Missing
My animal is missing
Register your animals once with photos and markings. If one goes missing, publish an alert with where and when it was last seen, and how people should approach it.
For animals you own or care for
Coming soon to Android
Helping lost animals find their way home.
Homeward Paws is a free community app for South Africa. Report a missing animal in minutes, let your neighbours know when you find or see one, and help bring animals safely home.
Three ways to help
Missing, found or just seen. Every report counts.
Each kind of report asks for the details that matter most, so the right people can act quickly.
Found
I found an animal
You have an animal safely with you, or it is with a vet, shelter or SPCA. The report shows a general area only. Where the animal is being kept stays private.
For animals that are secured
Sighting
I saw an animal
An animal is still roaming or has moved on. Log where and when you saw it and which way it was heading. It takes about a minute, and a photo is optional.
For animals that are still loose
How it works
From alert to reunion
1
Report
Publish a missing, found or sighting report with photos, a place and a time. Choose whether the public sees an exact spot or only the general area.
2
Share and alert
People nearby can follow the case, share it and add sightings. Homeward Paws suggests possible matches between missing and found reports.
3
Reunite
You check the details and arrange a safe handover. Once the reunion is confirmed, alerts stop and the case keeps its full history.
Privacy and safety
Built to protect owners, finders and animals
Missing-animal posts on social media often expose more than they should. Homeward Paws keeps the sensitive parts private by design.
Your home stays private
Your home address is never copied into a public report. You choose how precisely each incident location is shown.
Proof of ownership is never public
Microchip numbers, tag details and ownership evidence are stored privately and shared only with the person checking a claim.
You decide how people contact you
Your phone number and WhatsApp appear on a report only if you switch them on for that report.
People confirm every match
The app suggests possible matches and explains why. Only the people involved can confirm that an animal is theirs.
No public comment threads
Sightings, claims and updates use structured forms instead of open comments, so cases stay useful and free of speculation.
No money changes hands in the app
Homeward Paws never handles payments, rewards or donations. Anyone asking you to pay to get your animal back is a warning sign.
Made for South Africa
Local reports, organised the way you search
Reports are organised by province, city or town and suburb, so the people who can actually help see them first. Lists load before maps and photos are compressed, to keep data use low.
Dogs, cats and moreBirds, horses, donkeys, rabbits, reptiles and farm animals too.
Free to useSupported by small, non-intrusive ads. Never on urgent reporting screens.
Android firstLaunching on Google Play. iPhone may follow later.
Browse without an accountAnyone can view public reports. Posting or helping needs a free account.
Reuniting hearts.
Our mission
We connect communities so every lost animal gets a second chance to come home.
Many lost animals are found close to home, by neighbours who did not know whom to tell. Homeward Paws gives every suburb one trusted place to look, report and help, without the noise of social media groups.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
When will Homeward Paws be available?
We are preparing the first release for Android on Google Play. This page will link to the Play Store as soon as the app is live. Want to try it sooner? Sign up as a beta tester.
Does it cost anything?
No. Homeward Paws is free. It shows a small number of static banner ads, which never appear on the screens you use to report an animal.
Is Homeward Paws an emergency or veterinary service?
No. If an animal is injured or in danger, contact a vet, the SPCA or your local animal-welfare organisation straight away. Report suspected theft to SAPS.
Does Homeward Paws decide who owns an animal?
No. The app helps people share information and evidence safely, but it does not decide legal ownership. The people involved, and where needed a vet, shelter or SAPS, confirm a reunion.
Can I offer a reward or collect donations?
Not through the app. Homeward Paws never handles money. Be careful of anyone who asks for payment before returning an animal.
How do I delete my account?
In the app, go to Profile, then Delete account. You can also request deletion from this website without installing the app.
Helping lost animals find their way home
Coming soon to Android. Join the beta to try it first. Questions or partnership enquiries: info@homewardpaws.org.za