Lost Pet Resources

Pet's can go missing quickly, whether through an open door or gate at home or when frightened by loud noises. It can be a scary and stressful experience for both your family and your pet. Try not to panic. Your quick response combined with neighborhood networking greatly increases the odds of locating your pet.

Within the First Hour

Knock on your neighbors doors to ask if they have seen your pet. Post on community message boards or apps. This could include neighborhood apps such as Nextdoor & Ring Neighbors, a neighborhood email list, or a Facebook group. Make sure to include a description of your pet (color, size, male/female), last known location or closest intersection and a photo.

If your pet is microchipped, contact the microchip company right away to report them as lost, and update your contact information if needed.

Within the Next Few Hours

Start searching the Petco Love Lost database and upload your pet's photos now. Petco Love Lost, an SPCA of Wake Partner, provides free facial recognition software to help reunite lost pets to their owners. Your pet’s uploaded photo will be scanned against photos of found animals at local shelters and those reported by the community.

Next, make a flyer. Walk your neighborhood and hand it out to neighbors, postal carriers, UPS/Amazon drivers, landscapers and tell them about your missing pet.

Consider setting up a PawBoost alert.

Within the First 24 Hours

Call your county’s animal shelter to see if your pet has been turned over to them. Since pet's can come in at a later date, make sure to check back as frequently as you can.

Hang lost pet posters. Hang posters at major intersections within a 3-mile radius of where your dog was lost or a 1-mile radius of where your cat was lost. Once the pet is found, retrieve your lost pet posters from wherever you hung them.

Post your pet on social media. Include clear photos of both your pets face and body, and include your contact information. Continue to look for your pet frequently on shelter websites, lost & found websites & social media groups.

Last but not least, fill out an SPCA of Wake Lost Pet help form via the Helpline button below. The form starts with the questions below. Include as much detail as possible, and please attach photos when prompted. If we receive a call from someone who has found a pet matching your pet's description, we will contact you.