PROTECTAPET´S LOST, FOUND & STOLEN PETS IN SPAIN

PROTECTAPETS LOST AND FOUND PET PAGE

Protectapets Lost and found page has been created from a community of pet lovers to help find your lost and stolen pets.

Submit your Lost Pet Report on Protectapets Lost and Found Pet page and this will create automatic alerts to all vets, pet charities and pet rehoming facilities in a 20km radius, as well as being posted on all Protectapets social media platforms.

Upload your lost Pets details and photos to our free pet search database and create a Lost Pet flyer from a Protectapet template to help locate and reunite you with your lost Pet in Spain.

OR

Use our FOUND PET TOOL to search for cats and dogs that have been found and brought to one of the pet rescues Centre´s in your area.

If you have a Pet healthcare policy with Protectapet we will offer you up to €250 with the Basic Pet healthcare plan and €750 with the Diamond healthcare plan to help with a reward or advertising for your lost pet.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR PET IS STOLEN

If you find that yourself in the awful position of having your Pet stolen or lost, you should first go to the local Police or Guadia Civil in the area that you last saw your Pet.

Provide Pictures of your pet along with any useful information or tell of any disguising features your pet may have.

TIPS ON FINDING A LOST DOG

1. Check your home and garden 
2. Search your local area, especially where your pet was last seen 
3. Call or text neighbors, make them aware your pet has gone missing and ask the last time that they saw your pet
4. Fill out a Protectapet Lost Pet report which will automatically post to local social media networks and send alerts to re-homing facilities, pet charities and vets in your area.
5. Use pet trackers or lost pet apps
6. Reach out to animal shelters, veterinary hospitals, and rescue groups
7. Call nearby veterinary hospitals
8. Post lost dog flyers and posters – use highly viable signs to post, you can use Protectapets flyer template.
9. Make sure your pet is microchipped – only 20% of animals are that arrive in pet shelters are microchipped even tho it is compulsory in Spain.

Each Autonomous region has its own database containing all the pets registered in the country.

The Red Española de Identification de animals de Compañía (Spanish Pet Identification Network) is a very useful computer system in the event of your pet being lost.

HOW TO FIND MY CAT IF IT GOES MISSING

As silly as it might sound, search your house from top to bottom first! Your cat could be hiding because it is sick or injured.

• Notify your local police and create a Lost pet report on protectapets Lost pet page. This will create automatic alerts to all vets, pet charities and re-homing facilities that work with us within a 20km radius of your location.
• If your cat has a microchip let the microchip company know that your cat is missing.
• Search your local area, check neighbor's gardens and vehicles.

LOSING YOUR PET WHILE TRAVELING

What do you do if your dog goes missing on while traveling?  As more and more of us decide to take our family pet on holiday, especially dogs,  there is a greater possibility you may find yourself or someone you know in this position.

 FOLLOW THE TIPS BELOW THAT MAY HELP FIND YOUR PET ABROAD

Notify staff straight away if you lose your pet whilst staying in a hotel, The staff may know local areas that your pet may have strayed to and also will have access to security cameras, giving you the last known location and time that your pet was in the area. This in itself could help you work out how far your pet could of traveled and where to start your search.

If you are staying in private accommodation or with friends or family, Head out right away to start searching the area. Ask others to help and be on the outlook. If you dog is not found within an hour, start putting together posters and placing them around the local area. Someone may have seen your dog or have helpful information. You can use Protectapet Missing Pet Flyer Template to assist you with producing the flyer. Distribute the flyers at businesses in the area, vet clinics, shelters and pass them out to people in the area.

Contact local Pet rescue centers  and Vet offices
Go and visit shelters yourself. This is important stuff… don’t leave it to a phone call.
Shelters see multiple dogs matching your dog’s description on a daily and weekly basis.

Contact Europetnet  –  This is a network of associations that allow animals to be located even if they have been lost or have strayed while you are traveling in one of several European countries.

Go on Social Media
Search for online pages and sites dedicated to cats and dogs. Most people who frequent these pages are huge dog lovers and many have networks around the nation who may help you get the word out about your pet.  And if you must return home before finding your dog, many of these networks can help you get your pet back home. Don’t be shy about posting. You may be amazed to find how many people are in your corner to help you be reunited with your dog.

PREVENTING YOUR CAT FROM BEING STOLEN

• Get your cat microchipped and update the data each time you move home or premises and change your phone number.
• Use motion triggered lighting in your garden, next to any entrances or exits around your home.
• Remember to close your gates.
• Consider investing in a cat balcony, cat patio or cat fencing for your garden.
• Don’t allow your cat outside during the night or until after the morning rush.
• Keep cats indoors when you’re not at home.
• Install CCTV cameras in your garden.
• Don’t leave your cats home alone when you go on holiday. Use pet sitters or catteries to ensure your cat is monitored.
• Get your cats spayed or neutered so they can’t be used for breeding and to prevent wandering.
• Take photos of your cat to share around in case they do go missing.

HOW TO PREVENT YOUR DOG FROM BEING STOLEN

• Be Extra Vigilante – take the following precautions to ensure the safety of your pet.
• Microchipping – Make sure your pet is microchipped and registered with a pet microchip database.
• Secure your property
• Do not leave dogs alone in the car
• Do not live your dog tied up outside shops
• Use an extending lead – This gives your dog freedom yet keeps you in control
• Avoid routine
• Avoid location tags on social media
• Have your dog spayed or neutered

FINDING A LOST PET

Check for Identification

Check the stray pet you have found for any form of I.D tags. If the stray does not have a collar, have the animal scanned for a microchip. This can be done by taking the cat or dog to the local police, animal shelter or vet in your area.

Alert the owner

If the Cat or Dog has no identification, you can post on the Protectapets Lost and found Pet page  and make a Found Pet in Spain report in hope to alerting the owner. Browse lost pet listings and post a message of your own. You can also use Facebook and other social media sites to let people know you’ve found a lost dog.

Use Protectapets Found Pet Flyer template to add the dog or cat´s photo and your contact information and post them around your neighborhood. You might also drop by local vet offices to ask them to post the flyer in their lobby.

SCAMS

Please be aware of the unscrupulous companies that offer Pet recovery services that charge a fee. Some Pet recovery businesses offer legitimate services, some however do not! Before handing over any monies be sure to look for independent reviews of previous clients.