Guides
Keeping your pet safe and found
Plain-English guides for UK pet owners, from what the law says about dog tags and cat microchips to what to do when a pet goes missing, or when you find one.
Lost and found
Lost your dog? What to do in the first 24 hours
A calm, step-by-step checklist for when your dog goes missing in the UK: where to search, who to call, and how to spread the word quickly.
Read the guide · 5 min →Found a lost dog or cat? What to do in the UK
Found a stray dog or cat? How to check for a tag or microchip, when you must tell the council, and how to get the pet home safely to its owner.
Read the guide · 4 min →Lost cat? What to do when your cat goes missing
Your cat hasn't come home? Where to search first, who to call, how to use posters and local groups, and how to make your cat easier to find next time.
Read the guide · 4 min →The law and microchips
Does my dog need an ID tag? UK dog tag law explained
Dogs in public must wear a collar or tag with the owner's name and address, even if they're microchipped. What the law says, who's exempt, and what to put on the tag.
Read the guide · 4 min →Do cats have to be microchipped? UK cat microchipping law
Since June 2024, pet cats in England must be microchipped by 20 weeks old. Who it covers, the £500 fine, the rules in Scotland, Wales and NI, and cat collars.
Read the guide · 4 min →How to update your pet's microchip details (UK)
Moved house or changed your number? How to find which database your pet's microchip is on, update your details, and what to do when you get a new pet.
Read the guide · 3 min →Keeping pets safe
Fireworks and pets: how to keep dogs and cats safe
How to keep your dog or cat calm and safe on Bonfire Night, Diwali and New Year's Eve, and what to do if they bolt. A UK checklist for pet owners.
Read the guide · 4 min →Dog theft in the UK: how to protect your dog
Simple ways to keep your dog safe from thieves at home, on walks and online, and exactly what to do if your dog is stolen, including getting a crime number.
Read the guide · 4 min →New puppy checklist: ID, paperwork and the law (UK)
Bringing home a puppy? The microchip, collar and tag, paperwork and first vet visit, plus what the law says about buying a puppy in England.
Read the guide · 4 min →Moving house with a dog or cat: keeping them safe (UK)
Pets can slip out on moving day and don't know the way home in a new area. How to keep your dog or cat safe, settle them in, and update their details.
Read the guide · 4 min →