Lost or Found a Pet in Leuven? Here's What to Do

Losing a pet can be stressful, especially if you're new to Leuven or Belgium. Whether you've lost your dog or cat, or you've spotted a stray animal, there are services in Leuven that can help reunite pets with their owners quickly and safely.

International House Leuven

17 September 2026

I Found a Stray Animal in Leuven

If you see a stray, injured, or escaped animal, contact the Leuven Police Zone immediately. This includes:

Dogs wandering without an owner
Injured animals
Escaped farm or livestock animals
Other animals that may need assistance

Call: 016 21 06 10 or 101.

Can you safely catch the animal?

If you have managed to secure the animal, bring it to the Leuven Police Zone at the Philips site. Officers can scan the microchip and try to contact the owner directly.

If the owner cannot be identified immediately, animals are transferred to specialised partner organisations:

Dogs: Dierenbescherming Mechelen
Cats: Zwerfkat in Leuven
Farm and livestock animals: Forrest & Friends
Birds and exotic animals: Wildlife rescue centre in Heusden-Zolder

I Lost My Pet in Leuven

If your pet has gone missing, act quickly.

Report your missing pet

Send the following information to Leuven's Animal Welfare Department:

A recent photo of your pet
A short description
The microchip number (if available)

The report will be shared with city field services, who can help identify roaming or deceased animals that match the description.

Contact local animal shelters

It's also important to contact local shelters directly:

Dogs: Dierenbescherming Mechelen
Cats: Zwerfkat in Leuven

For missing cats, Zwerfkat in Leuven provides additional advice and search tips on their website.

Make Sure Your Pet's Microchip Details Are Up to Date

Microchips are one of the fastest ways to reunite lost pets with their owners.

Veterinarians and recognised animal shelters can access registered chip information. Keeping your contact details updated significantly increases the chances of finding your pet quickly. You can check and update your chip registration through the national pet database.

Even if your chip registration is not publicly visible, authorities and shelters can still try to locate the owner. If necessary, they may also publish notices through social media channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can scan my pet's microchip?

The Leuven Police Zone has chip readers and can identify many lost pets. The city's animal storage facilities can also scan microchips when animals are brought in.

My cat spends a lot of time outdoors. Should I report every cat I see?

No. Many domestic cats in Leuven roam outdoors regularly. However, if you find a seriously injured cat or a litter of kittens in need of help, contact the emergency line of Zwerfkat in Leuven on 0499 75 41 11.

Useful Links

Need help navigating local services?

International House Leuven is here to help internationals settle into life in Leuven. If you're unsure which local service to contact, our team can help point you in the right direction.