Dominique
Have you found a cat or dog in The Hague? If so, it is important to act quickly and carefully. A found animal may be lost, sick, in pain, or reported missing by its owner. By taking the right steps, you increase the chances of found pets returning home safely and quickly.
In The Hague, you can contact the Dierenambulance Den Haag (Animal Ambulance) for found animals. You can also report it to Amivedi, the national registration point for missing and found pets. This helps reunite owners and animals faster.
What should you do if you have found a pet?
A cat walking outside isn’t always lost. Some cats roam the neighborhood daily. However, it’s good to stay alert, especially if the cat appears injured, sick, thin, anxious, or clearly lost.
Have you found a cat and are unsure what to do? First, check if the cat is safe. Try to approach the animal calmly and prevent it from running into the street. Report where you found the cat and what its condition is.
Next, contact the Dierenambulance Den Haag or have a vet check if the cat is microchipped. A cat that is chipped and properly registered can often be quickly linked to its owner.
Who should I call if I’ve found a cat?
If you find a cat in The Hague, you can contact the Dierenambulance Den Haag. They can advise on the best course of action and, if necessary, pick up the animal or have it checked. For missing cats, Stichting Haags Dierencentrum also refers to the Dierenambulance Den Haag and Amivedi as important steps in the search.
Additionally, register the cat with Amivedi. Amivedi is the national registration point for missing and found pets. Also check online to see if the cat has already been reported as a missing animal.
What should you do if you have found a dog?
A dog roaming free without an owner needs help more urgently than a cat. A dog can get into danger in traffic, panic, or end up far from home. Keep the dog safely with you if possible, but do not put yourself in danger.
If you find a dog in The Hague, call the Dierenambulance Den Haag. Clearly state where you found the dog, what it looks like, and whether the animal seems injured, scared, or aggressive. Usually, the dog has an owner who may be looking for it. HDC also advises contacting the Dierenambulance Den Haag and Amivedi if a dog goes missing.
Also, have the animal checked for a microchip. If an animal is chipped and registered, the owner can often be found quickly, although you sometimes have to do some research yourself if it’s not immediately clear who the dog belongs to.
What does the animal ambulance do with found pets?
The animal ambulance helps sick, injured, and found animals. In The Hague, Dierenambulance Den Haag assists with transport, care, and sheltering of sick, injured, and found animals in The Hague and surrounding municipalities.
For found pets, the animal ambulance can check the animal, transport it to a vet, or take it to an appropriate animal shelter. The animal ambulance can also help check for a chip. In some cases, a found pet is taken to a shelter so the owner has the chance to pick it up. The animal ambulance can also advise if no one knows who the animal belongs to or where it came from. They also help with found birds or other injured animals in public spaces.
Also report a found animal to Amivedi
Amivedi plays an important role for missing and found pets. Therefore, always report a found animal to Amivedi. Pet owners can search there for their missing cat, dog, or other pet. According to the guidelines, Amivedi is the national registration point for missing pets and found animals. Amivedi is also useful if you want to report your pet as missing or search for it.
Make your report as clear as possible when reporting an animal. Note where you found the animal, on which day and at what time, what the animal looks like, and if there are any striking features. Think of color, collar, behavior, chip, injuries, or special coat patterns.
Check if the animal is microchipped
A chip can ensure that a found pet is quickly reunited with its owner. Therefore, ask the animal ambulance, vets, or animal shelters to check if the animal is chipped.
Note: a chip only works well if the data is registered and up to date. That’s why both chipping and registration are important. For pet owners, this is a good reminder to check details regularly, especially after moving house or getting a new phone number.
Use the neighborhood and social media too
Besides official registration points, people in the neighborhood can help. Put up flyers in the area where the animal was found. Share a post in a local Facebook group or neighborhood app. Often, many people are active in keeping an eye out for missing animals. If you’ve lost your pet, neighborhood channels often provide extra visibility.
Don’t post all characteristics publicly. For example, let the owner mention something themselves so you can verify the animal really belongs to them. This prevents an animal from being handed over to the wrong person.
When do you involve the police or municipality?
In case of emergency, danger, or animal cruelty, it may be necessary to involve the police or municipality. Do you see an animal in immediate danger, a seriously injured cat or dog, or do you suspect abuse? Then call the appropriate authorities immediately. For an animal in distress, you can also call 144 in the Netherlands.
Don’t just touch an injured cat or dog. An animal in pain can react unexpectedly. It’s better to wait for help from the animal ambulance or a vet.
What happens if the owner isn’t found immediately? This is how the animal gets a safe home
If the owner isn’t immediately known, a found pet can be taken into temporary custody or to an appropriate animal shelter. Animals are often kept separately for a period so the owner has the chance to pick them up. Meanwhile, health, chip registration, and any reports of missing animals are checked. Shelter locations also check if the animal has been reported missing anywhere.
Vulnerable animals, such as sick cats, injured dogs, young kittens, or older pets, sometimes need extra care. Animals in the shelter sometimes need time to regain their strength and settle down for the rest of their lives. Volunteers and staff at animal shelters and animal ambulances play an important role in this.
The role of Haags Dierencentrum
The Haags Dierencentrum is a well-known name in The Hague when it comes to animal welfare, dogs, cats, and information about shelter animals. In the past, HDC played a major role in sheltering found animals and surrendered animals. Today, the center remains a recognizable place for information about pets, adoption, support, and the financial resources needed for the daily care of sheltered animals and responsible animal handling.
Want to know more about animal shelters in the region? Then also check out the page about animal shelter Den Haag and animal shelter Zuid-Holland.
Help found animals in The Hague
Found pets have the best chance of getting home safely if everyone acts quickly. Call the animal ambulance, report the animal to Amivedi, have the chip checked, and share the report carefully in the neighborhood.
Want to contribute to animal care in The Hague? Become a donor, share information about missing animals, or support organizations dedicated to animals in need.
