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Found animal guide

Found a dog or cat? What to do first

Keep yourself and the animal safe first, then check for an ID tag and get the animal scanned for a microchip at any vet clinic or shelter. Report the animal to your local animal control or shelter, post a found report with a photo and the general area, and check lost-pet posts nearby. Do not rehome the animal yourself: someone may be searching.

General guidance for anyone, free and without an account. Not veterinary or legal advice; local rules differ. Last reviewed October 7, 2026.

Safety first, yours and the animal's

  • Do not grab a frightened, injured or growling animal. Call your local animal control instead.
  • If it is safe, move the animal away from traffic using a leash, a slip lead made from a belt, or a carrier.
  • Keep a found animal apart from your own pets until it has been checked by a vet or shelter.
  • Offer water. Hold off on large meals; a small amount of plain food is enough for now.

Look for an owner's details

  • Check the collar for an ID tag, a phone number, or a rabies or licence tag (the number on it can be traced through the issuing office or vet).
  • Take the animal to any vet clinic or shelter for a microchip scan. It takes a minute and is normally free.
  • If a chip is found, the clinic or shelter can contact the registry. Do not be surprised if the details are out of date; they will try other routes.

Report it where owners look

Owners search their local shelter and animal control first. Many places also require finders to report or turn in a found animal; check the rules where you live.

  • Report the animal to your local animal control or shelter, with a photo, where and when you found it, and your number.
  • Post a found report in local lost-and-found and neighborhood groups with a photo and the general area, not your address.
  • Keep one detail out of the post (a marking, a collar color) and ask anyone claiming the animal to describe it.
  • Check lost-pet posts in the same places every day.

If it is a cat outdoors

Not every cat outside is lost. Many have homes nearby, and some are community cats cared for by neighbors.

  • A straight cut across the tip of one ear usually means a community cat that has been neutered and returned; it may be exactly where it belongs.
  • A healthy, relaxed cat may simply live nearby. A paper collar with a short note ('Is this your cat? Call ...') can find the owner without taking the cat anywhere.
  • A thin, injured or clearly distressed cat needs help: contact your local shelter or rescue.

If you found very young kittens

A mother cat often leaves her kittens for hours to find food. Removing healthy kittens can do more harm than leaving them.

  • If the kittens look clean and healthy and are in a safe spot, watch from a distance for a few hours before doing anything.
  • If they are in danger, cold, wet or the mother does not return, contact a local shelter or rescue for advice before you take them in.

What to avoid

  • Giving the animal away or rehoming it yourself before the owner has had a fair chance to find it.
  • Posting your full address or the animal's every identifying detail.
  • Handing an animal to someone who cannot describe it or show proof it is theirs.

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Common questions

Can I keep a dog or cat I found?
Not straight away. Rules differ by place, but finders are usually expected to report a found animal and give the owner time to reclaim it. Ask your local animal control what applies.
Where can I get a found animal scanned for a microchip?
Any veterinary clinic or animal shelter can scan for a microchip, usually for free and in a minute or two.
How do I know a person claiming the animal is the owner?
Ask them to describe the detail you kept out of your post, and to show photos, vet records or a microchip registration. If in doubt, arrange the handover through your local shelter.

Words in this guide

Microchip
A tiny implant under the skin carrying an ID number that a vet or shelter can scan. It is not a GPS tracker: it leads back to an owner only if the registry holds current contact details.
Stray hold
The period a shelter keeps a found animal so its owner can reclaim it before it becomes available for adoption or transfer. The length is set by local rules and can be only a few days, which is why owners of a lost pet should visit shelters in person, often.
Ear tip
A small straight cut across the tip of one ear, made during surgery, showing from a distance that a community cat has already been neutered and vaccinated.
Community cat
A cat that lives outdoors without one owner. Some are friendly, some avoid people. Many are looked after by neighbors who feed them.