Lost a pet, or found one wandering? PetGuru's Found-a-Pet microchip lookup is live right now. If a stray's chip number is registered to a pet on PetGuru, we notify the owner instantly so they can reach out to whoever has the animal. The wider Lost & Found board with photo posts, geo-search and live alerts is still being built. Below is what's working today and the practical steps that get a pet home fastest while we finish the rest.

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Found a Stray? Use the Microchip Lookup

If you've found an animal you don't know, the fastest way to find its owner is to scan its microchip. Most vets, SPCAs and even some pet shops have a chip scanner and will scan for free. Once you have the chip number, head to our Found-a-Pet form:

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What's Coming Next

We're actively building the bigger Lost & Found board so you can post photos, geo-search the feed, and subscribe to alerts. When it launches you'll be able to:

• Report a Lost Pet: Post a detailed listing with photos, last-seen location, distinguishing markings, and contact info, so the community can help look.
• Browse Found Pets: Search reports of animals found nearby, filtered by species, breed, colour and location.
• Live Alerts: Get notified the moment a pet matching your description is reported found in your area.
• Direct Messaging: Contact the person who found or lost a pet through the platform without exposing your number publicly.

Until that launches, the microchip lookup above + the practical steps below are how PetGuru helps you reunite a pet with its owner today.

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Practical Steps That Work Today

Whether you've lost a pet or found one, these are the actions that move the needle in the first 24 to 48 hours, the window where most reunifications happen.

If You've Lost a Pet

• Confirm the chip is registered to your current details. Log into your chip-registry account (e.g. Identipet, BackHomeID, Virbac) and double-check the phone number and email on file. A correctly-registered chip is the single biggest predictor of getting your pet back.
• Post on local Facebook groups, WhatsApp groups, and the relevant suburb's community page. Use a clear photo, distinguishing features, and the suburb. People share faster when they recognise the area.
• Call your nearest vet, SPCA, and shelter. Anyone who finds a stray often takes it straight to a vet or shelter to be scanned. You can browse verified shelters on our shelter directory.
• Put up physical posters within a 2 to 3 km radius. Intersections, vets, grocers, school gates. The more eyes that see the photo, the faster the reunion.
• Search at dawn and dusk. Lost cats especially often hide nearby in stressed silence; they move when foot traffic is lowest. Walk a 1 to 2 km loop with a familiar blanket or treat tin.

If You've Found a Pet

• Take it to a vet or SPCA for a free chip scan. Most clinics scan strays walk-in, no charge. The chip number is everything.
• Submit it to the PetGuru microchip lookup above. Even if your scan comes up empty, the report is filed and cross-referenced against future registrations.
• Post on local Facebook groups describing where you found the animal but holding back one identifying detail (collar colour, distinctive marking) so you can confirm the owner is genuine when someone claims it.
• Don't keep the pet without making active reunification attempts. In South Africa, knowingly keeping a found pet without reasonable effort to find its owner can be treated as theft under the Animals Protection Act.

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Emergency & Welfare Contacts

If you've found an injured, distressed, or abused animal, contact one of the following immediately rather than attempting to handle the situation alone.

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Have feedback or want early access to the full Lost & Found board when it lands? Get in touch with us. We'd love to hear what would help you most.