Found a Pet?
Thank you for helping! Before bringing a healthy pet to the shelter, there are a few simple things that often reunite families even faster.
First: Is the Pet Injured or Unwell?
If the pet appears visibly injured, sick, or in immediate danger, please bring them to us right away.
In the First Hour: Help This Pet Get Home
These steps give this pet the best chance of being reunited with their family. The goal is to find the owner and most of the time, that’s exactly what happens when you take these actions right away.
- Check for ID
Is the pet wearing a tag or license? If so, call your local animal control agency, they can use the license number to look up the owner’s contact information. - Walk the area and ask around
Most pets don’t wander far from home. Walk the block, knock on a few doors, and ask neighbors if they recognize the animal. You might find the owner in minutes. - Search online
Check local lost and found groups to see if anyone has already posted about this pet:
- Facebook: Lost and Found Pets of Pierce County
- Facebook: Tacoma Lost and Found Pets
- Pawboost
- Nextdoor app
- Get them scanned for a microchip
Take the pet to a nearby veterinary clinic, pet store, or shelter to have them scanned. It’s quick, free, and often the fastest way to identify an owner. - Make flyers and post them nearby
Create a simple flyer with a clear photo and post it in the neighborhood where you found them. The more eyes on it, the better.
Why We Don’t Recommend Bringing Healthy Pets In
When healthy, found pets stay close to where they were lost, their owner has a much better chance of finding them. Bringing a healthy animal to the shelter actually decreases the likelihood of reunification and it takes up space we need for animals in critical situations.
Most of the time, the most powerful thing you can do for this pet is stay in the loop right from where you are. That’s where the Friendly Finder program comes in.
Become a Friendly Finder
If you’re able to provide temporary care for this pet while their family searches for them, you can make a real difference for the pet, for their owner, and for our shelter.
As a Friendly Finder, you:
- Keep the pet safe, comfortable, and close to the area where they were found
- Submit a Found Pet Report so their family can search for them in our system
- Work with our team to help bring them home
And we support you throughout the process. We can provide essential supplies like food, bowls, bedding, and crates when available. Visit our Animal Receiving lobby during open hours to request supplies.
Friendly Finders are one of the most impactful ways our community keeps pets out of the shelter, and out of unnecessary stress, while giving them the best possible shot at going home.
Found a Cat?
They Might Not Be Lost.
We know it might sound counterintuitive, but not every cat you see outside needs rescuing. Many outdoor cats are right where they’re supposed to be—they may be a community cat cared for by several neighbors, or a housecat who’s simply allowed to roam.
“Should this cat stay or come in?”
One more thing to look for: a small notch or flat edge on one ear is called an “ear tip.” It means this cat has been through a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program where they’ve been vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and returned to their outdoor home. They’re cared for. They’re okay.
If a cat looks healthy, clean, and at ease: the best thing you can do is leave them where they are. They’re home.
If a cat appears injured, sick, or in immediate danger: please bring them to our shelter.
Found Kittens?
Taking healthy kittens too soon can accidentally separate them from the one best equipped to care for them.
Followed Every Step And No Luck Yet?
If you’ve followed these steps and still need to bring the pet in, we ask that you schedule a found pet appointment first. Appointments help us manage our intake and make sure we have the resources and space to care for every animal properly. They’re not required, but they make a meaningful difference and you can reschedule or cancel at any time.
Where You Found the Pet Matters
We’re contracted to accept found pets from the following areas: Tacoma, Lakewood, Fircrest, DuPont, Steilacoom, South Prairie, Carbonado, Fife, University Place, and unincorporated Pierce County.
If you found a pet outside these areas, we may not be able to accept them directly. Please contact your local animal control agency for guidance.
We are currently unable to accept stray pets from: Puyallup, Sumner, Bonney Lake, Milton, Algona, Pacific, Edgewood, Eatonville, and JBLM.
Note: As of January 1, 2025, Federal Way animal control has transitioned to a partnership with Burien C.A.R.E.S. Stray animals and owner surrenders from Federal Way should be directed there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you encourage leaving a healthy cat outside rather than bringing them to the shelter?
Outdoor cats, especially those accustomed to living outside, find the shelter environment extremely stressful. Healthy cats are far more likely to be reunited with their owner or community caregiver when they remain in the area where they were found. Bringing them in removes them from a familiar environment and often makes reunification harder, not easier. When in doubt, the neighborhood is usually the right answer.
What support do Friendly Finders receive?
We can provide essential supplies like food, bowls, bedding, and crates when available. Our team is available to answer questions and help coordinate reunification. Just visit our Animal Receiving lobby during open hours.
Why don’t you always encourage people to bring healthy animals to the shelter as a first step?
We function a lot like urgent care: we triage, assess, and prioritize the animals who need us most. When healthy animals come in as a first resort, it increases their stress, reduces their chances of reunification, and takes up space from animals in critical need. The community is often the best first responder, and our job is to support you in that role.
What should I expect if I bring a found pet to the shelter?
Our team will check the pet in and assess their condition. Because we work as a triage system, please plan for some wait time. It helps to bring any information you’ve gathered, where and when you found them, whether you checked for a microchip, and any ID or tag details. We’ll do our best to make the process as efficient as possible.
How long do you hold found pets before they become available for adoption?
The legal stray hold period is 48–72 hours, depending on the jurisdiction where the pet was found. Pets with identification (a microchip, license, or tag) may be held longer. After the hold period ends, pets may be made available for adoption.