Volunteer Microchip Scanners

Do you scan lost dogs and cats for microchips with your own microchip scanner? Within minutes, we look up microchips 8am-10pm EVERY DAY for found pets that have been scanned in NSW. We also automatically generate and email a Found Pet Poster to you or the finder.

Note: While we offer this free microchip lookup service, you are scanning pets independently as a personal endeavour, volunteering for your community. You are not a volunteer or representative of FindMyOwner or Animal Welfare League NSW.

  • Note: We’ll reach out to the person who submitted the report within 5-10 mins even if it’s for an unmicrochipped dog.

    1. If the pet is microchipped, one of our Microchip Lookup Staff members will work to locate the owner. You will receive a Found Pet Poster to share in local lost and found Facebook groups, along with additional tips. If not microchipped, you'll still get the Found Pet Poster and extra tips.

    2. In many cases, we’ll get back to you with the owners details so you can arrange for the owner to collect the animal or for you to drop off to them.

    3. If no owner has been tracked down right away and if the animal appears healthy, friendly, see if the finder/friend/neighbour etc can hold the animal for a few hours or overnight. IMPORTANT: Some animals may not get along with other animals, so ensure they are kept separately to existing pets. Holding a dog for a few hours or overnight can be the difference between the dog going home or spending months in a pound! If no owner comes forward or if no one can mind the pet, please see below.

  • Unfortunately FindMyOwner doesn’t offer a temporary dog or cat minding service. A friend, family member or neighbour may be able to look after the animal for a few hours or overnight.

    DOGS: If no one can hold onto the dog and the owner can’t immediately be found, the dog should go to the local pound for the council area in which the dog came from. The longer a dog can be held for (even if it’s just 30 minutes) can really help the chance of the dog going back to their owner [up to 24 hours]. Some vets ‘may’ be willing to hold the dog however many are not able to and they are under no legal obligation to hold stray healthy dogs.

    CATS: Cats are free to roam and are allowed to be outside, despite the risks. If the cat looks healthy, he or she is likely being looked after by ‘someone’ and and should not be taken to the pound in most cases even if we can’t locate the owner or if no one can hold onto the cat. The NSW average for cats reclaimed from pounds is 5-6% and average cat euthanasia rate in pounds is 25-30%, with some pounds being much higher. *2021-23 stats across all NSW pounds.

  • FindMyOwner Microchip Lookup Staff are available 8am-10pm EVERY day to look up microchips and try find the owners of lost pets.

    Filing a Found Dog Report or Cat Microchip Lookup Request is available outside these times but reports will only be viewed and actioned 8am-10pm.

  • DOGS: Still file a Found Dog Report as we’ll automatically generate a Found Dog Poster that will get emailed to you or the finder. You or the finder can post it in local Facebook groups or print it out when door knocking the area.

    CATS: Please only submit a Microchip Lookup Request for microchipped cats.

  • We can look up microchips for deceased dogs and cats. Note: they cannot be taken to any of our physical Microchip Scanning Locations [businesses].

  • Yes, it can be done on a Smartphone or a computer. Keep in mind that the report must include a photo that is either uploaded or taken of the dog or cat with the device you are making the report with.

  • Absolutely! They can use the buttons on this page to file a Found Dog Report or Cat Microchip Lookup Request.

    We also ask that they contact us to let us know they scan animals as we make important changes and improvements from time to time and we want to tell them about it!

  • Privacy laws prevent our Microchip Lookup Staff from telling finders of lost pets any personal details about an owner of an animal unless permission is obtained first. There are absolutely NO exceptions.

    Even if the dog or cat is microchipped to the house next door where you found them, we cannot tell you this unless the owner gives us permission first.

  • Please contact the council and DO NOT file a Found Dog Report with FindMyOwner if the dog was involved in a dog attack, unless you are sure the dog was a victim and didn’t attack any person or animal(s).

    If the dog appears aggressive, for your safety, we recommend not scanning the dog and contact council or the landline for the police.

  • Yes, if your council are happy to direct lost dogs to our Scanning Locations. For more info visit our page with info for councils and feel free to share it with your council rangers.

    We’re aiming to secure larger suitable businesses with locations around NSW to make it easier to expand but we are also accepting small businesses as Microchip Scanning Locations.

  • At this stage, we are not offering this, sorry.

  • A lost dog should go to the designated pound for the council area in which they were found. Search the address that the dog was found on this website. Then check the pet section on the website for that council to confirm which council pound their stray dogs must go to.

  • The owner can visit the how to find a lost dog page for more info and to generate a Lost Dog Poster.

  • If you have a good working relationship with your local council, please encourage them to help us help them keep more dogs out of their pound. Please send them the information on this page.

  • This is a new project and we hope to make improvement over time. We have a few things already planned but we’d also love to hear feedback and suggestions. Feel free to contact us here.

As this is a new project that we are constantly improving, we may make changes at any time.