Found or Lost a Pet
Use Petco Love Lost to Report a Lost or Found Pet
Petco Love Lost is the largest, national pet database to help lost and found pets reunite with their families. Petco Love Lost is a free and easy way to search over 200,000 pets with a single photo, thanks to photo-matching technology. Register today
Lost A Pet
Start Your Search Online
Post your pet’s information and check for found pet reports on the following websites and community groups:
Straydar (Facebook group) LostDogsArizona.org 24PetConnect.com
Nextdoor & Ring Neighbors
PawBoost.com
Contact Your Microchip Provider
If your pet is microchipped, notify the microchip company immediately and confirm that your contact information is current. This ensures you can be reached quickly if your pet is found and scanned.
Post Flyers
Place flyers throughout your neighborhood and within several miles of where your pet was last seen. Include a recent, clear photo of your pet, a physical description, the location they were last seen, and your contact information.
Found a Dog
Thank you for helping a lost animal. Taking a few simple steps can make all the difference in reuniting a pet with their family. Below are the recommended actions based on the type of animal you have found. (Foothills Animal Rescue is a managed-admissions shelter and does not hold stray animals.)
Check For Microchip
Check for a microchip by taking the dog to a veterinary clinic or pet supply store that offers microchip scanning. If a microchip is found, staff can help you obtain the owner’s contact information.
Spread The Word
Next, report the found dog through Petco Love Lost and post the found dog on:
Straydar (Facebook group) LostDogsArizona.org 24PetConnect.com
Nextdoor & Ring Neighbors
PawBoost.com
Next Steps
If you are unable to locate the owner after taking these steps, you will need to schedule an appointment with Maricopa County Animal Care & Control, the agency responsible for holding stray dogs in Maricopa County.
Found a Cat
Start by checking whether the cat is wearing a collar or identification tag that can help you contact the owner. If the cat appears healthy and comfortable outdoors, it may not be lost. Under Arizona law, cats are considered free-roaming animals, and many owned cats spend time outside. Additionally, if the cat has an ear tip (a small, straight notch on one ear), it has likely been spayed or neutered through a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program and is cared for as part of a community cat colony.
If you believe the cat is someone’s pet, look for “Lost Pet” flyers in the surrounding neighborhood and post “Found Cat” flyers with a photo and your contact information. You should also share the cat on local lost-and-found pet websites and social media groups.
Check For Microchip
Check for a microchip by taking the cat to a veterinary clinic or pet supply store that offers microchip scanning. If a microchip is found, staff can help you obtain the owner’s contact information.
Spread The Word
Next, report the found dog through Petco Love Lost and post the found cat on:
Straydar (Facebook group) 24PetConnect.com
Nextdoor & Ring Neighbors
PawBoost.com
Next Steps
If you are unable to locate the cat’s owner after taking these steps, you will need to complete a surrender application. We also encourage you to contact the rescues listed on our Other Animal Welfare Agencies page to explore additional placement and support options.
Found a Litter of Kittens
If you find a litter of kittens, the best thing you can do is observe from a safe distance before intervening. Mother cats often leave their kittens alone while they search for food and typically return within several hours. Monitor the kittens for approximately 4 to 12 hours to see if their mother comes back, as she is their best chance for survival.
If the mother does not return, or if the kittens are sick, injured or in immediate danger, carefully place them in a secure carrier or box and contact Foothills Animal Rescue. Depending on the kittens’ age, medical needs, and our current capacity, we may or may not be able to accept them into our care. If we are unable to help directly, our team will provide guidance and connect you with other available resources to ensure the kittens receive the care they need.
Found a Pet
I found a dog, what do I do?
- If the pet has a tag, you can use Docupet’s tag lookup tool to report the found pet.
- If you still cannot find the owner, you have to make an appointment with Maricopa Animal Care and Control.
Share on social media:
- 24PetConnect: All animals found are also reported on this database.
- Nextdoor: A community website/app where you can spread the word about your lost/found pet.
- Neighbors by Ring: An app where you can spread the word about your lost/found pet.
- Straydar on Facebook: A Facebook group dedicated to posting lost and found pets in Arizona.
- @NoLostPetsMC: An automated X/Twitter account posting real-time tweets of found pets.
I found a cat, what do I do?
Cats are notoriously good at navigating back home. It is only recommended that you intervene when/if the cat is in distress. If the cat is in distress and you decide to intervene, you will follow the same procedure as mentioned above with the found dog.
I found a litter of kittens, what do I do?
Best practice when finding a litter of kittens, first monitor them from a distance for several hours (4-12 Hours) to ensure the mother returns, as she is the best caregiver. If the mother doesn’t return, or if the kittens are in immediate danger. Safely put the kittens in a carrier. Contact Foothills Animal Rescue to see if we can help. Depending on the age of the kittens, capacity of the shelter, we may not be able to help, but will give you other options to explore.
Lost a Pet
I lost a pet, what do I do?
Register the lost pet with Petco Love Lost.
Share and search on the following:
- 24PetConnect: All animals found are also reported on this database.
- Nextdoor: A community website/app where you can spread the word about your lost/found pet.
- Neighbors by Ring: An app where you can spread the word about your lost/found pet.
- Straydar on Facebook: A Facebook group dedicated to posting lost and found pets in Arizona.
- @NoLostPetsMC: An automated X/Twitter account posting real-time tweets of found pets.