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I Found a Pet

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Found a Pet?

Found animals are often owned pets, and are usually found within a mile of their home. Unfortunately, bringing a lost pet to a shelter decreases their chance of being found by their owner and fills up much-needed space in the shelter. Furthermore, a shelter can be a stressful environment where animals can wait for long periods of time for a home. If you find a stray or lost animal, please take the following steps:  

Locate the Owner

Immediate Actions

  • Walk the animal around the area – most pets don’t wander far from home! 
  • Ask neighbors if they recognize the pet. 
  • Have the pet scanned for a microchip at your local veterinary clinic, pet store, or shelter. 

Online Resources

Contact Local Services

  • If the pet is wearing a license, call your local animal control for the owner’s information.
  • Call your local veterinary clinics and provide a description of the pet. 

Report a Found Pet and Provide Temporary Care

Become a Friendly Finder and provide a temporary home for the found pet. If you can care for the pet in your home, their family will have an easier time getting them back if they stay in the neighborhood they were found. We can provide those who find lost pets with food and offer kennels, leashes, and collars and other supplies, when available.

Start by submitting a Found Pet Report, including a photo of the animal, through our website or at the shelter. This step ensures the pet is in our system and searchable for families looking for their lost pet. The information you provide about the pet will be posted on our website’s “Found Animals” page within 48 hours of submitting the form.

Learn more about our Friendly Finders program.

Schedule an Appointment

Schedule an appointment to bring the found pet to the shelter. If you are able to temporarily care for the pet until your appointment, it helps us manage animal intake and ensures we have the resources to provide essential care for every animal.   

In the meantime, please complete a Found Pet Report to list the animal on the Lost and Found page of our website. Appointments fill quickly, so we recommend booking as soon as possible. You can cancel or reschedule at any time if needed. 

Schedule a Found Pet Appointment

Found Pets from Tacoma, Lakewood, Fircrest, Dupont, Steilacoom, South Prairie, Carbonado, Fife, University Place, and unincorporated Pierce County

The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County is an open-admission shelter with animal control contracts, which means our local government contracts us to care for animals brought in from their service areas. The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County does not provide animal control.

At this time, we are contracted with Tacoma, Lakewood, Fircrest, Dupont, Steilacoom, South Prairie, Carbonado, Fife, University Place, and unincorporated Pierce County.

Starting January 1, 2025, Federal Way Animal Control will transition from partnering with the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County to a new collaboration with Burien C.A.R.E.S. Stray animals and owner surrenders from Federal Way will be directed to Burien C.A.R.E.S.

Found Pets from Other Locations

While we serve most of Pierce County, due to our Animal Control contracts, we are unable to take stray pets from the cities of Puyallup, Federal Way*, Sumner, Bonney Lake, Milton, Algona, Pacific, and Eatonville, as well as JBLM. You can find the contact for local animal control agencies here.

*Starting January 1, 2025, Federal Way Animal Control will transition from partnering with the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County to a new collaboration with Burien C.A.R.E.S. Stray animals and owner surrenders from Federal Way will be directed to Burien C.A.R.E.S.