Where to start

Acting quickly gives you the best chance of finding your pet. These practical steps will help you begin your search across Melbourne, from calling your council to checking your pet’s microchip details. If you’ve found a lost dog, cat or other animal, you’ll find what to do further down the page.

If you’ve lost your pet

Step 1

Call your council

Ask if they’ve picked up an animal that looks like your pet. Leave a detailed description and your contact details, so they can reach you if your pet turns up later. If you live near a council border, contact both councils.

Step 2

Visit shelters and vet clinics

Many councils use large shelters, like the RSPCA and The Lost Dogs’ Home, as their pound, so check them all, not just your local one. Pounds hold healthy stray animals for eight days, so try to visit each shelter at least once a week. Call local vets too, in case your pet has been hurt and taken in for care.

Step 3

Search close to home

Knock on your neighbours’ doors and ask them to check sheds, garages and roof cavities. Call your pet’s name and listen carefully. Dogs are creatures of habit, so walk your usual route too. And don’t forget your own home, including cupboards and the roof space, as pets can get stuck in surprising places.

Step 4

Spread the word

Put up posters at local shops, shelters and vet clinics, and drop flyers in your neighbours’ letterboxes. Share a post on social media and ask friends to share it too. Some local radio stations will also make a free announcement.

Step 5

Check your microchip details

If your pet is microchipped and your details are up to date, they can be returned to you quickly. Not sure which registry your pet’s microchip is on? Pop the number into petaddress.com.au. If you don’t have the number, your vet can look it up for you.

Keep looking

Pets can turn up days or even weeks after going missing. Keep checking shelters, keep your contact details up to date and keep spreading the word.

If you’ve found an animal

Thank you for looking out for them. By law, a found animal needs to be handed to your local council, so please call them to arrange collection. If you approach a frightened animal, take care, as they may run away or lash out.

We know a pound can seem like a scary place for a pet, but it’s their best chance of getting home. When people lose a pet, their council and local shelters are the first places they look.

If the animal is injured, bring them to our North Melbourne emergency department or your nearest vet.