Found animals
Stray dogs
How to help a stray dog
As a charity with limited resources, we are not licensed to accept stray dogs.
Follow these steps to help reunite the dog with their owner;
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Check to see if the dog is wearing a collar or tag with the contact details of the owner. Only approach if calm.
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Stay clear if the dog’s displaying aggressive behaviour and the local dog warden.
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Report the stray dog to the council. All local authorities provide a dog warden service. Information about your local authority's dog warden service can be found via these links:
• Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
• Burnley Borough Council
• Hyndburn Borough Council
• Pendle Borough Council
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Contact the local vet to scan for a microchip as by law all dogs should be microchipped. Dogs can also be scanned by the dog warden or by contacting a local animal rescue centre.
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Contact local animal rescue centres and report the found dog.
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Register the found dog on Animal Search UK, exclusively used by national RSPCA inspectors.
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Use social media to check local groups and announce that you’ve found a dog. Spread the word locally.
Found an injured stray dog
If you believe a dog is sick, injured please contact your local vet or animal centre.
If the dog is in imminent danger or in a dangerous location contact emergency services. Never put yourself in danger.
Rehoming stray dogs
Stray dogs are the responsibility of your local authority’s dog warden. Contacting them is the quickest way for you to help the dog.
We are not legally allowed to collect or admit stray dogs as we are not licensed to accept them - our priority is helping national RSPCA inspectors with the rescue and rehabilitation of animals suffering from cruelty and neglect.
Remember it’s illegal to keep a stray dog but if you want to rehome the dog, leave your details with the warden.
Stray cats
How to help a stray cat
It can be hard to tell if a cat is stray, is roaming but owned or living as a feral.
Unfortunately we don’t have a cattery at the centre so are unable to accept stray cats directly from the public.
Here's what to do if you find a stray, feral or lost cat:
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Check to see if the cat is wearing a collar or tag with the contact details of the owner - only approach if the cat is calm.
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Ask around locally. Cats roam over a wide area and sometimes they can be mistaken for strays even when they have owners.
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Contact the local vet to scan for a microchip as by law all cats should be microchipped. Cats can also be scanned by contacting a local animal rescue centre.
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Advertise on social media and ask around locally.
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Register the found cat on Animal Search UK, exclusively used by national RSPCA inspectors.
Found an injured stray cat
If you find an injured stray or feral cat, they're approachable and its safe to do so, contain them and take them to a vet.
If you're taking a sick or injured stray cat to the vet and the cat just needs minimum care, you might be expected to take the cat away and fit a paper collar if needed.
Contact your local animal rescue centre or cat charity to see if they can help, these can be found online or via social media.
Rehoming a stray cat
You can rehome a stray cat if you can't find an owner. Kittens can be rehomed when they're eight weeks of age.
If you're unable to keep the cat a local animal rescue centre or cat charity may be able to help.
Unfortunately we don’t have a cattery so are unable to take in stray cats and kittens.
Stray rabbits
How to help a stray rabbit
It can be hard to tell if a rabbit is stray, is roaming but owned or living as a feral.
Unfortunately, we don’t have sufficient space at the centre to accept stray rabbits, as our small rabbit block is used to house those rabbits rescued by the RSPCA inspectorate and we are therefore unable to accept stray rabbits directly from the public.
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Here's what to do if you find a stray rabbit:
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Ask around locally. Rabbits can escape from gardens, runs and hutches so may not be far from home.
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Contact the local vet to scan for a microchip. Rabbits can also be scanned by contacting a local animal rescue centre.
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Advertise on social media and ask around locally.
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Register the found rabbit on Animal Search UK, exclusively used by national RSPCA inspectors.
Found an injured stray rabbit
If you find an injured stray rabbit, catch the rabbit if you are able to and it’s safe to do so, contain them and take them to a vet.​
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Contact your local animal rescue centre or rabbit charity to see if they can help, these can be found online or via social media.
Found an injured stray rabbit
If you find an injured stray rabbit, catch the rabbit if you are able to and it’s safe to do so, contain them and take them to a vet.
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Contact your local animal rescue centre or rabbit charity to see if they can help, these can be found online or via social media.
Rehoming a stray rabbit
You can rehome a stray rabbit if you can't find an owner.
If you're unable to keep the rabbit a local animal rescue centre or cat charity may be able to help.
Lost animals
Lost your pet
What you can do
Losing your pet is overwhelming, here's what to do step-by-step;
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Contact your pet's microchip database and report them missing.
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Check the local area (smaller animals such as cats and rabbits can take shelter or unknowingly be locked in sheds, garages and other small spaces).
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Contact veterinary surgeries, local animal rescue centres and other animal charities.
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Report your pet as missing on Animal Search UK.
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Check social media for reports of locally found pets.
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For a lost dog contact your local dog warden.
Information about your local authority's dog warden service can be found via these links:
• Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
• Burnley Borough Council
• Hyndburn Borough Council
• Pendle Borough Council
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Contact the Police if you believe your pet has been stolen.
Animal Search UK and the RSPCA?
Animal Search UK is the leading search service for missing pets in the UK.
Any pet found by the RSPCA will be registered exclusively with Animal Search UK.
Using their animal matching database will help link animals with their owners who have registered their missing pet.
The site is:
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Easy to register your pet as missing
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Advice and information available 7 days a week
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Successful at reuniting animals with their owners