How to help a pet that you have found

If you have found wildlife, please visit the Wildlife Care Association website for more information, click here.

Have you found a stray animal and aren’t sure what to do? With many shelters in the region only accepting sick or injured animals, here are a few tips on how you can best help a lost animal find its way home.

It’s been long thought that bringing healthy animals to shelters was the best way to help them, but we now realize that most of the time, they can be easily reunited with their family by staying near where they were found. That leaves the shelter with room to say yes to animals who truly need our help – those whose owners can no longer keep them or animals that are sick or injured.

Healthy Cat (Leave it Alone)
If you found a healthy cat (not injured or emaciated): PUT IT BACK where you found it. It most likely has an owner and was just enjoying a walk around the neighborhood!

Sick or Injured Cat or Dog (Seek Help from an Organization)
Take to a local vet or animal shelter for immediate medical care. Depending on where you found the animal, take to the appropriate shelter listed below.

Healthy Dog (House Animal Until You Can Locate the Owner)

1. CHECK FOR ID/COLLAR: If the dog has a collar with ID/Phone, please contact the owner. 
2. CHECK FOR MICROCHIP: Take to a local vet, shelter, pet store to scan for chip*
3. YARD SIGNS: Make a big sign for your front yard- Keep it simple: FOUND DOG/CAT/RABBIT Size, Type (if known), Color, Sex 
4. SOCIAL MEDIA: Post animal picture and FOUND notice of local “Sacramento Lost & Found Pets” Facebook page, Craigslist, Nextdoor and any other city or neighborhood specific social media group available 
5. FAXED NOTIFICATIONS: Go to www.lostmydoggie.com choose free option, you can then enter the info and photo. This information is immediately faxed to Animal Shelters, Vet offices, rescue groups, etc. Many owners have been found this way!
6. NEIGHBORHOOD SIGNS: Print flyers from www.lostmydoggie.com (yes, they help cats too!) Post flyers on telephone poles or other neighborhood boards – 

FOUND A MICROCHIP?
Visit www.petmicrochiplookup.org and enter the chip number and contact all companies where registration is listed.

If you are unable to care for the pet before its owner is found

By law, stray animals must be cared for by the agency funded to provide them care. 

The information below is subject to change. Please visit their website for current information.

*Noted by white street signs.
**Noted by green street signs.

You may file a found pet report with us online (see previous page) or click here to fill out a paper found pet report with the Sacramento SPCA. We will keep your report for 30 days.