straight away, close to where it got lost
Walk the nearby streets calling its name in a calm voice and leave someone at home in case it comes back on its own. A frightened animal tends to hide and stay silent: check doorways, garages, gardens and under cars.
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Report the loss to the authorities
In Spain it is compulsory within 48 hours: Law 7/2023 requires it whether your pet got lost or was stolen. Elsewhere, check local rules. Your local council, the police or your vet can tell you how to do it.
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Check its microchip details
Make sure the registry where its microchip is recorded has your current phone number: that is how a vet or the local animal service can reach you when they scan the chip.
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Tell everyone who might see it
Call local vets, the local animal collection service and nearby animal shelters. In Spain, town halls are responsible for collecting lost animals.
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Share a notice with a recent photo
Say where and when it got lost and how to recognise it. On Lost and found the notice is free, appears on the map of your area and alerts people nearby who have alerts switched on.
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Share it and check the found notices
Send the link to neighbours and friends on WhatsApp and check the nearby «found» notices every day: someone may already have your pet safe.
If you have found an animal: how to help it get home
Its family is probably looking for it. These steps help it get home without getting you into trouble.
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Approach calmly and do not chase it
If it lets you, hold it on a lead or take it somewhere safe, away from traffic. If it is injured, call the municipal service or a vet.
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Look for a tag or a collar with a phone number
It is the quickest way to reach its family, with no waiting and no scanner.
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Have its microchip scanned
A vet or the municipal service can read it with a scanner and reach its family through the registry. It is compulsory for dogs, cats and ferrets in Spain.
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Tell the local authorities
They will tell you what to do. In Spain, town halls are in charge of collecting lost animals and, in many cities, the local police (Policía Local) answer on 092.
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Post a «found» notice
With a photo and the approximate area, its family can recognise it and message you through Miwuki chat without you sharing your phone number.
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Do not hand it over without checking
Ask for reasonable proof that it is theirs, such as photos, its health record or its microchip details, before returning it.
How to post a notice in 5 steps
All you need is a free Miwuki account. The form is the same whether you have lost an animal or found one.
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The notice
Choose whether you have lost or found an animal, its species (dog, cat or other) and its name. If you do not know it, give it one to recognise it by, such as «Kitten from the square».
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The photos
Upload a clear profile photo, which is required, and up to 8 more. A good photo is what helps most to recognise it.
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When and where
Add the date and mark the place on the map by address, postcode or your location. Choose the radius of the area, from 500 m to 5 km: only that area is published, never the exact spot.
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The description
Explain what happened, in at least 20 characters, and add details to recognise it: colour, collar, markings or how it reacts.
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Confirm and publish
Review the summary and decide whether to show your phone number; if not, people will message you through the chat. The notice goes live straight away and we notify people with alerts in the area.
The notice lasts 30 days and you can share it on WhatsApp. When the animal is back home, mark it as «Turned up» or «Back with their family»: it stops being shown and its conversations are closed.
What to include in the notice
A complete notice is recognised in seconds. This is what to include in each case.
| Detail | If you lost it | If you found it |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | A recent, sharp one showing the whole animal, plus others of its markings. | A clear one as it looks now, ideally from the front and from the side. |
| Name | Its real name: the one it answers to. | A descriptive one to recognise it by, such as «Dog from the station». |
| When and where | The last place and time you saw it. | Where and when you found it. |
| Details | Colour, size, collar or harness, markings and whether it is wary of people. | Collar, visible markings and how it behaves. Keep one detail unpublished to check who its family is. |
| Contact | Miwuki chat; your phone number only if you want. | Miwuki chat; your phone number only if you want. |
Privacy and safety
Posting a notice should not expose your home or your phone number.
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Approximate area, not your address
The map shows a circle with a radius of 500 m to 5 km. The exact spot is never published.
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Chat without sharing your phone
Anyone who sees your notice messages you through Miwuki chat. Your phone number appears only if you switch that option on.
