A DNA database for pets has been launched in a bid to make it easier for owners to track down their missing animals.

Lost Alert Animal Search UK launched the scheme to help reunite owners with their missing pets using their genetic paw prints. 

It has 85,000 users registered and receives up to 3,000 missing pet reports each month via the free to use database.

Former police officer, Tom Watkins, dreamt up the database and believes it could even become bigger than that used by the authorities to profile people. 

He said: "The DNA profile can be captured for any pet through a simple process that pet owners can carry out in the comfort of their own home. The sample will then be sent to a state of the art laboratory and analysed.

"The genetic fingerprint of the pet will then be stored on the specialist database which all UK police forces and Interpol - particularly useful for missing or stolen horses - will be given access to."

He said the information could be used to provide "indisputable proof of identity for pets" recovered after a theft or in an ownership dispute. 

While there have been previous separate databases for dogs and cats, Mr Watkins' system appears to be first integrated system for all pet owners. 

The site, www.lostalert.co.uk, will allow owners to store 10 photographs of their beloved beasts on the database, which can be used for identification.