One of the worse nightmares for any dog owner is missing their dog. In a previous blogpost we talked about ten tips to prevent dog loss. If nonetheless, this happens, reacting quickly increases the chances to be reunited with your pooch. And having a handy guide and knowing where to start, instead of beginning to look for the relevant phone numbers from scratch, can save you precious time! For this reason we put together a list of handy key contact details in case your dog goes missing in London.

In the first part of the post you will find some general phone numbers and websites of organisations, while in the second there is a list of relevant contacts for each London Borough.

Who to call if you lost your dog in London (or your found one)

If your dog goes missing, there are some general entities to alert and reach out to, namely:

1. The database your dog microchip is registered with. If you registered with Petlog, you can use your online account to report the loss of your dog immediately, or you can call 01296 336 579 (24/7 service). Have your Petlog ID number with you.
2. Dog wardens: to locate the competent authority you can use the research mask available on Directgov here; phone numbers of dog wardens can also be found on www.animalwardens.co.uk, although, I have checked them for London and some of them where not the best or accurate ones.
3. SDK Environmental Ltd (contractor) within the areas marked in the maps on their webpage.
4. Dog Lost: phone no. 0844 800 3220, email admin@doglost.co.uk, you can also pre-register on www.doglost.co.uk
5. Veterinaries in your area: to find the names and phone numbers of your local vets you can use the Royal College of Veterinary Services’ search function or websites such as Yell.com.
6. If within the M25 motorway (Greater London) always contact also Battersea Lost Dogs & Cats Line: phone no. 020 7627 9245 (Monday – Sunday, 8am to 6pm) or online form
7. Dog Theft Action:  if relevant, phone no. 0771 6603403, or online form
8. Dog charities and rescue centres: The Dogs Trust (find your local centre here), Blue Cross, RSPCA (search for your local RSPCA here), Wood Green, The Mayhew Animal Home (Kensal Green, London).

Websites where to search for your lost dog

• DogLost.co.uk found dogs page
• UK National Lost and Found Pets Register
• Animal Search UK ltd: online form to report dog loss; found dogs search available here
• If within the areas where SDK Environmental is a contractor (see map), search for found dogs here

London lost and found dogs key contacts

London is divided in 33 Boroughs. Generally speaking, each Council takes care of stray dogs in their area through its own dog warden or a contractor. This means that if your dog goes missing in London, you should contact the relevant office in the Borough were you lost your dog as well as the neighbouring ones, as dogs can cover many miles in a day.

We collected the phone numbers, emails and links to the relevant pages, so you have all information in one place and can save time in the unlucky event your dog goes missing.

Barking & Dagenham lost dog contacts

• Lost dogs: phone No. 020 8215 3000
• Email: 3000Direct@lbbd.gov.uk
• Online form to report a lost or found dog
• Council’s webpage with information regarding stray or lost dogs protocols

Barnet

• Lost dogs phone No. 020 8359 4600
• Found dogs phone No. 07825 098947
• Update: in February 2019 the Council announced that the stray dogs service will be handled by Islington Council

Bexley

• Lost dogs phone No. 020 8303 7777
• Email: customer.services@bexley.gov.uk
• Council webpage on lost dogs and protocols

Brent

• Dog Warden Service – Lost and found dogs phone No: 0208 937 5252
• Council webpage and online form

Bromley

• Lost dogs phone No. 0300 303 8657- out of office hours No. 08444 828 346 (5.00pm – 8.30am and weekends)
• fax 020 8313 4450
• Email: ehts.customer@bromley.gov.uk
• Stray and lost dogs webpage (also indicating fees)

Camden

• Lost and found dogs 020 7974 4444  Stray Dog Service (Camden Council)
• Fax 020 7974 6955
• Online form to report a stray dog
• Council’s relevant webpage for stray dog services and for stray and missing dogs

City of London

No information available (we will provide information as soon as we get confirmation)

Croydon

• Dog Warden – Lost and found dogs Phone No. 020 8726 6200 (between 9am and 4pm, option 3 for customer service advisers, who will inform the dog warden), out of office hours 020 8726 6000
• Email: doginfo@croydon.gov.uk
• Council’s relevant webpage, where you can find all information including charges, protocols and advice

Ealing

• Lost and found dogs phone No. 020 8825 6000
• The Council also recommends you call the Battersea Cats and Dogs Home line and you check www.lostdogsuk.co.uk
• Council webpage

Enfield

• Dog Collection Service – Lost and found dogs phone No. 0781 551 2833 (Mon-Fri 7am-10pm; Sat-Sun 10am-8pm)
• Council’s relevant webpage, including information on fees

Greenwich

• Found dogs: stray dog collection service phone No. 020 8921 8130 (this is the direct number of the outsourced dog collection service; if you call the borough on 020 892 18157 they will transfer your call to this same number)
• To look for your lost dog check SDK Environment Ltd contractor’s website here and call the Battersea Lost Dogs and Cats Line 020 7627 9245 (8am-8pm, 7 days a week)
• Council’s webpage about stray and lost dogs

Hackney

• Lost dogs phone No. 020 8356 6688 (9am-5pm) Animal Welfare Services, out of office hours No. 020 8356 2500 (5pm-9am)
• Email: info@hackney.gov.uk
• Council’s relevant webpage

