Lost Pets

At Heathcote Veterinary Clinic we are committed to uniting lost pets with their owners. The best way to ensure your pet is returned to you is to have them microchipped and registered with the Companion Animal Registry.

Heathcote Veterinary Clinic makes every effort to save, stabilize and alleviate pain of any stray injured animal that is presented to our practice.

What to do if you have lost your pet?

1. Stay calm.
2. Have a good look around your home and garden in all your pet’s favourite hiding places.
3. Ask your neighbours to look around their home and yard.
4. Contact all the local vet clinics and leave a detailed description of your pet, including their microchip number if you know it.
5. Contact your local council with a description of your pet, and visit the local animal shelters with a photo of your missing mate.
6. Place notices around the area your pet went missing and place a notice in the local newspaper.
7. Consult Lost and Found Pets on the Internet.

What to do if you find a lost dog or cat?

1. Check the collar for an identification tag.
2. If possible, take the animal to a veterinary clinic so that it can be scanned for a microchip and the appropriate people contacted.
3. If you can not catch or approach the animal, call the local council or animal shelter.

Please note that it is illegal to keep stray animals without attempting to identify the animal and their owner. All stray animals must be scanned for a microchip. It is also necessary to contact and inform either the local council, animal shelter or veterinary clinic that you have found a lost pet.