Finding a Lost Companion Animal

Losing a companion animal can be devastating to a family. Michigan law requires that animal shelters and animal control facilities hold strays for 4 days if they have no form of identification or 7 days if they do have identification - such as a microchip, tattoo or tags.  Following are some guidelines to help you search for your beloved cat, dog or other animal. 

• Check all the animal shelters in your area.  Go in person!  A phone call is not sufficient. People describe animals differently and in a busy shelter environment your companion animal could be overlooked. It is always best to look for yourself.
• Write out a complete description including the animal's name, breed, size, gender (note if the animal is spayed or neutered) spay/neuter status, eye color, coat color and length and any special markings.
• Use the above information to make up flyers.  The

  Download a Flyer Template (.doc)

  flyers should include a clear, recent photo of the lost animal, a complete description as directed above and the area where he was last seen.  Don't forget to include your telephone numbers - more than one if available - and consider offering a reward. 
• Keep a clear and recent picture of your lost companion animal with you.
• Post flyers, with permission, in as many local buildings as possible. For example: pet supply stores, supermarkets, veterinary offices, gas stations, banks, schools, libraries, etc.
• If your companion animal gets lost in an area that is not near your home, post flyers at the above listed places in that area. 
• Contact police, humane societies and animal control facilities in the area in which he was lost.  Speak with people in the area as listed below.
• Notify neighbors, mail carriers, newspaper carriers, neighborhood kids, utility company employees or others working in the area.  Show the picture of your lost animal to everyone.
• Many local newspapers will run lost pet ads at no cost.  Place an ad giving a full description of the animal, the area in which he was last seen and your telephone numbers - more than one if available.
• Leave food and water and something familiar to him (such as his blanket, bed or favorite toy) outside near the door.  An unwashed piece of your clothing may help him pick up the scent of you and home.  Animals may return on their own when no one is home, and having food, water and something familiar may encourage them to stay in the area.

Visit the police departments, animal control facilities and animal shelters both locally and in surrounding areas daily.

The following list provides the names & telephone numbers of many animal control facilities and shelters in the greater tri-county area.

