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What to Do if You Find a Lost Pet

You may find a time when you come across a lost animal, especially near a busy road. While you may naturally feel the need to rescue a lost pet, the following tips will help keep both you and the animal safe.

Secure the animal safely and with care

If you happen to find a stray dog or cat, try to capture it if you’re able to. Make sure not to do anything reckless that would put you and/or the animal in danger. Many stray animals may be fearful of you due to stress or other factors. Treats are helpful to gain an animal’s trust and they may come to you. Use a calm and gentle voice and don’t make sudden movements. Use a leash if you have one for a dog, though a belt or a rope could work in emergency situations. Belts and ropes should not be used as a regular way to handle the animal during transport.

Place the dog in a fenced yard or garage if your home is not accessible. A cat should ideally be secured in a cat carrier, but a box with air holes will work.

Contact local animal shelters and animal control agencies

If the animal shows any signs of aggression or you can’t safely secure the animal, contact local authorities. Make sure to give them an accurate description of the animal and area of where it was last seen.

Check for an ID tag

If the stray animal is wearing a collar, look for an ID tag. Contact the owner if their phone number is listed and inform them that you have found their pet. Schedule a time and place to meet to reunite the pet with its owner.

Post the lost pet on local online forums and groups

Post the found pet in local neighborhood Facebook groups and websites like reddit and Craigslist. Share a photo of the animal and be as detailed as possible about where it was found. Make your Facebook post sharable so others can spread the word. You can also try the websites below:

• Petco Love Lost
• For the Love of Louie
• Pet FBI
• Center for Lost Pets
• Fido Finder
• Lost Dogs of America
• Lost Pet USA
• Missing Pet Partnership

Get the animal scanned for a microchip

If the animal you found doesn’t have an ID on their collar, it may still have a microchip that can be scanned at an animal shelter or veterinarian’s office. The microchip contains the owner’s information and should help with reuniting the two.

Transfer custody of the lost pet to local animal shelter or animal control

If the steps above don’t prove to be successful in locating the lost pet’s owner, your next best course of action is dropping off the animal at your local shelter or animal control department. Most organizations have a stray animal hold period, though duration may vary. Use the database below to find your nearest location.