What to do if your pet is lost in Spain

Key rules

• First call: Contact your regional chip registry first, so your pet is flagged as lost and your details are right.
• Pound: Ask the pound directly how long it holds strays and what you will pay, because both vary by place.
• Registry: Each region has its own registry, and most are open only to vets and authorities.
• After recovery: Update your address and phone number through an authorised vet or your regional registry.

Start with the chip registry, today

Act quickly. Your first call is the microchip registry for your region. Spain has no single public registry: each autonomous community runs its own. Ask them to flag your pet as lost and to confirm that your address and phone number are correct. If the details are wrong, nobody can reach you when your pet is found.

Vets, shelters and police can scan the chip and look up the registry. Most registries are not open to the public, though some regions offer an online chip check that shows limited data. Ask your registry whether yours does.

Then follow this order

1. Your own vet and nearby vets. Call them and ask them to scan any animal that is brought in.
2. The Policía Local. Report the loss. This puts it on record with the authorities.
3. The municipal pound. This is the perrera, sometimes called a centro de protección animal. Ask whether your pet is there. Go in person if you can, because a description over the phone can miss your pet.
4. Local shelters and rescue groups. Ask them to watch for your pet.
5. Online lost-pet networks and local social media groups. Post a clear photo, where and when your pet disappeared, and a phone number. Put posters up around your neighbourhood too.

Keep checking the pound and your registry every few days. Do not stop after one call.

Getting your pet back from the pound

Ask the pound how long it holds strays and what you must pay. Spanish law sets a minimum holding period before a stray can be adopted or rehomed, and your region adds its own rules. Fees depend on the municipality and the number of days held.

Expect to pay the stay and maintenance charges, plus any vet costs. You may also be fined if your pet was not chipped or not registered. Bring your ID and any papers you have for your pet.

Update your chip details afterwards

Keep your details in the regional registry current: address, phone number and any change of owner. You can make changes through an authorised vet or directly with the registry. Some regions let you do it online with a digital certificate.

Each region sets its own deadline for reporting a change. Ask your registry for yours. If you are passing the pet to a new owner, the new owner's details are needed, and often both people must sign.

The timeline, checklist and questions below cover the same steps in short form.

Timeline and deadlines

• Flag your pet as lost with your regional chip registry and call nearby vets: as soon as you notice your pet is missing

• Report the loss to the Policía Local and ask the municipal pound whether your pet is there: on the first day

• Collect your pet from the pound and pay the stay charges: before the holding period ends, commonly cited as 20 days

• Update your address, phone number or owner details in the regional registry: within the period your region sets, often 10 to 30 days after the change

Holding periods and update deadlines differ by region, so confirm them with the local pound and your regional registry.

Checklist

• Contact your regional microchip registry to flag your pet as lost and confirm your details are correct.

• Call your vet and nearby vets and ask them to scan any pet brought in.

• Report the loss to the Policía Local and ask the municipal pound (perrera) whether your pet is there.

• Ask local shelters and rescue groups to look out for your pet.

• Post in online lost-pet networks and local groups, and put up posters around your neighbourhood.

• Ask the pound for its holding period and the fees you must pay to recover your pet.

Frequently asked questions

Can I look up my pet's chip number myself online?

Sometimes, because some regions offer a public online chip check that shows limited data. The national network is only open to authorised vets and authorities, so ask your vet or the police to scan and search if your region has no public check.

How long does a pound keep a stray before it can be adopted?

A commonly cited holding period is 20 days, but the exact period depends on your region and town. Call the local pound as soon as your pet goes missing and ask how many days it has left.

What will I pay to get my pet back from the pound?

You usually pay the pound's charges for the days your pet stayed, plus any vet costs. You may also face a fine if the animal was unchipped or unregistered. Fees differ by town, so ask the pound before you go.

How soon must I report a change of phone number or address for the chip?

Many regions require the change to be reported within 10 to 30 days.