Lost & Found

If you find a lost or stray animal, you should first check for any identification, a name tag or even a Council registration tag. If you find any identification, please contact the owner or the relevant Council as soon as possible. Remember, be careful when approaching an unfamiliar animal as it could be frightened or agitated causing it to bite or use its claws.

If the animal does not have any identification, it´s important to:

• Contact your local RSPCA Animal Care Centre
  
• Contact your local and surrounding councils and pounds
• Contact your local and surrounding animal welfare organisations
• Contat your local and surrounding veterinary surgeries 
• Make sure you give them a thorough description of the animal including when and where you found it.
• Put an ad in the local paper under the "found section" with a thorough description of the animal including when and where you found it. Most papers offer this as a free service to the community.
• Ask local radio stations as some make announcements regarding found pets

In Tasmania, it is local councils responsibility to manage and care for stray animals. In some cases, your local RSPCA branch may be appointed by your local council to act as the local pound. Unless this is the case, the RSPCA does not have the resources to collect stray cats or dogs unless they are sick or injured. If you find a stray dog or cat, please contact your local Council for further assistance.

Some tips on looking for a lost pet:

• Do a thorough search of your property and surrounding neighbourhood.
• Check with your neighbours and people that you see walking in your area. Sometimes animals can accidently be locked inside a neighbouring house, garage or garden shed.
• Create a 'Lost' poster to display on community noticeboards in your area.
• Distribute 'Lost' flyers to letter boxes in your neighbourhood .
• Ring veterinary clinics, starting with your local area and work outwards.
• When lodging a lost report, provide as much information about your pet as possible, such as: the area that your pet went missing, the breed and colour of your pet, its age, any distinguising features, whether it was wearing a collar and/or I.D. and contact numbers and names should the animal be found.
• Advertise your pet as lost in newspapers and online. Don't forget to check 'found' reports.
• Please remove all posters from public property and inform all others that were aware of the search after the animal has been found, or after a reasonable amount of time has passed.