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For an animal emergency, you call a different number in every European country. Only the Netherlands (144), France (3115) and the United Kingdom (RSPCA 0300 1234 999) have truly national 24/7 emergency lines for pets. In Germany and other countries, you primarily rely on your own vet or regional 24h clinics.
In this article
Many dog owners think every European country has a number like 112 for humans. That's not the case. Animal emergency lines differ greatly by country and often do different things.
This overview gives you the official emergency number for each European country and explains how each service works. Save it, or share it with anyone who has a dog and travels regularly.
There are three types of emergencies with your dog, and for each type you call a different kind of number:
Keep that distinction clear. For a dog with heatstroke, you don't call 144 (that's a reporting line), but your vet. An abandoned dog in a hot car, however, you do report to 144 or the police.
| Country | Primary number | Type | 24/7 | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 144 + vet | Animal ambulance + reporting | Yes | Yes |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | Vet + 101 | Regional | No | n/a |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Tierarzt + Tierklinik 24h | Regional (vet emergencies) | Varies by region | n/a |
| 🇫🇷 France | 3115 | Vet emergency line | Yes | Yes |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | Vet + 112 | Local | No | n/a |
| 🇬🇧 UK | RSPCA 0300 1234 999 | Reporting + advice | Yes | Call charges |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Vet + 345 9239777 | Local + Guida Verde | No/Yes | n/a |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | Vet + 800 250 250 (poisoning) | Local | No | Yes (CIAV) |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | Weterynarz + 112 | Local | No | n/a |
Call: 144
Since 2011, the national reporting number for animals in distress, managed by the Dutch police. Available 24/7, free of charge. Mainly for: abandoned animals, abuse, injured animals on the street. For acute vet emergencies (your own dog overheating): always call your vet first. 112 is for human emergencies, not for animals.
Call: police 101 or your own vet
Belgium has no national animal emergency number. It differs by municipality. Flanders has no "animal police" with the authority to seize animals. Practical options: police 101 (general), Blauwe Lijn (Antwerp), Spoeddienst UGent (+32 9 264 76 75), Animal Rescue Service vzw, and always your own vet. Dutch visitors in Belgium: 144 doesn't work there.
For vet emergencies: your own Tierarzt or a 24h Tierklinik in your region
Germany has no national animal emergency number for medical emergencies. For acute vet emergencies (overheating, accident): call your regular vet or the nearest 24h Tierklinik right away. For the regional Tierärztlicher Notdienst per federal state: search via tiermedizin.thieme.de. For found or lost pets there's TASSO e.V. (24h hotline for registration and reuniting): 06190 / 93 73 00. Deutsche Tierrettung (0180 502 66 60) and UNA Tierrettungsdienst (0700 952 952 95) are reporting and rescue services for animals in distress, not primarily for veterinary emergencies.
Call: 3115
The best national system in Europe. 3115 is FREE from landlines and mobiles, available 24/7, specifically for vet emergencies. Managed by Réseau Emergence (Urgences Vétérinaires). With a dog suffering from coup de chaleur (heatstroke): call 3115 while you start cooling. They'll put you through or give advice. Save this number in your phone if you're in France or traveling there.
Call: your own vet or local Urgencias Veterinarias
No national animal emergency number. You call your own vet or a 24h clinic. For general emergencies: 112. Local veterinary colleges (such as Colvema in Madrid) give advice but have no 24h emergency line. Tip: before you leave, look up the nearest Urgencias Veterinarias in the region where you're staying and save the number.
Call: 0300 1234 999 (RSPCA, 24h)
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a national 24h line. Mainly for reporting animals in distress and for advice. For vet emergencies: call your own vet or the nearest 24h emergency vet right away. For a dog in a hot car: call 999. The British approach: "cool first, transport second": cool your dog down immediately and only then transport it.
Call: your own veterinario or Guida Verde SOS Animali 345 9239777 (24h)
No national animal emergency number. Call your own veterinario or a pronto soccorso veterinario. ENPA (Ente Nazionale Protezione Animali) has regional branches for general reports. For brachycephalic breeds such as the carlino (pug) and bouledogue (bulldog): ENPA explicitly warns of increased risk in hot weather.
Call: your own veterinário or CIAV 800 250 250 (poisoning, free)
No specific animal emergency number for heatstroke. Call your own veterinário or a 24h hospital veterinário. CIAV (Centro de Informação Antivenenos) is for poisoning, useful if your dog ate something toxic, but not primarily for heat. AniCura Portugal has a network of 24h clinics.
Call: a local weterynarz or pogotowie weterynaryjne
No national pogotowie weterynaryjne (veterinary emergency service). Practical options: 112 (general European), 997 (police), 986 (straż miejska, municipal police). For vet emergencies: call a local 24h weterynarz right away or search for pogotowie weterynaryjne in your city. TOZ (Towarzystwo Opieki nad Zwierzętami) has regional branches for general reports.
In a panic, you forget essential information. Keep this list in mind for an effective call:
Write in the notes app on your phone: breed + weight + name of your regular vet + address of the nearest 24h clinic. Available in 30 seconds.
On hot days: also read our complete heat plan
Heatwave on the way or is your dog overheated? Our emergency article has the complete protocol: recognizing symptoms, first aid step by step, and what you should never do.
Read the heat plan for dogs →A number you haven't saved is a number you can't call when it matters. Take two minutes to put the right numbers for your country and any destination country in your phone. Share this article with anyone who has a dog and travels regularly or lives near a border.
Disclaimer: emergency numbers can change. This article is updated periodically. When in doubt: check the official website of the organization concerned.
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