Stolen Dogs

Report Stolen Dogs to the Police. Insist it is recorded as a theft and not a lost animal, and make sure you get a Crime Reference Number

Always report suspicious behaviour/attempted dog thefts and actual thefts to the Police

  • Dorset Police, 01202 222 222

  • Weymouth Police, 01305 222 222

Contact your Pet Insurance provider as they may be able to provide financial assistance.

There has also been reported success in contacting an Animal Communicator who can give you clues. Joanne Yeoh or Pea Horsely are recommended in Dorset.

Continuing the search

  • Keep searching every day on foot and in the car calling out your dog’s name in a happy voice. Dawn and dusk are the most likely times your dog will move to try and find you.

  • If you can, bring along one of your dog’s friends on a walk. Your dog will be able to pick up its scent.

 

Preventative Actions

NEVER leave your dog

  • Tied up outside a shop

    1. On its own in the garden

    2. Locked in your car/van

    3. On its own in an unlocked house

  • Make sure your dog is microchipped

  • Good recall training

  • Invest in a tracking device like Tractive

  • Make the end of a walk (the most likely time for your dog to wander off) as exciting as the beginning by ending on some training tricks before getting them back on the lead

  • Take your dog to ‘scent and tracker’ training to hone its skills

Dog collars –

  • With your name, address, and contact number

    1. It is UK legal requirement that dogs wear an ID tag or ID collar

Contacts

If you lose your dog in Dorset, this list of contacts will be useful.

Contact DogLost*

  • Register with www.doglost.co.uk, it’s free and they will create a printable poster for you and send email alerts to local helpers.

If you create your own poster, make sure to include

  • A selection of up-to-date photos of your dog from several angles

    1. Your dog’s name

    2. Your contact numbers

    3. Where and when your dog went missing, with a map

    4. Description

    5. Include tear-off tags at the bottom with your contact number

    6. Where to display posters

      • Supermarket notice boards

      • Launderettes

      • Pet stores

      • Give to postmen/women and delivery persons like DFD and UPS to include in their run

Try and engage local children in the search, they will remind adults and keep the search going

Contact local dog walkers and trainers. If your dog has been rehomed the new owners may seek out training. Also, dog walkers will be covering your area frequently throughout the day.

Call the local Dog Warden if you lose your dog in Dorset.

  • Bournemouth 01202 45 13 06

    1. Christchurch 08451 30 76 87

    2. East Dorset 01202 63 90 30

    3. North Dorset 01258 45 41 11

    4. Poole 01202 26 17 00

    5. Purbeck 01929 55 72 77

    6. West Dorset 01305 25 10 10

    7. Weymouth & Portland 01305 83 84 68

Get in touch with your vet/microchipping company if your dog is chipped. Make sure they have the most up to date contact information for you.

Contact other local vets in case anyone takes your dog there to be scanned. You can find contact numbers here: www.any-uk-vet.co.uk

Get in touch with local rescue centres

  • Margaret Green, Blandford 01929 471 340

    1. Margaret Green, Church Knowle 01929 480 474

    2. RSPCA, Dorchester 01305 259 672

    3. RSPCA, Ashley Heath 0300 123 0749