Category
🐳
AnimalsTranscript
00:00Hi, I'm health reporter Sarah McCann. It can be a really distressing time when our
00:05pets go missing. I myself experienced that a few weeks ago when my rescue dog
00:10Marv here went missing for more than 24 hours. After checking all the places
00:16where we thought we could find him, these are some of the tips that were really
00:19helpful in order to help us get him home. After checking all the areas that my
00:25dog was familiar with, I immediately got in contact with the local council
00:29to speak to the dog warden. Your dog warden is who is responsible for picking
00:34up your dog if they go lost or missing and will then put them in a local
00:39council or pound. Your dog will be kept safely in the local council or pound for
00:45seven days in England and five days in Northern Ireland. After that they may be
00:50rehomed, sent to a rescue centre or put to sleep. Next, make sure your dog's
00:56microchip details are up to date. It's been a requirement to microchip your
01:01dog in the UK since April 2016. Microchips carry information such as your
01:06address, your name and your contact number so if your dog is found you can
01:11be contacted. This is why it's really vital to ensure that your dog's details
01:16are up to date and that you are registered as the dog's owner on the
01:19microchip. If you don't know what company your microchip is registered to, contact
01:25your vet who will be able to give you further information. After contacting the
01:29dog warden and making sure your pet's microchip details are up to date, the
01:33next step is raising awareness that they are missing. Firstly, you can do this by
01:37contacting all your local vets and local animal charities just in case your pet
01:42is handed in. The next step would be social media. Social media played a huge
01:47role in helping us bring Marv home. It was through tips that were posted online
01:52that we were then able to pinpoint the area that he had went missing and he had
01:56got quite far from home. However, often this isn't the case. Check your local
02:02areas. If there's any places that your dog might venture every day such as a
02:07familiar walk that you might go on, they may be following this route. It's also
02:13important to be mindful that dog theft does occur. If you suspect that your dog
02:18has been stolen, contact the police. You can find out more information about what
02:23to do if your dog goes missing at Dog Trust UK. For more information about your
02:28local dog warden or any local pawns in your area, contact your council.