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Notices that expire
Each notice lasts 30 days and we ask you beforehand whether it is still active, so the list does not fill up with closed cases.
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Beware of upfront payments
Be wary of anyone asking for money to return an animal without proving they have it. Ask for a current photo or a detail you have not published.
Lost and found alerts for your area
You do not need to check every day: set your area and we will let you know when someone posts a notice nearby.
- Go to «Notifications and alerts» with your Miwuki account.
- Choose your area: a province or a point with a 1 to 25 km radius.
- Switch on «Notify me about lost and found pets».
Is your pet on Miwuki Pet Life?
If your pet is already registered on Miwuki Pet Life, you will be able to mark it as lost from «My notices»: the notice uses its profile and photo, so it takes fewer steps to publish. Keeping its microchip number and a current photo there also saves time when every minute counts.
Discover Miwuki Pet LifeHow to reduce the risk of your pet getting lost
Most of these measures cost little and make all the difference the day something goes wrong.
- A microchip with up-to-date details: it is compulsory for dogs, cats and ferrets in Spain, and anywhere it only works if the registry has your current phone number.
- A tag with your phone number on the collar or harness, so people can call you without a scanner.
- A well-fitted lead or harness in new places, on trips and when there are fireworks or storms.
- Secured windows and balconies if you live with a cat.
- Recent full-body photos and pictures of its markings, ready in case you need to post a notice.
Frequently asked questions about lost and found pets
When will I be able to post a notice on Lost and found?
Lost and found opens on Miwuki Pet Shelter in the coming days. Meanwhile, follow the steps in this guide: search close to where your pet got lost, report the loss within 48 hours and tell vets, the town hall and local animal shelters.
What is Lost and found on Miwuki Pet Shelter?
It is the Miwuki Pet Shelter section for posting and checking notices of lost or found dogs, cats and other animals. Each notice shows the animal, the date and an approximate area on the map, and lets you message whoever posted it through Miwuki chat.
Does it work outside Spain?
Yes. Lost and found is designed for any country: when posting you choose the country and mark the area on the map, and the section is available in Spanish and English.
How much does it cost to post a notice?
Nothing. Posting and checking notices is always free, for individuals and for animal shelters.
Do I need an account?
To post a notice or message whoever posted one, yes: you need a free Miwuki account. You do not need one to browse the notices.
Is my address or phone number published?
No. The notice shows an approximate area, a circle with a radius of 500 m to 5 km, and never the exact spot. Your phone number appears only if you switch that option on when posting; otherwise people message you through Miwuki chat.
How long does a notice stay up?
30 days. Before it expires we ask you whether it is still active.
What do I do when my pet turns up?
Mark the notice as «Turned up», or as «Back with their family» if you were the one who found it. The notice stops being shown and its conversations are closed. If you reported the loss to the town hall or the local police, let them know too.
Can I post animals other than dogs and cats?
Yes. When posting, choose «Other» and search for the species: rabbit, ferret, bird or another pet.
How can I find out about lost animals near me?
Switch on alerts: in «Notifications and alerts» choose a province or a point with a 1 to 25 km radius and turn on «Notify me about lost and found pets». When a notice is posted in that area, we let you know.
Is it compulsory to report a lost dog or cat in Spain?
Yes. Spain’s Law 7/2023 on the protection of the rights and welfare of animals requires owners to report the loss or theft of their animal to the competent authority within 48 hours (article 24.2 g). Ask your town hall how to do it where you live. In other countries it depends on local rules.
What should I do if I find a lost dog or cat?
Get it to safety without chasing it, look for a tag with a phone number, have a vet or the local animal service scan its microchip and tell the local authorities (in Spain, the town hall or the Policía Local). Then post a «found» notice with a photo and the approximate area so its family can recognise it.
Is it available in English?
Yes. The section is available in Spanish and English.
Lost and found is coming very soon to Miwuki Pet Shelter
Free notices with an approximate area, local alerts and private chat, so every dog and cat gets home sooner.