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Dog disappearances increase by 120% during fireworks season: What to do if your pet runs away

Alicia Hempsted
Written by  Alicia Hempsted
Kara Gammell
Reviewed by  Kara Gammell
10 min read
Updated: 25 Oct 2024

More than 1,400 pets every month went missing in the UK over 18 months according to figures from Petlog, and dog disappearances surge 120% during fireworks season. But what can you do if your pet goes missing?

Between January 2023 and June 2024, around 5,000 dogs and over 20,000 cats were reported missing to Petlog, the UK’s largest pet microchip database, by their owners.

Experts suggest that this figure is probably much higher when accounting for cats that went missing before it became mandatory to have them microchipped. This number also doesn’t include pets that were reported missing to other microchip databases and those that weren't reported at all.

Recent bad weather and flooding have increased the risk of pets straying, as thunder and lightning often cause significant stress for domestic animals. Throughout September and October the Met office has issued several weather warnings for storms.

And now fireworks season upon us, putting even more stress on pets and their families. The Kennel Club in October 2023 found that dog disappearances increased by an alarming 120% during fireworks season.

Pet owners are being urged to take extra precautions to protect their animals from the stress and anxiety caused by the loud noises and bright flashes.

It’s advised that during bad weather and fireworks you should keep your pets indoors, but of course these things can sometimes be unpredictable. You don’t always get a warning before the chaos starts.

If your pet does go missing, many people don’t know what to do. It can be a stressful and very scary experience.

Here are some tips to give you the best chances of being reunited with your pet.

Enlist help

It’s always better to search with a team when your pet goes missing – it’s safer to work in numbers and helps you cover more ground, which is especially important when your pet first disappears. You’d be surprised how much ground a cat or dog can cover when they’re on the run.

But you shouldn’t limit your request for help to just those that are willing to search on foot with you. Speak to your neighbours and ask them to check their gardens or keep an eye out for your pet. Ask dog walkers in your area or visit dog parks to request that they keep an eye out.

To quickly gather support, it’s a good idea to make multiple copies of your contact details to hand out so people can easily get in touch if your pet is found.

scared dog

Report your missing pet

Tell the vet nearest to where your pet went missing, local rescue centres, or local authority dog warden.

You can find your local dog warden through gov.uk. When you enter your postcode, you’ll be matched to your borough and you can go to your specific borough’s website to find the details of your local dog warden.

Report them missing to your microchip database and make sure all the details they have are up to date, like your contact information. This will help you get reunited with your pet quickly if they are found and have their microchip scanned.

Microchipping both dogs and cats is a legal requirement in the UK. Microchipping is also the most effective way of identifying a lost pet and reuniting them with their owners, so pet owners shouldn’t delay having their pet microchipped.

Petlog, one of the UK’s largest microchipping databases, reported that between January 2023 and June 2024, 74% of dogs and 62% of cats that were reported missing on their database were reunited with their owners thanks to up-to-date microchip information.

You can also report your lost pet on Animal Search UK, the leading search service for missing pets in the UK. The RSPCA register any found animals with Animal Search UK, so having your pet on their database will make it easier for them to reunite you.

Other free databases you can report your lost pet to are:

If you believe that your pet has been stolen, however, you should report the theft to the police.

Since the introduction of the Pet Abduction Act 2024, penalties for pet thieves in England and Northern Ireland have changed. It’s now recognised as a specific crime, not just theft of property, so it’s always worth reporting the theft to the police.

Advertise your lost pet

There are multiple ways for you to advertise you lost pet, the most common one being to put up posters in your area and the area where your pet was last sighted.

You can also advertise your lost pet on social media, with pet forums and neighbourhood watch groups being some of the best places to enlist the help of others.

While it’s a good idea to spread the word about a lost pet, pet owners should be careful about the information they share publicly. There is certain personal information you definitely shouldn’t share online, or else you might accidentally expose yourself to thieves and criminals.

What to include in your advertisements:

  • A large, good quality, up-to-date photo of your pet or multiple pictures of your pet from different angles

  • Your pet’s name and age

  • Descriptions of their identifiable features, such as markings, their collar, or any clothing they were wearing when they went missing

  • The area where your pet escaped or where they were last sighted

  • Your pet’s temperament and normal behaviour (whether they are skittish or potentially aggressive)

  • Any health issues your pet may have

  • Include mention of a finders’ fee if you intend to give one but do not describe it as a ‘reward’ nor disclose an amount

  • A contact phone number

  • Whether they are microchipped

What not to include in your advertisements:

  • Your pet’s breed (certain breeds are appealing to thieves so disclosing your pet’s breed my lure thieves into trying to steal them)

  • Your full name

  • Your home address

  • A ‘reward’ amount, which can cause scammers to make false reports

  • Pictures of your home exterior or pictures that might reveal your address

If you are putting up posters in your area, make them visible and easy to read. Hang them at eye level so people can clearly see them.

Use your insurance

Many pet insurance policies will have some level of cover for pets that have strayed or been stolen. The most useful benefit of your insurance is cover for advertising and rewards.

