Report a lost or found dog

Find out how to report a lost or found dog to the animal wardens, and how to reclaim a lost dog.

Report a lost dog

Report 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:

  • its colour
  • breed
  • name
  • where it was lost
  • if it had a collar
  • if it's tagged or micro-chipped

If you have lost your dog, you can also try contacting your local vets and using social media, including the Brighton Dogwatch Facebook group.

Report a found dog

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:

Report a stray dog 

A stray dog is:

  • a dog who is on the loose, whose owner is unknown - and when found in any place other than the premises of the owner, not under control using a leash
  • a homeless dog, or a dog that is in a place which does not form part of the premises occupied by its owner
  • a dog that's not under the direct supervision of its owner or another person taking care of it

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 types of found dogs

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:

  • detained by police
  • hospitalised due to a health concern

If you have any welfare concerns about neglected, mistreated or abused pets or animals, contact the RSPCA:

Animal Wardens
More information about Animal Wardens

Reclaim your dog

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.

Charges for returning dogs

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.

Microchip your dog or cat

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.

You must

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.