Lost or Found a Pet?
Lost a Pet
- Create a flyer with a description of your pet, where the pet was last seen and when, how to contact you if your pet is found. If you are offering a reward, do not state in the flyer the amount of the reward.
- Look around your neighborhood carefully. While looking, post flyers where pedestrians and drivers are likely to see them.
- Go door-to-door and talk to everyone (including postal carriers, paper carriers, school crossing guards and children) and leave a flyer with them.
- Your pet's strong sense of smell may serve as a beacon for your lost pal. Leaving a pair of your old gym socks or shirt or your pet’s bedding and toys out on the patio may help guide your pet back home.
- Visit both locations of Maricopa County Animal Care and Control– quickly and often! Check the county facilities every 24-72 hours. By law, the county shelter is only required to hold a lost or stray animal for 72 hours. After that time, the animal becomes the county’s property. You can also call them at 602.506.PETS.
- Visit the Arizona Humane Society Sunnyslope Campus Admissions Department and ask to see the lost pets in Second Chance Animal Hospital™. Bring a photo of your pet as well as their veterinary records. Leave a flyer about your lost pet at the animal shelter.
- Call local veterinary offices/emergency clinics. Visit the office in person if they have a description that remotely sounds like your pet.
Found a Pet
- If the dog is wearing a current Maricopa County tag, call 602-506-PETS (7387) and follow the prompts to retrieve the owner’s phone number.
- If the dog or cat is wearing any other type of ID, attempt to contact the owner using the information on the ID.
- The pet can be scanned for a microchip by a local veterinarian or shelter (call the place you desire to take them to ensure that they have scanning capability).
- Post fliers in the neighborhood that you found a pet with a general description. However, if someone contacts you to claim the pet, be sure they provide a detailed, accurate description of the pet before releasing the animal to their care.
- Post the found animal on Petfinder, Pet Harbor, Craigslist, etc.
- Contact Maricopa County Animal Care & Control for a dog pick-up. They cannot pick-up cats.
- Or take the dog or cat to one of the county shelters.
