Lost & Found Pets

Missing a pet? Found a stray pet? Use the forms below to file a lost or found pet report. You can contact our office during business hours to inquire about recently impounded animals and strays. If you believe your pet has been impounded at the Ontario County Humane Society, please contact our office to confirm. In order to redeem a stray dog from the Ontario County Humane Society, you will need a valid rabies certificate and a valid dog license. The Ontario County Humane Society can provide rabies vaccinations when necessary and dog licenses can be picked up from your local town or city clerk.

Check out the resources below for advice and information regarding prevention, lost, and found pets.

Once you have submitted your report, be sure to send a good photo of the missing or found pet by email or social media.

Reuniting lost & found pets in and around Ontario County, NY.

Stay calm! A lost pet is any owners worst nightmare but it is important to stay calm and act fast. You can take the following steps to help bring your furry friend home safely.

• Don’t delay! Don’t waste time hoping your pet will come home. The sooner you begin you search, the better the odds of finding them.

• Search your neighborhood or the area your pet was lost. Check with your neighbors first and let people know you have a missing pet. Check any places they could have become trapped or may be hiding, such as in sheds, garages, basements, and underneath porches. Lost cats, especially indoor only cats, tend to hide in the immediate area. Lost dogs tend to stay nearby and can often be located within a few blocks of where they became lost. Very nervous pets will often hide during the day, so be sure to check the area at night with a flashlight.

• File a report with your local shelters. You can use the form above to file a lost pet report with Happy Tails Animal Shelter. You should also check with surrounding animal shelters and animal control facilities. Send photos and check daily for any updates. You can also check with your local police department to see if any stray animals were picked up or reported.

• Check your local neighborhood groups on Nextdoor and Facebook. Check with lost pet groups on social media as well like Happy Tails Lost Pet Patrol, Lost Dogs of the Finger Lakes and Finger Lakes Cats Lost and Found.

• Use a good photo to make “lost pet” signs. Put them up in your neighborhood, veterinary offices, pet stores, libraries, grocery stores, post offices. You should also make a digital “lost pet” sign and share on social media.

NEVER put yourself in harms way to capture or contain a lost pet. Always approach stray animals slowly and cautiously while speaking in a calm, gentle voice. If you are unable to safely approach the animal, call your local animal control or police department. Be sure to give the dispatcher the exact street address where the animal was last seen. If you are able to safely capture and secure the animal, you can take the following steps to help get him or her home safely.

• Check for ID. Check to see if the animal is wearing an ID tag, rabies tag, dog license, or microchip tag. If the dog is wearing a rabies tag, contact the vet clinic for information. If the dog is wearing a NYS Dog License, contact the town or city clerk for information. If the dog is wearing a microchip tag with a chip number, contact the chip company for information. If the dog is wearing a harness, be sure to check the harness for owner information.

• Search the area where the dog was found. Check with neighbors and around the block as lost dogs tend to stay close to home and probably lives nearby.

• File a report with your local shelters. You can use the form above to file a found pet report with Happy Tails Animal Shelter. You should also check with surrounding animal shelters and animal control facilities. You can also check with your local police department to see if any lost animals were reported.

• Check your local neighborhood groups on Nextdoor and Facebook for reports of missing pets. Check with lost pet groups on social media as well like Happy Tails Lost Pet Patrol, Lost Dogs of the Finger Lakes and Finger Lakes Cats Lost and Found.

• Use a good photo to make a “found pet” sign to share in person or on social media. To help determine if a person who contacts you is the pet’s true guardian, leave out a few descriptive details.

• Check if the pet is microchipped. You can take the animal to a local vet or animal shelter to be scanned for a chip. You should call first to make sure this is possible.

Check out the information below to minimize the chance of your pets becoming lost and to ensure a quick return if they do.

• Make sure your dog is wearing a secure, properly fitting collar with ID tags. This is a must as ID tags allow anyone who finds your pet to quickly identify where their home is without having to bring them to a shelter. Make sure the ID tags are easily read and contain your name, address, and phone number. Make sure to replace old or worn out collars and tags as necessary. In addition to ID tags, rabies tags and dog licenses can help identify owners and reunite pets.

• Keep cats inside. Cats can be perfectly happy living an indoor only life and live significantly longer lives than their indoor/outdoor counterparts. Don’t let your cat pay for “freedom” with their lives!

• Spay or neuter your pets. Unaltered pets are much more likely to roam away from home. If you live in Ontario County and need financial assistance getting your pet spayed or neutered, you can check out our low cost spay/neuter program. If you live outside of Ontario County, you can check with your local animal shelter or humane society for assistance.

• Microchip your pets. Microchipping is a quick, easy, and affordable procedure. It can be done at most vets offices and some vaccine clinics offer microchipping. Microchips work by storing owner information so pets can be reunited if they become lost. It’s like an ID tag that won’t wear or fall off. Just make sure you register the chip properly and the contact information is kept up-to-date.

• Secure your home and yard. Make sure your fencing has no gaps, secure window screens, and make sure doors and gates latch properly. It would be wise to take extra precautions on holidays (like the 4th of July) and during parties when pets are more likely to escape.

• Make sure your pet is always on leash. If your property is unfenced, it’s a good idea to have your dog on a leash or lead while outside. Even well mannered dogs can become spooked by loud noises or tempted by other pets and wildlife. When off your property, dogs are required to be on leash in Ontario County and most of the surrounding towns and cities. Make sure to use a secure harness or collar when walking your pets.

• When transporting smaller pets, use a sturdy, secure carrier to keep them safe.