Owned and operated by Derek Chambers, trading as Finchley Dog Walker and also known as Del.

Version: 1.2
Effective date: 3 August 2026
Last reviewed: 3 August 2026

Your pet’s safety is central to the way I work.

I take reasonable precautions to reduce the risk of a dog, cat or small pet escaping or becoming lost. However, even with careful planning, unexpected incidents can happen.

This page explains the steps I would take if a pet became missing while in my care. The response would be adapted to the species, location, circumstances and immediate risks.

Immediate action

If a pet became missing, I would first:

note the time and last confirmed location
secure any other animals and prevent further escapes
check nearby rooms, gardens, hiding places, access points and likely routes
search the immediate area where it is safe and reasonable to do so
use familiar recall cues, approved treats, toys or sounds where appropriate
avoid actions that are likely to frighten the pet or drive them further away
record any useful sightings, direction of travel or other relevant information

For a cat or small pet, the first search may focus on the home, garden, sheds, garages, hiding places and nearby access points.

For a dog missing during a walk, the immediate search would normally concentrate on the last known location, familiar routes and places the dog may associate with home or safety.

Contacting you

I would contact you as soon as reasonably possible.

If I could not reach you, I would contact the emergency contact you have provided.

Please make sure that your:

telephone number
emergency-contact details
veterinary information
home address
microchip information
recent photographs

are accurate and kept up to date.

Outdated contact or microchip details may make it harder to reunite a missing pet with their owner.

Wider action

If the pet were not found quickly, appropriate next steps could include contacting:

local veterinary practices
the relevant local-authority dog service
the pet’s microchip database
local animal-rescue organisations
appropriate lost-pet networks
the police where theft is suspected
another relevant authority or professional where circumstances require it

The exact response would depend on the animal, the location and the information available.

Any public appeal should avoid sharing unnecessary personal information or details that could compromise your home’s security.

Where possible, I would discuss social-media posts, posters or wider publicity with you before publishing anything.

Remaining at the location

Where safe and reasonably practicable, I would remain in or return to the relevant area to continue searching and gathering information.

This may continue until:

the pet is found
you or your nominated representative arrives
another suitable person takes over
an authority or professional provides different instructions
remaining in the location is no longer safe or reasonably practicable
another course of action is agreed with you

The response may need to change where there are immediate risks involving traffic, railway lines, water, livestock, unsafe ground, severe weather or members of the public.

If the pet is found

Once the pet is found, I would:

secure them safely
check for obvious injury, distress or illness
contact you with an update
seek veterinary help where reasonably necessary
avoid immediately resuming the normal walk or activity
record relevant details about what happened

A pet may appear physically unharmed but still need rest, observation or veterinary assessment.

Incident record and review

I would make a written record of a significant lost-pet or escape incident.

This may include:

the time and location
what happened immediately before the incident
equipment being used
weather and environmental conditions
people contacted
actions taken
sightings or other information received
how and where the pet was recovered
any injury or veterinary treatment
steps recommended to reduce the risk of a repeat incident

The circumstances would be reviewed before any future service continued.

Changes might include different equipment, lead-only walks, a revised access routine, shorter routes, additional introductions or another agreed care arrangement.

Prevention

You must provide accurate information about anything that could increase the risk of escape or loss.

This includes:

unreliable recall
fear of traffic, noises, people or other animals
bolting through doors or gates
climbing or digging under fences
slipping collars or harnesses
chasing wildlife
previous escape incidents
distress when left alone
behaviour around visitors or tradespeople
changes following adoption, illness or a house move

Walking equipment must be safe, secure, suitable and properly fitted.

I will carry out a reasonable check before use, but you must tell me about damaged equipment, hidden faults or previous escape problems.

Dogs are normally walked on a lead. Off-lead exercise will only be considered where it has been agreed in writing, the dog and location have been assessed, local restrictions permit it and I believe it is safe on that occasion.

Written permission does not guarantee that a dog will be allowed off lead.