Missing dogs & cats
Helping reunite you with your furry friend
Dog, cat, furry friend, furbaby – call them what you want, life is certainly better with a pet. Owners are responsible for keeping their animals secure, but when they do escape, we’re here to help too.
To help us reunite you with your missing pet please ensure your pets microchip details are up to date and all contact phone numbers are current. That way we can contact you if we need to.
It can be stressful when you discover your dog or cat is missing. That’s why we’ve put together a checklist of places to call and things to do:
- check our live feed below for recently impounded animals
- contact the Animal Welfare League directly on 8348 1300
- contact the RSPCA on 1300 477 722
- notify local and nearby veterinary clinics and the After Hours Emergency Vet clinic on 8371 0333
- notify us of your missing dog or cat using the online form
- notify neighbouring councils
- check social media lost pet pages such as Lost pets of Adelaide
- Login to Dogs and Cats Online (DACO) and register your pet as missing. Check your contact details are correct so you can be contacted if it is found.
- place an advertisement in the paper stating the breed, sex, colour, age, any identification, where and when your dog or cat was lost and your phone number
- put a notice in your local supermarket or deli
- ask at your local school and shopping centre.
We make every effort to reunite wandering dogs and owners as quickly as possible. When we find a wandering dog we check:
- registration discs and id tags
- microchip number, and search all national microchip databases for owner contact information
- our lost dog register.
In addition, we display impounded dog notices at our Customer Centre, 25 Pirie Street, Adelaide and on our website below.
When we can’t reunite a dog with its owner we take the dogs to the Animal Welfare League located at 1-9 Cormack Road, Wingfield SA 5013. Dogs must be claimed within 72 hours of being impounded. You may call the Animal Welfare League on 8348 1300 during their opening hours.
When you find your dog please let us know it has been found.
If you find a stray dog, please report it to us. We come out to collect the dog and return to owner or impound the dog at an approved facility for care until the owner can be located. Do not remove any identification.
It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 1985 (Formerly Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1985) to abandon a dog or cat. Severe penalties apply.
If you are unable or unwilling to care for your dog or cat, please contact your local animal shelter to discuss surrender options.
If you wish to report animals that have been abandoned or cruelty concerns relating to mistreatment including not providing owned animals with adequate food, water or shelter, please report the matter to RSPCA SA on 1300 477 722.
Found pets listing
Check the Animal Welfare League’s found pets listing to see if your pet has been brought in.