Has your pet gone missing in Lithuania? Exact steps

Updated: September 16, 2026 · Reunika

In Lithuania, dogs, cats and ferrets have had to be microchipped and registered in the Gyvūnų augintinių registras (GAR) since May 2021, and anyone who finds an animal must report it to the police or local authority within 3 days. After 2 weeks, ownership passes to the person or shelter keeping it. Here are the steps, in order.

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Steps, in order

Search on foot during the first few hours, close to where the animal went missing: cats usually stay within 500 m, and dogs within 3 km.
Post an online notice with a photo and the exact location. On Reunika, the notice becomes an alert on Facebook and Instagram in the area where the animal went missing and appears on the town map.
Report the loss in GAR through the electronic services (epaslaugos.lt) or via your vet. The public microchip search (ismain.vic.lt/AugintiniaiPublic) shows the keeper’s contact details, so check them now. GAR helpline: (8 5) 266 0620.
Tell the police or local authority and the municipal shelter: in Vilnius, Vilniaus gyvūnų globos namai (1355, 24/7), which publishes a gallery of animals taken in and scans microchips on arrival.
Notify local vets: any practice can scan the microchip and search GAR.
Post on the Facebook page “Pasiklydau. Noriu namo” (the most widely cited channel in the country) and in the “Dingo gyvūnas?” groups, on gyvunupaieska.lt (which aggregates shelter notices) and on skelbiu.lt. Include the notice link.
Put up posters at junctions, shops and veterinary practices, with a large photo and the notice’s QR code. Do not stick them to poles or street furniture without the local authority’s permission.

What is specific to Lithuania

GAR is operated by Žemės ūkio duomenų centras (ŽŪDC); the registry owner is the Ministry of the Environment. The universal microchipping and registration requirement for dogs, cats and ferrets has applied since 1 May 2021 (Law XIV-231). Registrations can only be entered by vets or authorised markers.
Anyone who takes in a stray animal must immediately inform the owner or, if they do not know who the owner is, the police or local authority within 3 days (Civil Code, Article 4.61). If the owner does not come forward within 2 weeks, ownership passes free of charge to the person keeping the animal. Municipal shelters apply the same deadline and must scan microchips and publish details of animals in their care.
Municipal cleanliness rules prohibit sticking posters to buildings and poles. Use shops, veterinary practices and permitted noticeboards instead. VMVT helpline: 8 800 40 403, 24/7.

Common questions

I have found an animal in Lithuania. What should I do?

Take it to a vet to have its microchip scanned. The public GAR search shows the keeper’s contact details. Report it to the police or local authority within no more than 3 days, and post a found-animal notice with a photo and location.

Is the microchip enough?

No. GAR can only find you if your contact details are up to date. Search for your animal by microchip number on ismain.vic.lt/AugintiniaiPublic and check what is displayed.