Find out how to report a lost or found dog to the animal wardens, and how to reclaim a lost dog.
If you've lost your dog, phone 01273 294 266 and select option 3 to report this to our Animal Wardens. If your dog goes missing after 4pm, phone 07827 967 088 to report it to our out-of-hours company, K9.
If someone then finds your dog, we’ll contact you.
When you report a lost dog you need to tell us:
If you have lost your dog, you can also try contacting your local vets and using social media, including the Brighton Dogwatch Facebook group.
To report a dog you’ve found, phone 01273 294 266 to let us know. If you find a dog after 4pm, phone 07827 967 088 to report it to our out-of-hours company, K9.
Give us as much information as possible about the dog. An Animal Warden or K9 officer will contact you and arrange to collect the dog.
If you have any concerns about neglected, mistreated or abused pets or animals, contact the RSPCA:
A stray dog is:
Phone 01273 294 266 to report a stray dog. If you find a dog after 4pm, phone 07827 967 088 to report it to our out-of-hours company, K9.
Give us as much information as possible about the dog. An Animal Warden or K9 officer will contact you and arrange to collect the dog.
Other organisations such as the police or social care will have their own procedures for dealing with a dog left home alone where an owner is absent from the home or place of temporary residence, for example, due to their owner being:
If you have any welfare concerns about neglected, mistreated or abused pets or animals, contact the RSPCA:
Animal Wardens collect and return lost and found dogs. They also provide information on animal licensing, including pet shops, boarding, breeding and performing animals.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 gives us the power to seize and hold any dog that seems to be a stray. We can hold the dog until you pay the charge.
The charge for us to return your dog is £117 for the first day. The charge is still £117 even if we have only held your dog for part of the day.
This increases by £36 per day. We’re unable to return your dog until you’ve paid the charges by debit or credit card.
We can stop holding the dog after 7 days if you don’t claim it. We usually do this by re-homing the dog.
It's a legal requirement to have any dog over the age of 8 weeks microchipped and to keep your details up-to-date.
It's a legal requirement in England to microchip your cat if they’re older than 20 weeks.
register your pet’s microchip details on one of the authorised databases
keep your pet’s details up to date with the database
have the chip implanted by a trained professional, like a vet
The Dogs Trust and RSPCA can also microchip dogs.
When in a public place, your dog must wear a collar and tag with your name and address on it.
Find out more about how to microchip your dog or cat from GOV.UK.