Lost dog: what to do right away
The first hours matter most. Start searching immediately from the place the dog disappeared — a frightened dog usually does not run far, it hides nearby. In parallel, alert the vet clinics and the municipal shelter in the area and post a listing with a photo, the place and a phone number.
- A microchip only helps if the data behind it is yours. Any vet can read the number and look up the owner in VetIS — as long as your phone is there, not the previous owner’s.
- In PetsClub you mark your pet as lost in a few taps: the app builds a poster with a photo, a map and a QR code, and shows the listing to users in the area.
- Pay nobody before you have seen the dog. "I found it, send money for transport" is the most common scam around lost animals.
The first hours, step by step
The order matters. Most dogs are found within a kilometre or two of where they vanished — if the search starts right away.
- right awayGo back to where you last saw it. Call calmly, do not run after it — a frightened dog runs from a running person, even its own.
- at the spotLeave something there with your scent — clothing, its blanket, a bowl of water. Many dogs retrace their route, especially after dark.
- first hourPost a listing with a photo, the place and a phone number. The sooner people nearby see it, the fresher the sightings.
- first dayCall the vet clinics and the municipal shelter. In Sofia that is the Ekoravnovesie municipal enterprise, with shelters in Seslavtsi and Gorni Bogrov.
- dusk and dawnSearch at dusk and early morning, when it is quiet. A dog that has hidden all day comes out then.
- every dayCheck the shelter in person, not only by phone. A phone description of "black dog, light paws" rarely matches the photo.
How PetsClub helps you find it
The listing is not a photo you post to Facebook that sinks in the feed. It is a live page with a map, and anyone who sees the dog can signal you without knowing your number.
Mark it as lost
From the pet’s profile, with one button. You fill in where it was last seen and a description — colour, features, a reward.
- A "LOST" poster with photo, breed and age
- A map of where it was last seen
- Phone and reward — only if you choose to show them
See the listing
PetsClub users in the area receive the listing. The poster shares with one button — to Viber, Facebook or wherever it needs to go.
- The listing reaches people in the same area
- Ready-made text for sharing
- A QR code on the poster, if you print it
Signals you
Scans the QR code or opens the link — no app and no sign-up. They can report a sighting or tell you they have found it.
- "Have you seen it?" — with a place on the map and a note
- "I found the animal" — with a phone or email to reach them
- You are notified straight away
Before it happens
Five minutes now save hours on the worst day. Each of these steps speeds up finding.
- the chipAsk your vet to check which phone sits against the chip number in VetIS. If the dog came from a breeder or a shelter, it is often still theirs.
- a tagA tag with your phone on the collar. A chip needs a scanner; a tag can be read by anyone who catches the dog.
- a photoA clear, recent photo from the side, full length, in good light. In PetsClub it is also a condition of marking a loss — no photo, no poster.
- markingsWrite down what sets it apart — a patch, a kinked tail, a particular gait. In a panic those are exactly what you forget.
How to spot a scam
- Asks for money before you have seen the dog — "for transport", "for the vet", "for food"
- Cannot send a photo of the dog now, with today’s date or a specific object
- Does not know a marking you left out of the listing
- Insists on meeting far away, after dark or with no one around
- Calls from abroad or from a hidden number
Common questions about a lost dog
What should I do first if my dog goes missing?
Go back to where you last saw it and search from there — frightened dogs rarely run far, they more often hide nearby. Leave clothing with your scent there. In parallel, post a listing with a photo, the place and a phone number, and alert the vet clinics and the municipal shelter. The first hours give the best chance.
Is there an app for lost dogs?
Yes — in PetsClub you mark your pet as lost from its profile. The app builds a poster with a photo, a map of the last place and a QR code, shows the listing to users in the area and lets you share it with one button. Anyone who sees the dog scans the code and sends you a sighting or tells you they have found it — without installing anything.
Does a microchip help find the dog?
Only if the data behind the number is current. A chip is not GPS — it does not show where the dog is. A vet or a shelter reads it with a scanner and looks up the owner in VetIS. If the breeder’s or a previous owner’s phone is there, the call goes to them. So check the record today.
Where do found dogs go in Sofia?
Stray and found dogs in Sofia are taken in by the Ekoravnovesie municipal enterprise of Sofia Municipality, with shelters in Seslavtsi and Gorni Bogrov. Outside Sofia — the municipal shelter of the municipality concerned. Check in person, not only by phone: descriptions rarely match what the dog looks like.
How long should I keep searching?
Do not give up after the first day. Many dogs are found after a week or more — a frightened dog can hide for days, then turn up somewhere unexpected or be taken in by someone who does not follow the listings. Keep the listing active and check the shelter regularly.
How do I avoid being scammed?
Never transfer money before you have seen the dog in person. Ask for a photo now — with today’s paper, a particular object or in a particular pose. Ask about a marking you did not mention in the listing. Meet in a public place, in daylight, with someone else.
What should I do if I find a dog?
Check for a tag or a QR code on the collar — if it carries a PetsClub code, scan it and notify the owner straight from the page. If not, take the dog to a vet to read the chip. Do not hand it to someone claiming to be the owner without proof — photos, the passport, or the dog’s own reaction.