If you’ve found a dog, cat, or other pet in New York City, we hope you will care for the animal until his or her owner has been located.

To locate the owner:

• Check for ID tags, dog license, or other forms of identification.
• Take the dog or cat to a vet’s office or shelter and ask them to scan for a microchip. If the pet is microchipped, contact the microchip company, which will locate the pet’s owner.
• Visit the ACC website to file an online found pet report or search their lost pet database.
• Take a photo of the pet you found and upload/drag & drop it on the Petco Love Lost website to search its national lost and found pet database that uses facial recognition technology.
• Post “found pet” flyers, featuring a photo of the pet and your phone number, throughout your neighborhood, at veterinary offices, pet supply stores, and other businesses. Be sure to get permission before posting flyers on private property. Withhold a distinctive piece of information about the pet (unique markings, eye color, etc.) to screen bogus calls claiming to be the pet’s owner.
• Post “found pet” notices on your social media accounts, general neighborhood and lost pet Facebook groups, and other location-based online communities, such as Nextdoor or Craigslist. Be sure to include a photo and description of the animal, and your contact information. By creating a single, shareable online poster image that includes all important information, you can make it easy for others to help you spread the word. Withhold a distinctive piece of information about the pet (unique markings, eye color, etc.) to screen bogus calls claiming to be the pet’s owner. You can also use social media and other local online communities to search for “lost pet” notices that may be a match. As always when networking online, be alert for danger and potential scams.
• Check lost and found pet apps and websites, such as PetAmberAlert, PawBoost, MyLostPetAlert, and Pet FBI to see if the pet you found has been listed as lost. If the pet is not listed as lost, you should list the pet as found. There are many free and fee-based pet lost and found apps and websites available, all with different services and pricing, so read the fine print before you begin.

If you cannot locate the pet’s owner and are prepared to take on the responsibility, we hope you’ll consider keeping the pet as part of your family.

If you cannot keep the pet yourself, then contact a local rescue group or shelter to see if they have room in their adoption program for the animal. These groups will only take in animals that they can accommodate.

If you cannot care for the animal until you can locate his or her owner, you can bring the animal to the nearest Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) shelter.