Wildlife, Stray Animals, Lost and Found Pets

Stray Dogs in March / Fenland

For stray dogs found in March, Wimblington, Chatteris, Wisbech, Whittlesey and the wider Fenland area, members of the public should contact Fenland District Council.

A stray dog is a loose dog without supervision in a public place, or on land where it does not have permission to be. If safe, check for an identity tag and contact the owner directly. If there is no tag, or the owner cannot be found, report the dog to the council.

Important points from Fenland District Council:

• Only report dogs found in Fenland to Fenland District Council.
• Dogs found outside Fenland should be reported to the local authority for the area where the dog was found.
• Fenland can only collect a stray dog during office hours and once the dog is contained.
• Outside office hours, Fenland provides a stray dog reception centre by appointment.
• Fenland District Council does not have a dog warden; a contractor provides its stray dog collection service.
• Stray dogs are kept in kennels for seven days.
• If unclaimed after seven days, the dog is signed over to a rehoming organisation.

Lost Dogs

If your dog is missing in Fenland, report it to Fenland District Council as soon as possible so they can check whether a matching stray dog has been reported or collected.

You should also:

• update your dog’s microchip company immediately
• register the dog as lost on national lost/found pet databases
• post in local lost/found pet groups
• contact local rescue organisations
• put up clear posters locally where permitted

Helpful lost dog databases

• DogLost — UK lost and found dog database
• Animal Search UK
• Pets Located
• PawBoost
• Pet Alert UK
• iLost A Pet

Found Dogs

If you have found a dog:

1. Only approach if safe to do so.
2. Check for a collar tag.
3. If there is an owner’s phone number, contact them directly.
4. If there is no tag or the owner cannot be contacted, report the dog to Fenland District Council.
5. Do not rehome the dog yourself.
6. Do not hand the dog to an unknown person claiming ownership unless ownership is properly confirmed.

For dogs, please still report the found dog to the local authority. Social media should not replace official reporting.

Stray and Found Cats

Cats are different from dogs: a cat seen outdoors is not necessarily stray and may live nearby.

If you have found a cat that appears healthy:

• do not assume it is homeless
• ask neighbours if they recognise the cat
• post carefully in local lost/found groups without giving away every identifying detail
• use a paper collar if appropriate, asking the owner to contact you
• report the cat on lost/found platforms
• contact local cat rescues for advice

If the cat appears injured, sick, collapsed, very underweight, or in immediate danger, contact an appropriate rescue, charity or veterinary practice for urgent advice.

Other Animal Rescue and Welfare Organisations

These organisations may be useful for advice, rehoming, welfare concerns, or signposting. They may not be able to collect animals at short notice, so members of the public should contact them directly and follow each organisation’s process.

Lost and Found Pet Platforms

Members of the public can register lost or found pets on these platforms:

• iLost A Pet — lost and found pet listings
• DogLost — UK lost and found dog database
• Animal Search UK — lost and found pet database
• Pets Located — online lost/found pet reunification service
• PawBoost — lost and found pet alerts
• Pet Alert UK — lost and found pet alerts

Facebook Groups and Social Media

Facebook can be useful for lost and found pets, but please use it carefully.

Recommended types of groups to search for and post in:

• local March community groups
• March, Chatteris, Wisbech, Whittlesey and Fenland noticeboard groups
• Cambridgeshire lost and found pets groups
• UK lost and found dog groups
• UK lost and found cat groups
• local rescue organisation Facebook pages
• DogLost regional Facebook pages
• local village groups near where the pet was last seen or found

When posting a found pet, avoid giving every identifying detail publicly. Ask anyone claiming the animal to provide proof of ownership, such as:

• microchip details
• clear photographs
• vet records
• distinctive markings
• collar details
• accurate description of sex, age and markings

For dogs, please still report the found dog to the local authority. Social media should not replace official reporting.

Wildlife Contacts

For wildlife that is not in immediate need of veterinary emergency care, please contact the relevant wildlife rescue or advice organisation directly.