Every pet owner’s worst nightmare, their pet going missing or having been stolen. Insure Your Paws’ ‘Find My Pet’ optional cover (which is available at extra cost), of course can’t prevent these terrible things from happening, but it can provide financial assistance if they do. 

We’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions about this helpful optional extra, with some useful information about what it covers, what isn’t covered, and how to find out more information.  

What does the ‘Find My Pet’ missing or stolen pets optional extra cover? 

When under the stress of finding a missing or stolen pet, the last thing you want to have to think about is how you’re going to pay for a potential financial reward for whoever finds them, or the cost of all those flyers! With our ‘Find My Pet’ optional extra, these costs are covered, up to the below values. 

For a reward amount, to incentivise your community and neighbours to actively be looking for your beloved missing pet, up to £1000 is covered – this must be approved by us in advance. If your pet is unfortunately not found within 30 days of going missing, their value, up to £5000 is covered. If you are running a search for your pet yourself, then up to £300 is covered towards the advertising materials necessary for this.

If my pet is missing or stolen, who should I talk to and how do I declare them missing? 

The most important thing is your being reunited with your pet. We’ve put together a list, below, of who to contact in the event of their going missing, to hopefully help speed up the process of being reunited. 

You should contact: 

• The police, who will give you a Crime Reference Number (CRN) after reporting. We may need this CRN for your claim, so make sure you make note of it. 
• The appropriate local authority, e.g. dog wardens. 
• Your microchip provider. 
• Your local vet practices and rescue centres, incase your pet is brought to them, to speed up being reunited. 
• Insure Your Paws (if we are your cover provider) - you’ll need to let us know as soon as possible if your pet is missing. 

This can be a worrying time, and we want you to know you're not alone, our fully trained support team are always here for you to talk to in a safe and non-judgmental space. All Insure Your Paws customers have 24/7 access to our Assist Your Paws helpline. 

Why might this ‘Find My Pet’ optional extra be of use to me? 

Here at Insure Your Paws, we know that if a beloved pet goes missing, you want the best possible chance to be reunited with your pet, and financial pressures associated with finding them can be lessened, with this optional extra. 

You just want to be reunited and that is completely understandable. So, having to weigh up whether or not you can afford to pay a reward or advertise on social media about their disappearance, shouldn’t have to be on your mind. 

Does my pet need to be microchipped to be covered under this optional extra? 

Your pet must be microchipped in line with the Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023, and any subsequent amendments, unless your vet has confirmed that your pet is exempt from these regulations for health reasons, to be covered under the ‘Find My Pet’ optional extra. You must also have kept your name and address listed on the register microchip database up to date. 

Do I need to speak with you before promising a monetary reward, during my search? 

You must speak with Insure Your Paws before promising a financial incentive for your community or neighbours if they find your pet, even if it is an amount below the covered £1000. The amount must be agreed with us before you advertise it, otherwise your claim will not be accepted. 

Additionally, payments for ransoms of stolen pets will not be covered, nor will any costs for the services of any person, organisation, or pet detective to search for your pet. 

Will my pet’s cover be cancelled if I declare them missing? 

No, your pet’s cover will continue so that if your pet is found, they are covered for any medical treatment should they need it. Even if we pay a claim on this optional extra, we won’t automatically cancel your pet’s cover unless you ask us to do so.  

Cover can continue for your pet while they’re missing if you continue to pay the premium and renew your policy. However, if your pet is not found and you’d like to cancel your policy, we will of course do so on your request. 

In the case that cover is cancelled and someone provides vital information that leads to the recovery of your pet, then any reward agreed previously will have to be funded out of your own pocket. 

If your pet turns up a later date, a new insurance policy will be required for them, and it is more than possible the new policy will not cover any pre-existing medical conditions. 

Every Insure Your Paws customer has access to a fully trained support team, who are always here for you to talk to in a safe and non-judgmental space, via our Assist Your Paws careline.