Hammersmith & Fulham

• Environmental Protection Lost dogs phone No. 020 8753 1081 , out of office hours 020 8748 8588
• also call the Lost Dogs & Cats Line, operated by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, 0901 477 8477
• also call the The Mayhew Animal Home 020 8969 0178, info@mayhewanimalhome.org , https://themayhew.org/
• Email: environmentalprotection@lbhf.gov.uk
• Relevant council’s webpage

Haringey

• Lost and found dogs phone No. 07815 512 833 (Dog Warden): line open Monday to Friday, 7am – 10pm, and Saturday and Sunday 10am – 8pm
• Council’s webpage on lost and stray dogs

Harrow

• Found dogs: 020 8901 2600
• Email: community.safety@harrow.gov.uk
• Council’s relevant webpage

Havering

• Lost and found dogs: 01708 432777, out of office hours 01708 433999
• Council’s relevant webpage, including information on charges

Hillingdon

• Lost dogs: 03335 775 070 during office hours
• Council’s relevant webpage, including information on charges

Hounslow

• Lost Dogs phone No. 020 8583 2000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm or 4.45pm on Fridays), alternative No. 020 8583 5555, out of office hours 020 8583 2222    Animal Control Team
• Email: animalwarden@hounslow.gov.uk
• Council’s relevant webpage

Islington

• Lost dogs: 020 7974 5976 , out of office hours 07825 098947
• Council website

Kensington & Chelsea

• Lost dogs: animal warden 020 7361 3001
• Residents can register their dog with the Dog Registration Scheme
• Council’s relevant webpage
• Call also the Battersea Lost Dogs and Cats Line

Kingston upon Thames

• Lost and found dogs 020 8547 5002 (weekdays 9am to 5pm), out of office hours 07886 498 003 or 01932 844 213
• Council’s relevant webpage

Lambeth

• Lambeth Animal Welfare Services
• Lost dogs: 020 7926 8860, out of office hours 0207 926 1000 (i.e. Monday-Friday 5pm-8am and at any time during the weekend & bank holidays)
• Council’s relevant webpage

Lewisham

• Animal Welfare
• Lost dogs: 020 8314 2098
• Report your lost dog webpage; report a stray dog webpage

Merton

• Enforcement Team: 020 8545 3170 Monday-Friday between 9am and 5pm (except bank holidays), out of office hours 08444 996 063
• Council’s relevant webpage

Newham

• Lost dogs: 020 8586 9739
• also call the Battersea Dogs and Cats Line
• Email: Animal.Welfare@newham.gov.uk (provide your name, address, contact details and full description of your lost dog)
• Council’s relevant webpage
• Charges for reclaiming your dog

Redbridge

• Stray Dog Service phone No. 07815512833
• Stray and lost dogs webpage

Richmond upon Thames

• Lost dogs service: in partnership with the London Borough of Wandsworth Animal Welfare Team. Service hours Mon – Fri 0700-2100 (an out of hours collection service exists outside of these hours including weekends and bank holidays)
  Office: 020 8871 7606 (an answer machine message will direct for urgent or out of hours stray collections).
  Mobile: 07860 534733 (always carried by the officer on duty)
  Dogs returned to owners between 0800-1700 Mon – Fri
• Email: dogcontrol@wandsworth.gov.uk
• Council’s relevant webpage, including information on charges

Southwark

• Lost dogs phone No. 0800 952 4444 (Mon-Fri 8am -5pm, including Bank holidays)
• Council’s relevant webpage

Sutton

•  Council contact centre (09.00am to 17.00pm) 0208 770 500: I called and I was told that you have to select the ‘Residential Protection’ option and you will be then referred to their contractor
• or London Wildcare (09.00am to 17.00pm) 0208 773 0632
• Council’s relevant webpage

Tower Hamlets

• Lost and found dogs: 020 7364 5008, out of hours 0207 364 7070
• Email: environmentalhealth@towerhamlets.gov.uk
• Online form to report lost dog
• Report stray or lost dog; stray dogs reclaim

Waltham Forest

• Lost/stray dogs can be reported on 020 8496 3000
• Council’s relevant webpage

Wandsworth

• Online form for reporting a lost dog
• Wandsworth Animal Welfare Team. Service hours Mon – Fri 0700-2100 (an out of hours collection service exists outside of these hours including weekends and bank holidays)
  Office: 020 8871 7606 (an answer machine message will direct for urgent or out of hours stray collections).
  Mobile: 07860 534733 (always carried by the officer on duty)
  Dogs returned to owners between 0800-1700 Mon – Fri
• Email: dogcontrol@wandsworth.gov.uk

Westminster

• Council’s relevant webpage
• check with the contractor www.lostdogsuk.co.uk
• Animal Warden (contact details are currently missing on the relevant webpage): I called the Council on 020 7641 2000 to enquire about the relevant phone number and I was told that their dog warden does not take care of collecting stray dogs (only of aggressive dogs etc.) and that the body to contact would be the RSPCA.

Methodology note

I searched for the contacts for each London borough on their official websites. Then I checked the numbers against the ones reported on www.animalwardens.co.uk (update 2019: this website has been taken down) and called the ones which were not matching or were missing, to find out the correct phone number to call. I did my best to gather accurate information, however, in case you find any inaccuracy/out-of-date information/broken link, please feel free to contact reach out at any time.