The harness slips off, a door opens, a firework goes off. It happens in a second, and what you do in the following hour is what matters most to how it ends.
The first sixty minutes
- Stay where it was lost. The urge is to start running, but many dogs return to the spot where they parted ways. If you aren't there, you lose your best chance.
- Don't run after him. A scared dog interprets being chased as a threat and speeds up. If you see him, crouch down, turn sideways, and call him in a cheerful voice, or even walk away a bit: many dogs follow someone who is leaving.
- Leave something with your scent. A piece of your worn clothing and a bowl of water at the exact spot where you lost him. It is one of the most effective things there is, and almost no one does it.
- Send someone home. If you are nearby, have someone stay at the doorway. Many dogs show up on their own.
- Ask right there. Neighbors, bars, shops, people walking other dogs. Those who live in the area pay attention.
Who to notify
- Local Police of the municipality, who are usually the ones to pick up loose animals.
- Guardia Civil if it is in a rural area or near a highway.
- Animal shelters and municipal pounds in your area and the surrounding ones.
- Nearby veterinary clinics. If someone finds him, that is where they will take him to read the chip.
- Local Facebook groups for lost animals. They work surprisingly well. Post a clear photo, the area, and the time.
The three things you must have beforehand
1. The microchip, with up-to-date information
In Spain, the microchip is mandatory for dogs, and it is what proves that the animal is yours. But it has a huge flaw that almost everyone overlooks: if you changed your phone number or address and didn't update it in the registry, the chip is useless. Whoever reads it will call a number that no longer exists.
Check today that your information is correct in your community's animal identification registry. It is free and takes five minutes.
2. A tag with your phone number
The microchip can only be read by a veterinarian or the police using a reader. Anyone can read a tag. A neighbor who finds the dog on the street can call you in the first minute, without having to move from where they are.
Put your mobile number, and nothing else. You don't need the dog's name or your address.
3. A tracker, and knowing which one
It is important to understand the difference here, because they are sold as if they were the same and they aren't:
- Bluetooth trackers (like an AirTag). They don't have GPS: they are detected via other people's phones passing nearby. In the city, they work very well because there are phones everywhere. In the countryside, without people around, they don't provide a signal.
- GPS trackers with a SIM card. They have their own connection and provide the location anywhere with mobile coverage. They cost more and usually have a monthly fee, but they are the ones you need if you go into the wild.
If your dog stays in the city, the Bluetooth one is more than enough. If you go to the countryside, mountains, or beach, you need GPS.
Prevent what can be prevented
- Check the harness. Many escapes are from a loose harness that they can slip out of by backing up. It should fit snugly: two fingers between the strap and the body, no more.
- Fireworks and storms. They are the number one cause of escapes. On those days, keep them on a leash, keep windows closed, and provide a quiet place inside the house.
- Have a recent full-body photo in good light saved on your phone. On the day you need it, you won't have the peace of mind to look for one.
In our identification and trackers section, you have engravable tags and tracker-compatible collars, and in dog walking, anti-escape harnesses with dual adjustment. Free shipping throughout Spain.