Christmas to New Year Escape Plan for NSW Dogs

Quick answer: most summer escapes come from changes to routine — guests leaving gates open, unfamiliar holiday houses, new sitters, and New Year's Eve fireworks. Plan for each one: check your ID and microchip details before December, secure gates and give visitors a rule, keep your dog inside on fireworks nights, and have a lost-dog plan ready. The NSW Office of Local Government says summer is a peak time for pets to go missing.

This guide is about logistics. If your dog is frightened of fireworks or storms, read our storm and fireworks anxiety guide too.

Before December: the 15-minute check

Microchip details: log in to the NSW Pet Registry and confirm your phone number and address. In NSW, owners must update address or contact changes within 14 days.
ID tag: current mobile number, readable. See what to put on a dog ID tag.
Collar fit: two fingers underneath, no more. A frightened dog backing out of a loose collar is a common way escapes happen.
Recent photo: a clear, full-body photo on your phone. See how to photograph your dog for a lost pet poster.
AirTag: if you use one, check Find My isn't showing a low battery and that it's named after your dog.

Hosting at home: guests and gates

Put a sign on the side gate: "Dog inside — please close the gate."
Give one person the job of checking doors and gates during parties.
Set up a quiet room for your dog with water and bedding when the house is busy.
Watch food: Christmas leftovers like cooked bones, grapes, sultanas and chocolate are dangerous for dogs.

Travelling: holiday houses and long drives

Unfamiliar places are harder for a dog to navigate home from. When you arrive:

Walk the fence line before letting your dog into the yard.
Keep your dog on lead for the first walks until they know the area.
Save the nearest 24-hour emergency vet and the local council's pound number.
Check local beach rules before you go — many beaches don't allow dogs, and summer hours are often stricter.

More in our guide to travelling with your dog.

Leaving your dog with a sitter or kennel

Give the sitter your vet's details, your dog's microchip number, and a recent photo.
Tell them about any escape habits and fireworks nights in your area.
If you use an AirTag, you can share its location with the sitter for the stay. See how to share your dog's AirTag.

Our boarding and pet-sitting handover checklist covers the rest.

New Year's Eve night

Bring your dog inside before dark, into a quiet room with blinds closed.
Play music or TV to mask the bangs.
Don't take your dog to watch fireworks.
If you're going out, make sure someone is home or your dog is somewhere secure indoors.
Check doors and windows twice before midnight.

If your dog gets out

Search straight away, starting where they were last seen.
Check Find My if your dog wears an AirTag, and turn on Lost Mode. On busy nights there are lots of iPhones about, so updates can be frequent.
Mark your dog as missing on the NSW Pet Registry.
Call your council pound, local vets and the RSPCA. Councils can be closed over public holidays, so keep calling and checking online lists.
Post on local lost-pet groups with a clear photo.

If your dog ends up at a pound, see how to get your dog back from a NSW pound. Our first 24 hours guide has the full plan.

FAQs

Why do so many dogs go missing over summer?

Routines change: guests come and go, families travel, dogs stay with sitters, and New Year's Eve fireworks frighten many dogs. The NSW Office of Local Government notes fireworks and holidays as reasons summer is a peak time.

Should I give my dog anything to calm them on New Year's Eve?

Talk to your vet well before the night. Don't give human medication.

How long does a NSW pound keep a found dog?

Under the Companion Animals Act, a council may sell or rehome an unclaimed dog after 14 days if the owner has been notified, or after 7 days if not. Act fast either way.

Getting ready for summer? An AirTag in a Pawfetchers waterproof holder stays on through beach swims and backyard hoses (AirTag sold separately). Two dogs, or want a spare for the sitter? See the 2-Pack.