Found a pet?
Here’s what to do next.
Follow these steps to give them the best chance of getting home safely.
01 • Start Here
Check for a microchip
Get them scanned first.
Take the pet to a veterinary clinic or Travis County Fire Station for a free microchip scan—no appointment needed. Tomlinson’s, PetSmart and Petco may also be able to scan.
Ask them to scan the pet’s entire body, since microchips can migrate.
If a chip is found: Get the full chip number. Rally can help trace unregistered chips or chips with outdated contact information.
02 • Get the word out!
Share in the right places.
Create a found-pet listing and post in your community
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POST on Nextdoor. com (use the website or phone app) in the GenFOUNDeral category and Ring app.
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Create a free Found Dog listing for our shelter at Petco Love Lost at https://petcolove.org/lost/signup/
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POST in your neighborhood Facebook group(s) and Ring app.
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List the pet on Pawboost.com (it’s completely free for a basic listing)
The Pawboost site is widely used by those not on Facebook
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File a 311 Service Request “FOUND PET REPORT”: https://austin-cwiprod.motorolasolutions.com/cwi/select
🔻🔻🔻Please call 911 for a loose dog in or near busy traffic areas 🔻🔻🔻
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POST SIGNS in the neighborhood where the pet was found. Many people are not on Facebook or social media and they won’t ever see this post. Signs/posters can be handwritten with a thick black marker. Post signs near community mailbox clusters.
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DISTRIBUTE FLYERS to area vet clinics, groomers, & pet stores where the pet was found. Also take a flyer to each home in the neighborhood where the pet was found.
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Post an ad on Austin Craigslist in both of these COMMUNITY sections:
> Lost&Found
> Pets
Before returning the pet
📋 Verify Proof of Ownership
Always ask for proof of ownership before releasing a found pet to someone who claims them.
Ask for one or more of the following:
Photos of the pet showing matching markings or features
Veterinary or adoption records
The pet’s microchip number
A description of identifying details not included in your posts
Tip: Keep a few identifying details private when posting the pet online. You can use them later to help confirm the correct owner.
Emergency
Is the pet in immediate danger?
Loose dog or nearby busy traffic areas?
Call 911
Sick or Injured Pet?
Call 311
To request pickup from an animal control officer, or take the pet to a shelter in person.
Austin Animal Center
7201 Levander Loop Bldg. A,
Austin, TX 78702
If it is AFTER shelter care hours (11AM-4:30PM daily), you can try to take the pet in person to CTVSEH in S Austin.
Depending on the severity of the injuries, they may provide medical care, then transfer to AAC the following day. This depends on how sick the pet is and they could turn you away:
Central TX Veterinary Specialty Emergency Hospital (CTVSEH),
4434 Frontier Trail, Austin, TX 78745,
Call first (512) 892-9038, 24 hours, 7 days a week.
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