Found a Pet

Thank you for looking out for this found pet! Please follow the steps below for the best chances of reuniting this pet with their owner.

File a Found Pet Report: Due to limited shelter space, we encourage members of the public to keep found pets at home with them when possible, and file a report via Petco Love Lost here to help locate the owner! After filing your report, check the site at least once a day to view new potential matches. Petco Love Lost collects lost/found pet reports from individuals as well as thousands of shelters and rescues nationwide, and uses AI and facial recognition software to find possible matches to missing pets. For best results, use a clear photo of the found pet, enter their microchip number (if they have one) in your report, and provide a description of the pet’s collar, leash, harness, and/or any distinctive markings.

Contact the Owner: If the pet has any visible ID (tags, etc.) contact the owner. Look around the neighborhood and ask people if they have seen anyone searching for a missing pet. The first place owners look for their pet is the community, so it’s important to spread the word as someone may recognize the pet and be able to help you reunite them!

Scan for a Microchip: Have the pet scanned for a microchip at any vet office or shelter. You can then search the chip number on www.petmicrochiplookup.org to determine which company the chip is registered with, and call that company to report the pet as found. We’re happy to help with microchip follow up as well – please email info@acctphilly.org with the chip number.

Research the Tags: You may use these resources to track down an owner based on the ID tags:

• Philly Dog License: Can be traced by emailing the ACCT Philly team at info@acctphilly.org
• Rabies tags will have vet or shelter information on them – contact the facility on the tag and provide the tag number, so they can reach out to the owner.

Post to Social Media and Similar Sites: Facebook is an incredible resource for helping lost pets find their way home. Post photos along with information on where the animal was found, what date, if it has any identifying markings, tags, collars, etc. Remember that pets can travel long distances quickly, so don’t be skeptical if you find a pet a long way from the owner’s home. Make sure to ask for proof of ownership (pictures or vet paperwork). Here are some sites and pages we suggest posting on:

ACCT Philly’s Lost and Found Pets page on Facebook
Lost and Found Pets in North East Philadelphia
Northeast Philly Pets – Lost and Found
NextDoor.com
Post the pet you found on PawBoost for free
Mayfair Pets Lost and Found
Lost and Found Pets of Women’s Animal Center
Lost and Found Pets, South Philly
Craigslist for Philadelphia

Bring the animal to ACCT: This should be your last resort if you can’t locate the owner. The shelter is extremely full, and animals may be at risk of euthanasia after their stray hold ends. Dogs are held for 48 hours before they can potentially go to an adopter or rescue, and for 5 days if they are microchipped. There is no legally required stray hold for cats, although we do our best to reach the owner if the cat is microchipped or has tags. If you are the finder of a lost pet and are interested in adopting the pet after the stray hold, please let the staff know at the time you are turning in the lost pet, or keep the pet at home while filing your found pet report as linked above. Once the pet is surrendered to the shelter, there is no guarantee you will be able to adopt them.

We advise against jumping to conclusions about a pet’s owner based solely on the pet’s condition. Sometimes pets may become matted, unkempt, dirty, or even injured after escaping their home, and this does not necessarily reflect the usual care they receive from their owners.

A special note about outdoor cats! Cats are allowed outdoors in the city of Philadelphia. Free roaming cats brought to ACCT Philly who are deemed healthy will be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and released back to their home territory so that they may return home in accordance with our Community Cats Program, which aims to humanely reduce the population of free roaming cats in Philadelphia through sterilization. Keep in mind that owned cats are more likely to find their own way home than be reclaimed at the shelter! Cats are rarely reclaimed, so bringing a cat to a shelter is the least likely way for them to get back home. Unless the cat is in danger or needs medical care, it is often best to allow them to find their own way home, and only intervene if you are concerned for their safety.