I Found a Pet

Your next steps depend on whether you're able to safely keep the pet with you while you look for their family. Choose the option that best fits your situation.

If You Can Keep the Pet Temporarily

Thank you for giving this pet some time to find their way home. Many lost pets can be reunited with their families without ever entering the shelter system, especially when the person who finds them can keep them temporarily while searching for their owner.

You don't have to take on this responsibility indefinitely. Start with the steps below to help get the word out and give the pet's family a chance to find them.

Step 1Check for ID or Microchip

First, check the pet's collar for an ID tag or other identifying information. The pet you found might also have a microchip. Any veterinarian or animal shelter, including SPCA Wake (during open hours), should be able to scan the pet to check for a microchip.

If a microchip is found, the registration information should have up-to-date contact information for the owner.

STEP 2Report the Pet as Found

Report the pet as found on Petco Love Lost, a national lost-and-found pet database and SPCA Wake partner. Petco Love Lost uses facial-recognition technology to compare photos of lost and found pets, which may help identify a possible match.

Include a clear photo, the general area where the pet was found, and information about how someone can contact you.

Post a found pet on Petco Love Lost ▶

STEP 3Spread the Word in Your Community

Research has shown that the most successful way to reunite a lost pet is by networking the immediate area where the pet was found. That means putting up eye-catching flyers and talking to neighbors. It may seem old school, but it continues to be the most effective approach.

Post a photo of the pet on neighborhood social media sites. Many pets are reunited this way. Share the pet on neighborhood apps such as Nextdoor and Ring Neighbors, community Facebook groups, neighborhood email lists, and other local lost-and-found pet groups.

Include the general location where the pet was found and a clear photo. You may want to withhold one identifying detail so you can ask someone claiming the pet to verify they are the true owner.

STEP 4Notify Your Local Shelter

Contact the government-operated animal shelter or animal control agency serving the county where the pet was found to report that you have the animal. An owner looking for their missing pet may contact or search their local shelter, so make sure the shelter knows the pet has been found.

Continue checking local shelter websites and lost-pet listings for pets matching the one you found.

STEP 5Verify Ownership

If someone contacts you claiming the pet, ask for information to confirm they're the owner. This might be photos of the pet, veterinary records, identifying markings or characteristics, or information that wasn't included in your public posts.

Be wary of AI-generated images or documents being used to falsely claim ownership of the pet.

If You Cannot Hang Onto the Pet

If you aren't able to keep the pet with you while searching for their family, contact the animal control agency or government-operated shelter that serves the area where the pet was found. Different counties and municipalities are served by different agencies, so the correct place to call may not be the animal shelter or animal control agency where you live.

If Found in Wake County

Contact the Wake County Animal Center (WCAC) before bringing the pet to the shelter. WCAC accepts stray animals from Wake County, but intake procedures and availability may vary, so contact the shelter first for current instructions.

The Wake County Animal Center and the SPCA of Wake County are two separate organizations. Stray/found animals must go to WCAC. 

If you cannot safely transport the animal, contact the Animal Control agency that serves the location where the pet was found. Animal Control can respond to found or stray animals and, when appropriate, transport them to the Wake County Animal Center.

Note: The correct agency is based on where you found the pet – not where you live.

If Found Outside of Wake County

If the pet was found outside Wake County, contact the government-operated animal shelter or Animal Control agency serving the area where the pet was found. Local procedures vary, so contact the appropriate agency for instructions before transporting the animal.

Not sure who to call? SPCA Wake's Pet Helpline can help you identify the appropriate resources for your situation.

What if I've Been Caring for This Pet for a While?

If you found this pet some time ago and have been caring for them ever since, your situation may be different from someone who just found a lost animal.

If you've already spent significant time trying to locate an owner, have been caring for the pet for an extended period, and now need to find them a new home, our Rehoming Help page may be the better resource for you. It includes guidance for finding a new family directly, publishing a courtesy adoption listing, and exploring shelter surrender options if needed.

Surrender or Rehome a Pet ▶