Pet missing — who do I report my lost pet to?
For a missing pet: (1) Amivedi — national lost-and-found registry, report free at amivedi.nl. (2) Local vets — call vets within 5km, ask if a chipped animal has been brought in. (3) Animal ambulance Amsterdam 020-626 2121 — runs 24/7 on reports of loose or injured animals. (4) Neighbourhood Facebook group + Nextdoor — post photo, distinguishing features, last seen location. (5) Police via 0900-8844 if you suspect theft. Important: if your pet is chipped (mandatory for dogs since 2013), make sure the chip database (NDG/Petbase) has a current phone number.
Step by step
- 1Search within 500m radiusMost dogs/cats stay within 500m of home in the first 24h. Call in a normal voice, bring favourite food/treats.
- 2Report to AmivediPost at amivedi.nl — free, national, linked to vets. Photo, breed, colour, chip number (if known).
- 3Call vets + animal ambulanceList all vets within 5km. Call them all. Call 020-626 2121 animal ambulance to register your pet.
- 4Posters + neighbourhood socialPrint A4 posters (photo + phone), hang within 500m. Post in neighbourhood Facebook, Nextdoor, local “lost pet” groups.
- 5Long-term: chip + sheltersNo match? Check your chip registration at NDG/Petbase. Ask shelters within 50km if they have a match. If theft suspected: police report 0900-8844.
All contacts
Frequently asked questions
Is chipping required in the Netherlands?
For dogs: yes, mandatory since 2013. For cats: not mandatory but strongly recommended. Chip costs ~€50 at vet. Without chip recovery is much harder.
How long does a shelter keep a pet?
Legal holding period: 14 days. After that the shelter can offer the pet for adoption. Call shelters within that window with chip number for ID.
What if I find my pet via Amivedi?
Call the finder directly. Meet at a neutral location (at the vet) to verify the chip. Ownership disputes: civil court via subdistrict court — chip registration is decisive.
Is there a finder's fee?
Finder may request reasonable compensation for care costs (food, temporary housing). The legal “finder's fee” (10% of value) applies — but pets aren't legally valuable goods, so usually only expenses.
What if my pet has no microchip?
From 1-1-2025 microchipping mandatory for dogs & cats (and ban on unchipped sale). Lost without chip: only visual matching — post many photos on Amivedi + Facebook groups.
Who pays shelter costs if my pet is in the shelter?
First 14 days free (city obligation). Then approximately €20-40/day. No retrieval signal within 2 weeks: shelter can transfer the animal. Quick pickup = financially crucial.
Sources
🔎 Common search queries
Recognise your own search? Our answer above covers all of these variants.
- “lost pet Netherlands”
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- “dog ran away what to do”
- “pet microchip lookup”
- “find lost cat Amsterdam”