Lost/stray animals

We recommend the following procedure for lost pets:

1. Search your cupboards, sheds and garages

2. Search local areas that your pet may have been attracted to such as parks or building sites (where there may be mice or rats).

3. Inform your local police and animal warden (via your local council) and register your pet lost with:

   • The RSPCA: 0300 1234 999

   • Battersea Dogs and Cats Home: 020 7622 3626

   • Missing Pets Bureau: 08701 999 000 (24hr) / website

   • All local and emergency vets and charity clinics/rehoming organisations

4. Make fliers to put through your neighbours’ doors (and those of homes that back onto your garden) asking everyone to look out for your pet in their sheds and garages.

5. Make posters to place all around the area asking if anyone has seen your pet, perhaps offering a small reward.

6. Make sure that a lost cat can get back into your house easily if he/she returns, via a cat-flap or safe window (that is burglar-proof).

Reducing the risk of losing a pet

We strongly recommend all pets are microchipped and neutered. Doing this will greatly increase the chance of being reunited with your pet if he/she gets lost.

RSPCA Animal Collection Officers will collect sick, injured or trapped stray domestic and wild animals and birds, or those in danger. Cal the urgent advice line on 0300 1234 999 (24-hour helpline charged at national call rates). Remember that our national helpline receives thousands of urgent calls daily; they will attend to your request as soon as possible.

Please phone for advice before touching or moving fledglings, kittens or other young animals. Their mothers may be waiting for you to leave before coming for their young.

Foxes
You can get specialist help from the National Fox Welfare Society on 01933 411 9966 or the Fox Project on 01892 545 468.

If you find an uninjured stray dog, you must contact your local police station and the local council animal warden.

If you cannot reach the local police or council by telephone, take the dog to the nearest police station, vet, charity animal hospital or, alternatively, please contact Battersea Dogs and Cats home for help and advice.

If the dog appears aggressive and you cannot approach it and think it may be a danger to the public, call 999 immediately. Also call 999 if the dog is at risk of cruelty or accident such as getting run over or causing a road traffic incident.

If the stray animal is sick, injured or in danger call the RSPCA’s cruelty line on: 0300 1234 999.  If you witness dog fighting or other illegal acts with animals, please advice the cruelty line and the police.

With healthy stray cats, it is important to establish that the cat is truly a stray. For more information on steps to follow when you find a stray cat, please follow the specific advice on the main RSPCA site.

For stray small or exotic pets, please contact the national society who will be able to allocate the right specialist as appropriate.

For wildlife, especially birds, it is important not to move baby animals from where you find them unless you are certain the mother is no longer able to protect them (for instance, if you know she has been killed) or their location puts them in danger.

Young animals / fledglings

Many people think that they are helping by taking in young animals but the mother is often around, waiting for you to leave before helping her young. This particularly applies to fledglings.

The exception is baby pigeons who are kept by the mother on ledges or balconies far from the ground. If the baby pigeon falls from the ledge, the mother will not come for her chick.

If you find young animals / fledglings, please contact the RSPCA urgent advice line (0300 1234 999) for advice before you touch them or take action.