I Found a Lost Pet

Check the Pet for Identification

• Ideally, their collar or tag will indicate their owner’s contact information, so you can get in touch right away!
• If a dog has a New York State license tag, call the town or city clerk or the animal control agency in the town or city where the dog was found. If the dog isn’t wearing tags, you are required by law to notify animal control in the town or city where the animal was found.
• Many microchip and other registraties provide tags that have contact information to help reunite pets with their families.

Contact Other Shelters in Your Area

Check with other local shelters and municipal animal control departments. Here is a partial list to assist you in your search.

Rochester Animal Services (City of Rochester)
Humane Society of Wayne County
Humane Society of Ontario County
Humane Society of Genesee County

Town of Perinton
Town of East Rochester

Submit and Review “Lost Pet” Listings

Here are some of the places to check regularly. Post a “found pet” listing on social media, online lost and found sites, and in local newspaper(s).

Include the pet’s appearance, breed, sex, age, and date found, as well as your contact information and a good photo. Don’t forget to read the “lost” postings, too.

Local Listings

Lollypop Spotters
Finger Lakes Lost & Found Pets
Genesee Valley Pennysaver
Craigslist
Rochester Dogs Lost and Found
Lost, Found, Missing Pets Rochester NY and surrounding areas
Frank Vaccaro – “Found Stray Missing Cats”
Monroe County New York Lost & Found Pets

National Listings And Services

Petco Love Lost uses facial recognition technology to help reunite lost dogs and cats with their families, allowing anyone with computer access to be a superhero. If you’ve lost your pet, take advantage of this unique tool to help bring you and your pet back together!

Pet Place
PawBoost – free listing and alert service
Pet FBI – free listing and resources
Pet Amber Alert – paid alert service

Check the Chip

To check if the pet is microchipped, you can take them to a local veterinarian or animal control agency to be scanned. (Make sure to call first to confirm that this will be possible.) You can also bring them to Lollypop Farm to be scanned for a microchip.

Put up “found” posters in your neighborhood.

• Pet FBI provides an easy template to create found posters.

Here are some other helpful tips:

• You can also get permission to post flyers and posters at veterinarian offices, groomers, pet-supply stores, supermarkets, and libraries. Make them clear and readable, and include “FOUND DOG” or “FOUND CAT” in large letters.
• To help you to later determine if a person who contacts you is the pet’s true guardian, leave out one descriptive detail.
• For signs on the street, make sure that drivers can read them easily; a large poster board works best.
• Laminate your signs to weather-proof them.
• Be on the lookout for “lost” posters and flyers, too.

More tips and resources:

• For cats: Once you’re done checking for a microchip and filling out a Found Pet Report, feel free to print this paper collar out to put on the cat you’ve found. This will help you determine if the cat has a home or caretaker nearby.
• Join our Lollypop Spotters Facebook Page for Lost and Found Pets!
  Be part of the community helping to reunite lost pets and their families, or post your own lost or found pets.
• Cat In a Tree Emergency Rescue offers a directory by state of services that may help if a cat is stuck in a tree. They also have helpful tips on how to coax a cat down from a tree.

Did you Find Kittens?

• When finding kittens seemingly by themselves, your first instinct may be to bring them home with you or to an animal shelter. The steps you take and how urgently these pets need you to intervene, though, may depend on a number of factors. This guide from the ASPCA walks you through the steps and factors to consider.