Has your pet gone missing in Poland? The exact steps to take
Updated: August 26, 2026 · Reunika
In Poland, three resources help reunite people with lost pets: the SAFE-ANIMAL chip registry, local shelters (schroniska) and city Facebook groups. The plan below covers all three, in the order that matters.
No account. Starting the alert takes 30 seconds.
The steps, in order
- Search on foot during the first few hours, close to where your pet went missing: cats usually stay within 500 metres, while dogs stay within 3 km.
- Post an online listing with a photo and the exact location. On Reunika, the listing becomes an alert on Facebook and Instagram in the area where the pet went missing and appears on the city map.
- If your pet has a chip, report it missing in the SAFE-ANIMAL registry (safe-animal.eu) and check your contact details. Polish veterinarians and shelters scan chips and search the registry.
- Call the local schronisko (shelter): animals picked up from the streets are taken there. Check back daily.
- Call straż miejska (the local police): in many cities, they collect stray animals and know where they have been taken.
- Post in the city's Facebook groups and in local groups dedicated to lost pets: in Poland, local groups are by far the most active channel.
- Put up posters at intersections, shops and veterinary clinics, with a large photo and the QR code for the listing.
- Also check the lost and found pets category on OLX.pl: some finders post there.
Poland-specific details at a glance
- SAFE-ANIMAL is the chip registry with the widest coverage and is connected to the European Europetnet network.
- Schroniska are required to take animals in, but deadlines and practices vary from city to city: calling every day is more reliable than sending a single email.
- In winter and around New Year's Eve (fireworks), the number of missing pets rises sharply: if it is the season, expand your search area sooner.
Common questions
I found an animal in Poland. Who should I notify?
Take it to a veterinarian for a chip scan, free of charge, notify the local schronisko and post a found pet listing with a photo and location. If you cannot keep the animal, straż miejska or the shelter can take it in.
Does reporting a pet to SAFE-ANIMAL replace the search?
No. The registry only helps when someone scans the chip. Until then, searching on foot, posting online and using local groups are what help bring your pet home.