Found a Pet | San Diego Humane Society

Found a Pet?

If you've found a stray pet, we're here to help!

When a pet is found in the community, local law requires that the shelter of jurisdiction must be notified within 24 hours.

Stray pets found within San Diego Humane Society's jurisdiction can be admitted at our El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside and San Diego campus locations during our business hours. Since many stray pets are found close to home, please review the tips below that can help you reunite and animal with its family — and skip a trip to the shelter!

After Hours
If you found a stray pet after hours and you can keep the animal safely in your care overnight, please do so. If you found a dog, we offer information to help you safely introduce them to other resident dogs. However, if you have children, cats or small pets at home, we recommend keeping them separated from the stray dog.

If you are unable to safely care for the animal overnight, or they need medical attention, please call 619-299-7012 and press 1 for assistance.

If you found an outdoor cat or wild animal, please review the following information to determine whether the animal should be brought to a shelter.

Found Cat Guides: When should you bring a cat or kittens to a shelter?

Found Cat Guide Found Kitten Guide

Found Wildlife Guides: How can you tell if intervention is needed?

Found Injured Wildlife Found Baby Wildlife

Tips to Reunite Lost Pets With Their Families

Many stray pets are found close to home. These tips can help you find a lost pet’s family without needing to take them to the shelter! This can reduce stress for the animal and boost the chances that they can be safely reunited with the people who love them.

1. Check for ID

ID Tags: If the animal is wearing a collar with identifying information, try calling and texting the phone number listed on the tag.

Microchip: If the pet is not wearing an ID tag, you can take them to your local veterinary office to have them scanned for a microchip.

2. Check your neighborhood

Eighty percent of lost pets are found within one mile of their home. Ask your neighbors or people in the area if they recognize the animal or know the owner.

Use this template to create a flyer and post it at local coffee shops, dog parks, pet stores, veterinary offices and other businesses.

3. Search online missing pet databases

Start by searching to see if the pet you found has been reported as missing on PawBoost. If you find a matching post, you can contact the pet’s owner directly. If you don’t see a profile for the missing pet, create a free found pet post so their owner can contact you!

You can search and post to additional missing pet online databases, including Petco Love Lost, Pet FBI, Fido Finder and Lost Dogs of America.

4. Post on social media and community groups

Post a photo, description and location the pet was found, along with a way to contact you on these platforms:

Facebook groups: For a list of groups specifically focused on finding lost pets in your area, please click here.
Nextdoor. Tips for posting lost pets on Nextdoor can be found here.
Neighbors by Ring. Learn more about joining and positing on the Neighbors app here.
Craigslist's Lost & Found section.

5. Contact us!

If you’re not able to find the pet’s owner on your own, and the animal was found in San Diego Humane Society’s jurisdiction, contact us.

Animals that qualify for our Straycare Program may be able to serve their legally required stray hold in your home.

Call 619-299-7012 to provide as much of the following information about the pet as possible: age, weight, breed, color, overall description and location where they were found (including zip code). This information will help us cross-reference lost pet reports.

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