Found a pet? Here’s what to do next.
Check for tags
If the pet doesn’t have an ID tag, are they wearing a local license or rabies tag? Those can be used to find the owner. You can call the number on the tag, or you can take the pet to a veterinary office so they can scan them for a microchip.
Search online
Search the 24Petconnect database for lost pets in your area.
Lost pets not reunited with their owners may become available for adoption. Consider checking our adoptable pets and those of other shelters or rescue groups.
Submit a report
If you want to temporarily care for a lost pet in your home, you should still fill out a found report to help owners find their missing pet. We also suggest you check with neighbors and area veterinarians, hang signs, and post notices on social media sites such as Facebook and Craigslist.
Take the pet to a shelter
If you can do so safely, we recommend taking the pet to the municipal shelter or the animal control facility closest to where they were found. These agencies offer lost pets the best chance to be reunited with their families.
If you can’t safely transport the pet, call animal control for the city where the pet was found.
We accept stray pets at the Buddy Center in Castle Rock, the Leslie A. Malone Center in Denver and the San Luis Valley Animal Center. All pets will be accepted according to urgency, then on a first-come, first-served basis.