Police, Animal Controls, Humane Societies and Animal Shelters
Addison Veterinary Clinic (517) 547-7581
Allen Park (313) 928-4608
Ann Arbor Animal Control (734) 994-2911 or 994-2865
Ann Arbor (Humane Society of Huron Valley) (734) 662-5585
Auburn Hills (248) 391-4102
Avon Township (248) 391-4102
Belleville (734) 699-2395**
Berkley (248) 541-9000
Beverly Hills (248) 540-3420
Bingham (248) 540-3420
Birmingham (248) 644-4990
Bloomfield Township (248) 433-7757
Brandon Township (248) 391-4102
Brighton (517) 546-2154
Brownstown Township Animal Shelter (734) 675-4008 or (734) 675-1300**
Canton (734) 397-3000**
Centerline (586) 757-2203
Clarkston (248) 391-4102
Clawson (248) 435-5000**
Clinton County (989)224-5116
Clinton Township (586) 493-7800**
Commerce Township (248) 391-4102
Davisburg (248) 391-4102
Dearborn Animal Shelter (313) 943-2077
Dearborn Heights (313) 277-7389
Detroit Animal Control (313) 224-7128
Detroit (Michigan Humane Society) (313) 872-3400
Eastpointe (586) 445-5100**
Eaton County (Charlotte Area) (517) 543-5755
Eaton County (Outside Charlotte Area) (517) 482-8306
Ecorse (313) 381-0900
Farmington (248) 474-4700
Farmington Hills (248) 871-2700
***Ferndale (313) 872-3400
Flat Rock (734) 782-0267 or (734) 782-2496**
Flint (810) 732-1660
Franklin (248) 626-9672
*Garden City (734) 525-8088**
Genesee County Animal Control (810) 732-1660
Genesee County Humane Society (810) 744-0511
Gibraltar (734) 676-1055**
Great Lakes Animal Control (586) 465-4557
Grosse Pointe (313) 886-3200
Grosse Pointe Farms (313) 885-2100**
Grosse Pointe Park (313) 822-7400
Grosse Pointe Woods (313) 343-2410
Grosse Pointe Shores (313) 881-6565
Grosse Ile Animal Control (734) 676-7100
Groveland Township (248) 391-4102
*Hamtramck (313) 876-7792**
Harper Woods (313) 343-2530
Hazel Park (248) 546-2394
*Highland Park (313) 252-0050
Holly (248) 634-8221
Huntington Woods (248) 541-1180
Huron Township (734) 753-4064
Huron Valley (Humane Society of Huron Valley) (734) 662-5585
Independence Township (248) 391-4102
Ingham County (517) 676-8370
Inkster (313) 563-9850
Lake Orion (248) 391-4102
Lapeer (810) 667-0236
Lathrup Village (248) 557-3600, press "0" and leave a message
Leonard (248) 391-4102
Lincoln Park (313) 381-1800**
Livingston County (517) 546-2154
*Livonia (734) 466-2655**
Lyon Township (248) 391-4102
Macomb County Animal Shelter and Animal Control (586) 469-5115
Macomb County Humane Society (586) 731-9210
Madison Heights (248) 837-2784
Melvindale (313) 429-1040**
Michigan Animal Rescue League (Pontiac) (248) 335-9290
Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society (Detroit) (313) 891-1088
Michigan Humane Society (Detroit) (313) 872-3400
Michigan Humane Society (Rochester Hills) (248) 852-7420
MHS-Berman Center for Animal Care (Westland) (734) 721-7300
Milford (248) 684-1815
Monroe County Sheriff's Office and Animal Control Division (734) 240-3125
Monroe County Humane Society (734) 243-3669
Mount Clemens (586) 469-6860**
New Baltimore (586) 725-2181
New Boston (734) 753-4400**
Northville (248) 349-1234** or (248) 349-9400**
Novi (248) 391-4102
Oak Park Animal Control (248)691-7450
Oakland County Animal Control (248) 391-4102
Orion Township (248) 391-4102
Pleasant Ridge (248) 543-7900 or (248) 541-2900**
Plymouth (734) 453-1234**
Pontiac (248) 758-3360
Port Huron (810) 984-8415
*Redford (313) 387-2500**
Riverview (734) 281-4217**
River Rouge (313) 842-8700
Rochester (248) 651-9621
Rochester Hills (Michigan Humane Society) (248) 852-7420
Rockwood (734) 379-5323**
Romulus (734) 942-7591
Roseville (586) 775-2100
Royal Oak (248) 246-3500** or (248) 546-6304
Royal Oak Township - (248) 391-4102
Saint Clair County (810) 984-3155
Saint Clair County Humane Society (810) 987-4357
Saint Clair Shores (586) 445-5300
Saint John's County (989) 224-5116
Sanilac County (810) 648-4831
*Southfield (248) 796-5410**
*Southgate (734) 246-1328
South Lyon (248) 437-1773
Sterling Heights (586) 446-2800
*Sumpter Township Animal Shelter (734) 461-4833
Taylor (734) 374-1354
Trenton (734) 692-7727
Troy (248) 524-3477**
*Van Buren Township (734) 699-8930
Warren (586) 574-4700
Washtenaw County (734) 662-5585
Waterford (248) 391-4102
*Wayne (City of) (734) 721-1643
*Westland (734) 722-9600**
Westland (MHS Berman Center for Animal Care) (734) 721-7300
Woodhaven (734) 676-7337**
Wyandotte (734) 324-4405**
Wyandotte Animal Control (Voicemail) (734) 324-4445
"WAG" (Wyandotte Animal Group) (734) 782-5768
Ypsilanti (734) 483-9510

*signifies that the Michigan Humane Society Berman Center for Animal Care in Westland houses strays for these cities.

**indicates that the listed number is a police department non-emergency number.

***the Michigan Humane Society Detroit adoption center houses strays for this city.

REMINDER:  When searching for a lost companion animal, check all animal shelters in your area daily, in person. A phone call is not sufficient. 

If you do not see your city, township or county listed, call your local police or sheriff's department non-emergency number for more information.

An ID tag is your companion animal's ticket home should he slip out of the house or yard; dogs and cats should wear non-choke type collars and ID tags at all times, as well as a license as required by your municipality.  In addition, a permanent form of identification such as a microchip or tattoo can provide extra protection should the animal slip out of his collar.

The three Michigan Humane Society locations offer microchipping through a regular veterinary center appointments or at a reduced fee at the time of adoption.

Don't let your dog or cat become a Lost Companion Animal - be sure he wears appropriate identification at all times.