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Lost/Found Pet Guidance
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What to Do When You Find a Lost Pet
If you find a lost pet, it's important to not make immediate assumptions, as even well-loved pets can deteriorate quickly when lost. It's important to first take steps to actively locate the owner. Finders are obligated by law to actively attempt to locate the owner for 30 days (this may vary a little based on local laws) - it is illegal to keep or re-home a pet within this timeframe. See the steps below for guidance on steps to take when you've found a lost dog.
The first place most owners will look for their pet is their local animal services, so it's important to immediately call to report the animal found. In addition to giving the potential owner a chance to find their pet, this also starts the clock on the stray hold. If a pet is brought in to animal services however, the stray hold is much shorter, usually around 3 to 5 days. After this time, the pet can be adopted out.
Taking a found pet to animal services is not necessarily an automatic death sentence - the shelter will keep the pet safe from roaming the streets, and they will be given proper nutrition, basic medical care, and often a behavior and medical assessment. These basics go a long way in helping to place them with a rescue and/or an adopter.
If you do take a pet to animal services, be sure to get their Animal ID# if you'd like to keep track of them.
We are a completely foster-based rescue, so our ability to take in a dog is wholly dependent on having an available foster. Stray holds can tie up a foster home for a long time, so it is somewhat rare that we are able to take in a stray from the beginning of the stray hold. Even a temporary foster offer from a finder is helpful and would help the chances that we could match the dog with a foster.
Steps to Take
So you found a lost pet, what next? The steps below are meant to help guide you through this process; however, a found pet can be surrendered to Animal Services at any time.
Step 1: Report the pet as found. Make sure the pet is reported to the county it's found in.
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Orange County: Call 311 to report the pet as found. For additional details, visit their
website.
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Osceola County:
Complete the found pet report on their website
here
- if you feel the animal has been neglected, you can also report this by calling 407-742-8000
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Seminole County: Call 407-665-5201 to report the pet as found. For additional details, visit their
website.
Step 2: Take the pet to get scanned for a microchip.
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Most vets offer this service for free and without an appointment, but we recommend calling ahead to plan.
Step 3: Post pet details & clear photos online.
Once the pet is reported to Animal Services, we then recommend to post the following online - the location the pet was found (include city & cross streets), a general description of the pet (gender, markings, anything found with the pet), along with a clear photos of the pet to help identify it. We see a lot of similar posts on the following sites:
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NextDoor App (neighborhood app)
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PawBoost (free service that sends out a post - there is a pay option but you don’t need to use this)
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Local Lost/Found Pet Facebook groups
(a few of the ones we are aware of are posted below)
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Lost & Found Animals in Orange, Seminole, & Volusia Counties - FL
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All FLORIDA Fostering, Rehoming, Rescues, Lost & Found, & URGENTS!
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Lost and Found Pets of Osceola County, Florida
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Lost and Found Pets Florida Orange County
Step 4: Post flyers around the area the pet was found.
Be sure to include when the pet was found, a photo and description of the pet, as well as a reliable way to contact you. This step is very important as not everyone is online.
Step 5: Ask for proof of ownership if an owner comes forward.
This is the ultimate goal- but it's important to ensure the person claiming to be the owner is actually that, and not someone with ill intentions. Ask for things like photos with the pet and vet records, to verify they are indeed the owner.
What to Do When Your Pet is Missing
We know this is a stressful time, and it can happen to the best of us. Quick action is important to get your fur baby home safe. If an individual finds and holds on to a lost pet, they're required to report it to Animal Services in a timely manner and search for the owner, and legally the pet cannot be re-homed for 30 days (called a "stray hold"). If a lost pet is surrendered to Animal Services, the hold is much shorter before a pet can be re-homed, usually around 3-5 days.
Most people know that the first place most owners will look for their pet is their local animal services, so it's important to immediately call to see if your pet has been brought in, or reported as found. Many shelters also allow you to file a lost pet report.
Steps to Take
The steps below are meant to help guide you through the steps to take to help reunite you with your pet as quickly as possible.
Step 1: Call Animal Services to see if your pet was turned in or reported found.
Many people recommend always visiting in person, as this is the best way to determine if your pet was brought in, since dogs are always coming in to the shelter. It's also recommended to check shelters in neighboring counties, as animals can wander far when lost. Many shelters will also allow you to file a lost pet report.
Step 2: If your pet has a chip, alert the chip company your pet is missing.
Some chip companies will send an alert out that your pet is lost. Take this time to also ensure your pet's microchip information is up to date, so you can be contacted if they're found. If your pet does not have a chip, we strongly urge you to consider this when they're found.
Step 3: Post missing pet details & clear photos online.
We recommend to post the following online - when the pet was lost, the location the pet was lost near (include cross streets), a general description of the pet (gender, markings, anything on the pet when lost), along with a clear photos of the pet to help identify it. We see a lot of similar posts on the following sites:
-
NextDoor App (neighborhood app)
-
PawBoost (free service that sends out a post - there is a pay option but you don’t need to use this)
-
Local Lost/Found Pet Facebook groups
(a few of the ones we are aware of are posted below)
-
Lost & Found Animals in Orange, Seminole, & Volusia Counties - FL
-
All FLORIDA Fostering, Rehoming, Rescues, Lost & Found, & URGENTS!
-
Lost and Found Pets of Osceola County, Florida
-
Lost and Found Pets Florida Orange County
Step 4: Post flyers around the area the pet was lost.
Be sure to include when the pet was lost, a photo and description of the pet, as well as a reliable way to contact you. This step is very important as not everyone is online.
Step 5: Put something outside your home that smells familiar to your pet.
Pets are drawn to (and comforted by) familiar scents, and this may draw them back to the area. For example, put out some familiar bedding or clothing that's been worn.
Note: A responsible finder may ask you to verify ownership, and may ask for things like photos with the pet and vet records. This is a good thing! This means the finder is taking appropriate steps to ensure the dog goes back to its rightful home, and doesn't end up in a bad situation.
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