What to do if I lost my dog while on vacation abroad?

Losing your dog while on vacation, especially in a foreign country, is an extremely stressful situation. Being far from home, dealing with a language barrier, different laws, and an unfamiliar environment can make it difficult to know where to start searching.

However, acting quickly and methodically is the key to maximizing the chances of finding your dog. With Lost’Him, you can immediately report the disappearance and mobilize the local community, including travelers and local residents.

1. Stay calm and retrace your steps

When a dog gets lost, they often try to find their own familiar landmarks.

👉 What should you do immediately?

• Do not panic and stay in place for a few minutes: a lost dog often tries to return to the last familiar location.
• Call them in a calm and reassuring voice to prevent them from getting more scared.
• Use their recall command or a whistle if they are used to it.
• Listen carefully for any noises: they may whimper, bark, or rustle in bushes.
• Retrace your steps while carefully observing your surroundings.

💡 If your dog knows the area (for example, during a long vacation), they might try to return to your accommodation on their own.

2. Immediately report the loss on Lost’Him

Lost’Him allows you to alert the local community in real-time, including travelers and expatriates.

👉 How does Lost’Him help you?

• Instant reporting with precise location and a photo.
• Enable geolocated notifications: Lost’Him sends alerts to veterinarians, shelters, associations, pet sitters, and other nearby users.
• Share your alert on social media directly when reporting the disappearance.
• Print the poster generated by Lost’Him and distribute it in high-traffic areas.

💡 In a foreign country, Lost’Him is an essential tool to reach a broad and fast-acting community.

3. Immediately inform passersby and local residents

In a foreign country, local solidarity can make a big difference.

👉 Inform people on-site

• Talk to passersby and shopkeepers, even if you only know basic English or need to use a translation app.
• Show a photo of your dog and explain that they are lost.
• Ask hotel receptionists, waiters, taxi drivers, and delivery workers if they have seen them.

4. Contact local authorities and veterinarians

Lost dog regulations vary from country to country. A found dog may quickly be taken to a shelter, veterinary clinic, or local pound.

👉 Who should you contact first?

• Local veterinarians: They check microchipped dogs and can notify the owner.
• Shelters and pounds: Some countries collect stray dogs very quickly.
• Municipal police or city hall: They often centralize reports of stray animals.
• ICAD (France) or the country’s pet microchip registry: Inform them so they can contact you if your dog is found.

💡 Always carry your dog’s health record and microchip number while on vacation.

5. Adapt your search based on the location

A lost dog in a city, countryside, or beach area will behave differently.

👉 If your dog is lost in a foreign city

• Search near parks, restaurants, and areas where there is food.
• Check underground parking lots, courtyards, and hotel entrances.

👉 If your dog is lost in nature (forest, mountain, countryside)

• Do not move too quickly; they may return to their last known spot.
• Leave a piece of clothing with your scent and return to check later.
• Search near water sources where they might go to drink.

💡 Dogs lost in nature often return to the place where they got separated.

6. Persistence and follow-up

Some dogs are found in a few hours, while others take days.

• Expand the search perimeter: A fleeing dog can travel several kilometers.
• Return regularly to places you have already searched.

💡 Don’t lose hope: some dogs are found weeks later!

7. Take precautions to prevent another escape

Once you have found your dog, take measures to prevent another escape.

👉 Use a GPS collar

• A GPS tracker allows you to track their movements in real-time.

👉 Work on recall in unfamiliar environments

• Use a long leash in a new location.
• Reinforce recall with treats and rewards.

👉 Check their walking equipment

• A no-escape harness prevents them from slipping out.
• A strong leash reduces the risk of accidental breakage.

💡 A well-equipped and well-trained dog is much less likely to run away abroad.

Conclusion: Act quickly and use the right tools

• ✅ Stay in place and call them calmly.
• ✅ Immediately report the disappearance on Lost’Him.
• ✅ Inform passersby, shopkeepers, and taxi drivers.
• ✅ Contact veterinarians, shelters, and local police.

💡 With Lost’Him, every report is shared in real-time, maximizing the chances of quickly finding your dog, even abroad. 🐶💙