Despite our best efforts to make things safe for our pets, sometimes accidents happen. Learn below what to do if you lose your pet, and how to reclaim your stray pet. Learn more about organizations that help with found/injured exotic/small pets and wildlife, and other local animal rescue groups and shelters.
I Lost My Pet
If you have lost a pet, we recommend taking these steps immediately:
1. Check our listing of stray pets currently in our care.
2. Immediately contact your local animal control agency to report your missing dog or cat.
3. If your pet is microchipped, contact your microchip company.
4. Check your local veterinary clinics.
5. Place flyers around the area your pet was lost.
6. Notify your neighbors.
7. Post online.
The list is at the bottom of this page. If you find your animal there, learn how to reclaim your pet.
All found stray animals go to the shelter that your city or town is contracted with for animal services to allow owners to find and reclaim. If you live near a border between cities, report your lost pet to both cities’ animal control agencies.
View public and private shelters and rescue groups in the Bay Area. Provide as much detail as you can when describing your missing dog or cat, including age, sex, color, whether it’s spayed or neutered, where your pet was last seen, whether your pet was wearing a collar and/or ID, photos, and any other identifying characteristics.
The city of San Leandro has partnered with East Bay SPCA to better serve San Leandro residents. East Bay SPCA Oakland Shelter will act as the holding site and provide shelter services for strays or lost animals found in San Leandro. San Leandro residents should continue to contact San Leandro Animal Control directly (510-577-2740) regarding found strays, field pickups, or surrenders.
Inform your microchip company that your pet is lost. Make sure your information is up to date with your pet’s microchip company. Current address and phone numbers allow a shelter or veterinarian to reach you in case your pet is found.
Injured pets may have been taken to a vet by a concerned resident.
Describe your missing pet with photos and leave a contact number in case your pet is found. Include:
- Color
- Size
- Age
- Any special markings
- The date when your pet was lost
Be sure to remove the posters once you have found your pet.
Search the area thoroughly especially in the evenings, since pets may hide during the day.
If your neighborhood has message or bulletin boards or if you have a NextDoor account, post the photo and animal description for your neighbors to view. You can also spread the word on social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter, and to sites like Pet Harbor, Finding Rover, PawBoost, Lostmydoggie, Lostmykitty, and Craigslist.
I Found An Animal
If you find a stray or lost pet, immediately contact your local Animal Control agency in order to give the pet the best chance of being reunited with its owner. If you have any concerns about abuse or neglect based on the pet’s condition when you found them, please discuss these concerns with your local Animal Control. You can take these steps to help:
1. Temporarily keep the pet in your home.
2. Place flyers around the area your pet was found.
3. Post online.
You may be asked by your local Animal Control agency to temporarily keep the pet in your home if you are able to care for them while they try to find the pet’s owner. They will handle the return of the pet to the owner and will contact you if they have made an owner match.
Considering permanently keeping the animal you found? Pets that can be legally owned, in California, are considered personal property. According to California Penal Code 485, a person who finds and appropriates lost property without first making reasonable and just efforts to find the owner and to restore the property to the owner may be guilty of theft. It is important to report the found pet to the animal control agency servicing the area where the pet was found and to follow your jurisdiction’s policies and procedures regarding stray animals.
Describe the animal with photos and leave a contact number in case the owner sees the flyer. Include:
- Color
- Size
- Any special markings
- The date when the animal was found
Be sure to remove the posters once the owners reclaim their pet.
If your neighborhood has message or bulletin boards or if you have a NextDoor account, post the photo and animal description for your neighbors to view. You can also spread the word on social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter, and to sites like Pet Harbor, Finding Rover, PawBoost, Lostmydoggie, Lostmykitty, and Craigslist.
Check Out our Stray Animals Below
