Lost Animals

If you have lost your cat or dog, please phone Council on (03) 5450 9333 during business hours and our team will record the details of your lost animal.

If Customer Service or Local Laws Officers are notified of a found animal which matches the description of your lost dog or cat, we can reunite you with your pet much sooner.

A pound release fee of $60.00 (first offence), $120.00 (second offence) or $240.00 (third offence) is applicable plus a sustenance fee of $10.00 per day may apply for claimed animals.

Animals must be registered with Council prior to release from the pound. Please note no registration can be accepted without proof of microchipping.

As soon as reasonably possible after finding a lost or stray cat or dog, you must take the animal to:

• The local council in which it was found or allow a council authorised officer to collect the pet from you; or
• A local vet that agrees to accept lost pets (providing a pet reunification service is voluntary for vets).

By completing one of these two steps, Council staff or vets can scan the found cat or dog for a microchip, which will help reunite the pet with its owners.

If you have found a dog or cat, please contact Council during business hours on (03) 5450 9333.

Any lost cats of dogs passed on to Council for care are looked after for eight days. 

Council does not rehome animals directly from our pound, but works with various adoption centres to ensure any unclaimed cats and dogs find a new forever home.

If you are looking to adopt a dog or cat, please refer to the following organisations:

• Bendigo Animal Welfare and Community Services
• Campaspe Animal Shelter
• Lost Dogs Home
• RSPCA
• Pets Haven Foundation, Woodend
• Australian Working Dog Foundation