Lost and Found Animals

If You've Found a Lost Dog

1. Create a found pet report on Petco Love Lost. You may also wish to post found reports on PawBoost and Pet FBI.
2. Search lost pet reports. Look through pets that have been reported as missing on Petco Love Lost.
3. Refer to the Austin Animal Services website and Lost and Found Guide (available in English and Spanish).
4. Text ‘FOUNDATX’ to (844) 764-2125 to receive tips to help find the owner. *Msg & data rates may apply.
5. Talk to neighbors close to where the dog was found if they know the dog or their owner.
   
6. Check for a microchip with a veterinarian, fire station, recreation center, or Tomlinson’s. Please note that not all owned pets are microchipped, or microchip information may not be current.
7. View and post on the local shelter’s lost and found page
   1. For pets in Travis County, search Austin Animal Center’s lost pet listings. *Select only DOG or CAT; do not select any other criteria like gender, age, color as these are sometimes inaccurate.
   2. If found within Austin city limits, post in the Austin Lost and Found Pets and Austin TX Lost and Found Pets Facebook groups.
   3. If found in Williamson County, post in the Williamson County Texas Lost and Found Pets Facebook group.

Emergencies

If the pet is injured or needs immediate assistance and was found in Travis County, please call 311 (or 512-974-2000) and request an Animal Protection Officer with the Austin Animal Center (AAC). You may also bring this pet in person to them, located at 7201 Levander Loop, Austin, TX 78702.

Shelter Contact Information

In the event the steps above have not connected this pet to their owner, here are some suggested steps to take to contact shelters based on where the pet was found:

• Travis County:

  • Austin Animal Services can help with supplies as well as medical and adoption support through their Finder to Foster program.

  • If you can no longer hold the found pet, please reach out to Austin Animal Services's Pet Resource Center at [email protected] for assistance, or call 311. Please provide your contact info as well as the address where you found the pet.
    
    

• Williamson County:

  • Please contact the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter

Post in the Williamson County Texas Lost and Found Pets Facebook group

Healthy Cats Found Outside

Many cat owners in Austin allow their cats to freely roam outdoors and pet cats who are outside can often be found very close to their homes! Cats who live outdoors indefinitely without an obvious “owner” may still have a dedicated caregiver to take care of their health and wellness needs.

Locating a Cat’s Caregiver

Here are some steps you may consider taking for a friendly cat you have found. Please note that friendly cats may still live outdoors and have dedicated caregivers.

• Create a found pet report on Petco Love Lost. Let the community know about the found pet. You may also wish to post found reports on PawBoost and Pet FBI.

• Search lost pet reports. Look through pets that have been reported as missing on Petco Love Lost.

• Refer to the Austin Animal Services website and Lost and Found Guide (available in English and Spanish).

• View and post on the local shelter’s lost and found page

  • For pets in Travis County, search Austin Animal Center’s lost pet listings. *Select only DOG or CAT; do not select any other criteria like gender, age, color as these are sometimes inaccurate.

  • If found within Austin city limits, post in the Austin Lost and Found Pets and Austin TX Lost and Found Pets Facebook groups.

  • If found in Williamson County, post in the Williamson County Texas Lost and Found Pets Facebook group.

• Text ‘FOUNDATX’ to (844) 764-2125 to receive tips to help find the owner. *Msg & data rates may apply.

• Write your contact information on a paper collar to try to find their caregiver. Ensure the collar is loose.

• Talk to neighbors close to where the cat was found if they know the cat or their caregiver.

• Check for a microchip with a veterinarian, fire station, recreation center, or Tomlinson’s. Please note that not all owned pets are microchipped, or microchip information may not be current.

Cannot Find Cat’s Caregiver

To continue caring for community cats in Austin, TX, please refer to the Austin Animal Services Lost and Found Guide (available in English and Spanish) and the Community Cats | AustinTexas.gov webpage for available resources and next steps. Austin Animal Services may be able to help with supplies, medical, and adoption support through their Finder to Foster program.

Emergencies: Sick/Injured Cats

If you see a cat that is sick or injured, please call 311 for Animal Protection and visit the Community Cats |AustinTexas.gov webpage.

Healthy Kittens Spotted Outside

• If the kittens are in a safe area and appear well fed, please leave them where they are, as their mother is likely nearby caring for them. Removing or surrendering them to a shelter without their mother can put them at risk.

Sick or Injured Kittens

• If the kittens were found in Austin and need medical attention (sick, injured, or >5 weeks) please bring them to Austin Animal Services, at 7201 Levander Loop, Austin TX 78702.

• If they are found outside of Austin, please visit tnrtexas.com.

Additional Resources

• Austin Animal Services Lost and Found Guide (available in English and Spanish)

• Austin Pets Alive Lost and Found Resources

• Here is a helpful flowchart on what to do when you find kittens.

If you have the kittens and need guidance on caring for them, Kitten Lady’s Kitten Care Guide is a great resource.

1. Post on Petco Love Lost, Nextdoor, Austin Lost and Found Pets, Craigslist - Pets; Craigslist - Lost and Found.
   1. The Petco Love Lost platform uses photo-matching technology to search shelters, rescues, and apps like Nextdoor and Neighbors, as well as posts from private citizens, to provide the best matches and help reunite pets with their families. Once you’ve created a report, you can easily share your listing to your social media and the other sites above.
      
2. Hang large and brightly colored posters in the area you found the pet.
3. Visit the City of Austin’s reunification guide for more:

AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER'S REUNIFICATION GUIDE (English)

AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER'S REUNIFICATION GUIDE (Spanish)

PRINTABLE SHEET: HELPING LOST DOGS