Bob Martin Petfinder is a new type of tag designed to help maximise the chances of returning your pet. Once you have your tag you will see that on the front side of the tag is a code containing two letters and then followed by four numbers, for example AA1234. This code is absolutely unique, there is only one tag ever made with this code printed on it and by using this website or the application form that came with the tag to register your pet, that code will be unique to your pet too.
All you have to do is fill in the application form online or fill in the form packed with the tag and send it to the address:
Bob Martin Petfinder
Wemberham Lane
Yatton
North Somerset
England
BS49 4BS
If you fill in the form online then your pet will be registered onto our national database within 48 hours, by post it may take up to 28 days to process.
Once your pet is registered and you have securely attached the tag to the animals collar, anyone who finds your pet lost can then call the free phone number printed on the back of the tag. Our call centre works round the clock so your pet can be reported at any time, day or night, and someone will be there to take the call. When we get a report of a found pet, we will take down the caller's details and the contact you via your preferred method (by phone, by SMS and by email) to inform you of the details we get.
Should I call in to tell you my pet is missing?
No, you should not call us if your pet goes missing because this service does not proactively look for missing pets. Petfinder works by making it easy for anyone who might find your pet to call in and report it. If we get a report of a found pet we will contact you via the details you provided when you registered or you updated. You can then contact the finder to arrange the reunification.
I have found a pet with a Bob Martin Petfinder tag on its collar, what now?
Please call the number on the back of the tag and have the unique number on the front ready to quote, it is a free number so you won't get charged. We will pass on your contact details to the owner so the arrangement for being reunited can be made.
What does the call centre tell people who call in reporting pets?
The call centre asks the finder of the pet for details of the location of the pet - a phone number and address if possible. We will then forward these details to you via your preferred method of contact. We will never give the tag owner's details out over the phone to any caller. The call centre also advise the finder what they should do with the pet in the event that the owner does not then make contact with them.
How do I update my details if I move house or change phones?
Updating is easy and free to do - simply follow the instructions from the "update details" section and re-enter some your old details to get access to all the information we store.
I have found a lost dog but it doesn't have a Petfinder tag at all, what should I do?
You must inform your local police station on a non-emergency number and also your local authority in the area in which the animal was found. You must then either return the dog to its owner (where the owner is known) or hand the dog over to the police or local authority, or make appropriate arrangements with them for you to keep the dog yourself. If you fail to comply with this procedure you could be prosecuted for the theft of the animal you found.
What happens if I lose my tag?
If you lose the tag then you need to buy another one and re-register you pet.
How many times will Bob Martin Petfinder try to contact me once the finder has called in?
We will only send one text message and one email when we try to contact you. If your preference is to be called then we will try immediately after someone reports your pet but if no contact can be made or answer phone message left then our call centre will pass the case on to Bob Martin to deal with directly. We will try to contact you from 9 to 5 to try to find out why it didn't work.
How long does the tag last?
The Bob Martin Petfinder tag has a three year or three use life span, whichever comes first. One use is defined as someone calling in to report your pet and then us contacting you, we will remind you how many uses you have left each time the tag is used or you check online in the update your details section. We will also contact you before the tag expires or again if you want you can check how long is left online.
How do I know the text I receive about my lost pet is genuine?
When we text you about your found pet, the text will always address you by the name you entered when you filled in the application form and refer to your pet by the name you entered. You should only consider a Petfinder text as genuine if it uses both you and your pet's name.