FOUND ANIMALS IN BRISBANE

Many people do not know how to search for a lost pet, or what to do if they find a stray animal, here is some information that can help.

IF YOU FIND A PET OR ANIMAL

If you find a wandering dog or cat and it is friendly, contain it, either on a lead, in your yard or in some other area that it cannot escape from. Wandering dogs and cats are in danger of being hit by a car, potentially injured, and need our help to get safely home.

If the dog or cat is shy or fearful and will not let you approach it, or it keeps running away from you, take things slowly. Assess the situation, is it safe to approach or touch this animal? If it is safe to do so, crouch down, use relaxed body language, turn sideways and watch it out of your peripheral vision, speak in a calm voice, offer it food treats and let the dog or cat come to you.

Don’t clap your hands, yell, make sudden movements, chase or try to grab them.

If the dog or cat is behaving aggressively, stay away and contact the Brisbane City Council Contact Centre on 07 3403 8888 about the animal.

IS THE OWNER NEAR BY?

Check with your neighbours or surrounding houses to see if they are missing a pet. Often wandering pets live close by.

If the pet is wearing a collar, with an ID tag, you can make contact with the owner to let them know you have found their pet.

You can also take found pets to your local Vet clinic to be scanned for a microchip and the owner to be contacted.

If there is livestock loose or wandering, contact the Brisbane City Council Contact Centre on 07 3403 8888. Do not approach the livestock, they can be unpredictable and take flight if frightened.

If you find an animal you can also contact either the Brisbane City Council Contact Centre on 07 3403 8888 and/or the Brisbane Animal Rehoming Centres.

WILLAWONG ANIMAL REHOMING CENTRE

Phone: 07 3714 2800

Address: Camden Road, Willawong QLD 4110 (opposite 45 Camden Road, Willawong)
The postal address is 340 Gooderham Road, Willawong QLD 4110

Email: [email protected]

Opening Hours:

  • Monday to Friday – 12.00pm to 6.00pm
  • Saturday to Sunday – 10.00am to 3.00pm
  • Public Holidays – Closed

WARRA ANIMAL REHOMING CENTRE

If you have an adoption, stray or surrender enquiry please contact the Warra Animal Rehoming Centre.

Phone: 07 3631 6800

Address: 523 Telegraph Road, Bracken Ridge QLD 4017

Email: [email protected]

Opening Hours:

  • Monday to Friday – 12.00pm to 6.00pm
  • Saturday to Sunday – 10.00am to 3.00pm
  • Public Holidays – Closed

 

LOST OR FOUND ANIMAL TIPS

Many people do not know how to search for a lost pet, or what to do if they find a stray animal. Lost cats and dogs behave differently depending on whether they are shy or confident, whether kept indoors or are used to being outside and many other factors.

We recommend you contact your local council pounds, shelters and vet clinics if you have lost a pet, and also check your local lost pet social media pages.

If your pet is microchipped please check that your contact information is up to date by contacting the company your pet’s microchip is registered with. If you aren’t sure which company your pet’s microchip is registered with visit www.petaddress.com.au to search your pets microchip.

Approximately 25% of impounded microchipped cats have out-of-date contact details so owners cannot be contacted. While approximately 60 -70% of dogs are reclaimed by their owners, only 2 – 10% of impounded cats across Australia are reclaimed.

So while we are not too bad at getting dogs back to their owners, we need to be much better at helping lost cats to prevent them being impounded, and to get them back home.

AWLQ has developed the above brochures to help owners and finders of lost pets be better pet detectives. They provide the essential steps to help you find your lost cat or dog and to help you find the owners of lost pets.

Most importantly, don’t give up – cats are often found weeks or months after they go missing!