Dog ran away: a step-by-step plan for the first 24 hours

Your dog has escaped or slipped its lead on a walk and you don’t know where it has gone. It’s a stressful moment, but with a plan you know exactly what to do. Below is a step-by-step plan for the first 24 hours.

The first hour: search calmly and in a targeted way

1. Start searching nearby straight away. First look where your dog was last seen, then in the places it knows: your usual walking route, the park, the home of a friend with a dog.
2. Ask for help. Have a family member or neighbour stay at home in case your dog comes back by itself, and get someone else to search with you.
3. Take something with you. A treat or toy, a lead and your phone. Make sure your phone is charged and you stay reachable.
4. Ask passers-by whether they’ve seen your dog, especially in residential areas, near schools or shops.

Do this, and don’t do that

• Call calmly and kindly, not angrily. Your dog shouldn’t be afraid to come to you.
• Don’t run or drive after your dog if you see it. Many frightened dogs will just run further away. Sit down, turn sideways or walk calmly away from it instead.
• Never punish your dog when it comes back, even if you’ve been angry or scared.

Within a few hours: report your dog

The sooner you set everything in motion, the better the chance that someone recognises your dog.

1. Check your details with DogID. In Belgium, dogs must be microchipped and registered. Make sure your phone number is correct, because that’s how someone who finds your dog can reach you. You’ll find more in our article on microchips and registration, and at www.dogid.be.
2. Call the vets in the area. A found dog is often taken to the nearest practice to have its chip read.
3. Notify the local police in your municipality or where your dog went missing.
4. Post a report on ikbenvermist.be. It’s free and you don’t need an account. Also check the page of found animals and the map.
5. Activate the neighbourhood alert so people nearby are notified.

The same day: posters and a wider search

Make a clear poster with a sharp photo of your dog, the word MISSING, its name, breed or distinctive features, where and when it disappeared, and your mobile number. On the lost pets page you can generate a printable poster. Put them up at crossroads, pet shops, vets, car parks at walking areas and anywhere lots of dog owners go.

Also write a post for social media and neighbourhood groups, with the same photo and a short text. Don’t give your home address; only share your mobile number or a contact form. Read our article on using social media when a pet goes missing, too.

During the night and the next morning

• Leave an item of your clothing or your dog’s bed outside where it disappeared. The scent can lead it home.
• You could also leave a bowl of water and some food at the last known location.
• Search again at sunrise and at dusk. It’s quiet then and many dogs are more active.
• Keep calling your dog in places where it could be hiding: dense woods, meadows, sheds, canals and sunken lanes.

Safety for you and your dog

Be careful near busy roads, railway lines and water. Never search dangerous places alone in the dark, and let someone know where you are. If your dog has been seen along a motorway or railway line, alert the police or emergency services straight away instead of going onto the road yourself.

After a few hours, a dog can be exhausted, confused or injured. Write down who saw your dog and where: it helps you follow its route.

When your dog is back

Have your dog checked by a vet for wounds or tick bites, and let everyone who helped know. Don’t forget to close your report and take down your posters. Also look at why your dog escaped: a gap in the fence, a loose garden gate or a badly fitting harness. You can fix that straight away.

Thinking about a tracker? Read the difference between a GPS and a Bluetooth tracker.

Frequently asked questions

Should I wait before reporting my dog missing?

No. Report your dog as soon as possible: the sooner you do, the sooner others can keep an eye out. There’s no reason to wait a certain amount of time.

What if my dog isn’t microchipped?

Then it’s even more important to use posters, photos and social media, because nobody can identify your dog through a chip. Have it chipped and registered as soon as possible once it’s home.

Will my dog come back by itself?

Some dogs do come back on their own, but don’t count on it. Search actively and leave someone at home in case your dog turns up at the door.