Lost Pet in France: What To Do

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Lost Pet in France: What To Do

• For all the information on being a pet owner in France, see the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page: Essential Animal Information for France

Animals Lost and Found

Until your pet's microchip number is registered here, which can take some time, make sure he has your telephone number on the collar (collar with an elastic for a cat). If you are in France on holiday put the telephone number of where you are staying, or a mobile.

If you lose an animal

If your pet should go missing, act quickly. Inform as many people and authorities as possible:

• Take action as quickly as possible
• Notify the local police, pompiers and vets in the area the animal was lost. 
• Put up notices (with a photograph of the pet, if possible) in the vets, Mairie and shops of the area it went missing. 
• Notify the local fourrières (dog pounds)
• Notify the local SPA and other refuges (animal shelters) 
• Print posters with a photo of your pet to be distributed in the local shops, supermarkets, anywhere where it can be seen

The National Dog Register (Fichier National Canin) Tel: 01 49 37 54 54. 
The National Cat Register (Fichier National Félin) Tel: 01 44 93 30 30

If you cannot speak French, three organisations in the Poitou-Charentes region are able and happy to help. Contact them immediately, and they will try to find the local authorities for you and inform them that your pet is missing. They will also put a photo on their websites. Please print this and keep it in case of need, it may even help someone else you know if they lose their cat or dog.

• Phoenix Association 
  Sheelagh and Richard Johnson 
  Tel: 05 53 54 94 81
  e-mail
• Animal Matters 
  Tiffany Stacpoole 
  Tel: 05 53 31 23 61
  e-mail
• Animal Aid 
  Christine and Jean-Pierre Aubertin 
  Tel: 05 49 07 67 60
  e-mail

If you do contact these organisations about a lost pet, please let them know the outcome so that everyone can be informed and ads deleted.

If you find an animal

• Notify the local police, pompiers and vets in the area the animal was found supplying a full description and the tattoo number if the animal has one (usually stamped inside the ear or on the inner thigh)
• If the animal has a tattoo contact:

The National Dog Register (Fichier National Canin) Tel: 01 49 37 54 54. 
The National Cat Register (Fichier National Félin) Tel: 01 44 93 30 30.

These organisations have a records of the owner and will contact them giving them your contact details. 

• If the animal has no tattoo, or you are unable to look after it while the owner is found, take it to your local animal shelter.
• If you do this, make sure that the police, pompiers and vets know where you have taken the animal.