Lost & Found Pets

What do I do if I’ve found a pet?

If you find an animal, you must notify county shelters in the area surrounding where the pet was found. There may be a worried family looking for them, and county shelters can help to reunite lost pets with their owners. There is a required 72-hour stray hold period before the animal can be adopted.

Please keep in mind that stray animals may have diseases that are harmful to you and your personal pets, and that scared animals may react by scratching or biting. County animal services staff have the training to handle and care for each pet properly – for your safety and the safety of the animal, please allow the county shelter staff to guide you through this process.

If you have found kittens, check out this guide to help you decide if the kittens are actually in need of rescue. 

Next Steps for Helping the Pet You Found:

Reporting an animal to a county shelter does not mean that you can no longer help the pet that you found. In fact, there are many ways you can continue to serve as an advocate for this pet.

• If possible, take the pet to a local shelter or veterinarian to scan them for a microchip/I.D.
• Some counties will allow you to foster the pet while waiting for the pet’s owner to claim him/her.
• You might be able to take him/her to a veterinarian for an assessment and vaccinations.
• You can search for the pet’s owner by posting flyers around the area where the pet was found (and spreading out over several miles), alerting local vet offices and sharing on social media.
• If you don’t plan to adopt after the stray hold period is over, go ahead and begin searching for a potential adopter whether the pet is in your care or at the county shelter.

Be sure to check out the rehoming section of this page for tips on how to help find an adopter. 

Lost a pet?

If you have lost your pet, there are simple steps to take to begin searching for them. Report & share! Enlist the help of friends and neighbors, and don’t forget to check your surroundings frequently. Taking these actions can be the ultimate step toward bringing your beloved pet back home. Stay hopeful and persistent – many pets are found and reunited through these very efforts.

Start the Search for Your Pet:

• Search the physical location that your pet went missing. Research shows that 80% of lost pets are found within a mile of where they live or where they were lost.
• Call your local animal shelter to see if anyone else has found your pet and reported them as found. If not, the shelter will be able to register your pet as missing and keep an eye out if someone does find your pet.
• Register your pet on PetCo Love Lost’s website (petcolove.org/lost) and report them as missing. This will enter them into a wider database and alert you if someone registers them as found.
• Post flyers around your neighborhood and surrounding areas. Make sure to use clear pictures of your pet and include your contact information.
• Utilize online resources. Check local Facebook group pages and lost & found Facebook group pages. Post about your missing pet using clear pictures and descriptions.