North Wales....Data shows over 150 dogs go missing in Eryri annually

 

The questions that need to be asked is how the dogs get loose, and why they are not on leads?

Also some who take dogs are not picking up dog mess and others who do, throw the filled bags anywhere they can.

Although we have walked up the mountain with our dogs, they have always been on leads and we have always taken spare water just in case.

Each year, more than 150 dogs go missing around Snowdonia.

The data comes from a study by GPS tracker company Kippy, revealing that Snowdonia claims the second-highest number of missing dogs in the UK.

Land’s End tops the list with 365 missing dogs annually, followed by Snowdonia in North Wales with 156.

Other hotspots include Hadrian’s Wall (95), Ben Nevis (67), the Lake District (37), and Pen Y Fan (29).

Iacopo Buccarelli, Brand Reputation Manager at Kippy said: "as staycations only grow in popularity in the UK, we’re encouraging dog owners to remain vigilant and protect their pets as they embark on new adventures this summer.

"When exploring places that they’ve never been before, a dog’s sense of smell can be overwhelmed with new scents and if they lose their owners, it can be harder for them to find their way back.

"We know the idea of losing your pet can be incredibly anxiety inducing for pet owners and is something they'd rather not think about when preparing for a holiday. But in light of these statistics, we recommend taking precautions to keep them safe. Equipping your furry friend with a GPS tracker means even if they lose you, you won’t lose them for very long."

Interest in staycations continues to rise, increasing 15% year on year in 2026. Searches for hiking holidays continue to surge in the UK.

Kippy recommends fitting dogs with GPS trackers to help owners locate them quickly if they go missing—offering peace of mind, especially when exploring new or remote locations.

The company has also provided guidance on what to do if a dog runs off or becomes lost:

• Stay calm and if your dog doesn’t have a recall, don’t chase them out of panic as this may cause them to run further away.
• Drop a GPS pin in the last place they were seen so you can use it as a point of reference during your search.
• If there is more than one person with you, re-trace your steps calmy, as your dog may have gone back to a place that feels most familiar, ideally though – one person will stay in the spot where the dog went missing.
• Leave an item of your clothing or something belonging to your dog in the spot your dog went missing so they can track you.
• If you’re in a public place such as a hiking trail, enlist the help of local authorities such as council dog wardens and park rangers.
• From...https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/26131592.data-shows-150-dogs-go-missing-eryri-annually/