On the condition that your let your insurer know your pet is missing as soon as possible (ideally within the first few days of your pet going missing) and have had your policy for at least two weeks, you can usually reclaim the cost of advertising your missing pet by giving receipts to your insurer.

In worst-case scenarios, where your pet has been missing for longer than 30 days, your pet insurance may also pay out the value of your pet.

However, there are some exclusions to be aware of to claim for this cover – if your pet isn’t microchipped, for example. There are also certain dog breeds that may not be covered by your insurance, so you should always check the policy wording and speak to your insurance provider if you’re unsure of your policy’s cover.

Do not chase your pet

A piece of advice that’s often given for very good reason is that you should not chase your pet if you see them or try to grab them.

Pets that are fearful will most likely run away if you try to chase them, which can make it more difficult to approach them in future and reduces your chances of catching them.

You need to calm your pet and attract them to you instead if you see them.

Arm yourself with their favourite things when you go on a search (their favourite toys and some extra smelly treats).

If you find your pet, rather than rushing to them or expecting them to leap into your arms, you should crouch down low or sit or lie down on the floor to make yourself look smaller and less intimidating.

If your pet is scared, looking directly at them can also be perceived as confrontational and threatening. Instead, you should angle your body away from them and avoid direct eye contact.

If you have one of your pet’s favourite toys, pretend to play with it calmly. If you have some of their favourite treats, make noise with the packaging and pretend to eat it, dropping pieces on the floor to entice them over.

Overall, be patient and calm. Some pets may not immediately recognise their owners, especially when they’re panicked, so your priority should be to make them feel safe.

Don’t call your pet’s name – sing it instead

It might seem counterintuitive when you want your pet to come back to you, but there are good reasons why it may not be a good idea to call out to your dog or cat.

Calling out to your pet if they’ve wandered off on a walk or sneaked out of the house might work to get their attention and quickly lure them back to you.

But if your pet has strayed out of fear – if something has spooked them and caused them to run off – or they’ve been missing for more than a day, shouting their name might scare them instead.

If other people know your pet’s name, it’s possible that a well-meaning stranger has approached them calling their name and spooked them, making them wary of people calling out to them. That means actions like whistling or clapping can sometimes be triggering for them as well if strangers have used these methods to try to get your pet's attention.

It can also be confusing or distressing for them if multiple people are calling their name from different directions.

Your pet might be in fight-or-flight mode if they were spooked by something like fireworks or thunder. In which case, any loud or sudden noises – whether the beep of a car horn or a shout of their name – could send them running in the opposite direction.

One suggested technique to use instead is to sing while you search.

It’s unlikely other people will be singing, so you can alert your pet of your presence without triggering a panicked response. Singing is also more likely to stand out from the other sounds your pet is probably hearing, so they will be more likely to listen and maybe recognise your voice.

If you don’t want to or can’t sing, then humming or just talking to yourself at a normal volume can sometimes be more effective than shouting.

Walk as much as you can to leave a scent trail

While driving can help you cover larger areas more quickly, searching from your vehicle isn’t a very effective way of looking for a lost pet.

It’s easier for your pet to pick up your scent and find you if you are walking than if you are driving, so walk whenever possible.

It can also help to leave scent-markers near your property or in the area they were last spotted to help them find their way back.

Ideally you would use items that smell strongly like you, your pet, or other animals in the home. Some items with strong scents are dirty clothes, unwashed pet bedding, or even the contents or your vacuum cleaner.

When you walk you can also access areas away from the road that your pet may be hiding and can get a good look at your surroundings for any potential hiding places.

Progress might be slow, but your search will be more effective.

Be aware of your own safety

Don’t forget to prioritise your health and safety as well when you go looking for your pet.

If you are going to be searching at night, make sure you are visible.

Use reflective gear, bring torches and lights with you if you are going to be searching outside of well-lit areas, and use extra caution around roads.

You also need to be cautious of other people, even those that may seem keen to help you. If someone contacts you to say they have found your pet or gives you a location of where your pet was spotted, don’t go alone.

Always bring someone with you on a search or to meet a stranger. Be wary of anyone trying to contact you from a private phone number or someone who is unwilling to disclose their identity.

You should also take care of yourself physically, which may be difficult in these kinds of stressful situations. Take breaks from searching, drink plenty of water, and give yourself time to rest and recover.

If you find your pet

If you are reunited with your pet, it’s important that you call off the search and let people know your pet’s been found. Take down any posters and report back to the people you previously contacted that your pet is no longer missing.

Take your pet to the vet for a check-up if they have been missing for more than a day.

Your vet will be able to treat any injuries or assess any potential risks. Many pets that have been found after a long period are usually malnourished and may need to be slowly reintroduced to their feeding routine.

If your pet has been missing for longer than a few days, they might need some time to readjust to their home environment, so give them space.

It’s good to spend time with them but try not to smother them and limit the number of visitors you have until your pet is back to their happy selves.