Lost and Found Pets
Lost or Found a Pet? 🐾
There are many resources available to help connect you with more people when searching for a lost pet or trying to find a pet’s owner. Petco Love Lost, our official lost & found pet reporting tool, uses facial recognition software to report or search for lost or found pets nationwide. It's free and easy to use. Search your lost cat or dog today.
Have a lost or found pet to report to us? Use Petco Love Lost to upload a photo.
Remember, microchipping your pet is one of the best ways to help ensure a quick reunion. Microchips store pet owner contact information and can be scanned at many locations, including:
- Austin Animal Services and any animal shelter
- Veterinarian offices
- Austin and Travis County Fire Stations
- City of Austin libraries
- Thomlinson's Feed Store locations
Download the free Animal Services guide for full details Lost and Found Pet Guide (Español).
- I Lost My Pet
Losing a pet is stressful, but we’re here to help. Austin Animal Services partners with Petco Love Lost, a free national database that uses photo matching and artificial intelligence (AI) to help reunite pets with their families. It can even scan public posts on Nextdoor for possible matches.
You can still use all of our local tools — this just gives you more ways and a bigger audience to find your pet faster.
View found pets currently at the Austin Animal Services through the link or list below.
Lost Pet Checklist
- Start at home
Check your home thoroughly, then extend out to the neighborhood. - Text ‘lostatx’ to (844) 764-2125
For tips through the process. Msg & data rates may apply. - Post on social media
Austin has a large community of people who can help—the biggest groups are Austin Lost and Found Pets and Austin TX Lost and Found Pets on Facebook. Don't forget about other platforms like Nextdoor or Craigslist ‘Pets’ and ‘Lost and Found’ sections. You will need to upload photos of the found pet - be sure they are clear and show the pet from different angles to make it easier to identify. - Make sure the microchip is up to date
If your pet has a microchip, contact the microchip company to ensure they have your current contact information. You can register a chip for free through 24Pet. Know the chip number but not the company? Use the AAHA registry. - Create a lost pet report
Let the community know your pet is missing. Petco Love Lost will also use pet recognition software and create flyers for you. Click the button below to get started. You will need to upload photos of the found pet - be sure they are clear and show the pet from different angles to make it easier to identify.
- Search found pet reports
Look through pets that have been reported as found on Petco Love Lost. - Talk to neighbors
Post flyers with photos, talk to neighbors, and ask them to keep an eye out. - Check shelters and rescues
Visit Animal Services as well as other local shelters and rescues regularly in case your pet has been brought in. We are open every day from 11a.m. - 7p.m. at 7201 Levander Loop Bldg. A, Austin, TX 78702. Stray pets are held for 72 hours and then are released for adoption or transfer. - Amplify the message with PawBoost
PawBoost is a platform and community dedicated to reuniting lost pets with their people. Create a free alert on their website to increase the chances of finding lost pets
Download the free Animal Services guide for full details Lost and Found Pet Guide (Español).
- Start at home
- I Found a Pet
Found a pet? Thank you for helping! Most animals are found close to home (on average, just a few houses away). A neighbor has a MUCH higher chance of helping a pet get home than a shelter does.
If you’re able to hold onto a lost pet while you look for the owner, you’re upping the odds that they’ll find their family while helping shelters save space for sick and injured pets. That’s a win-win!
Austin Animal Services partners with Petco Love Lost, a free national database that uses photo matching and artificial intelligence (AI) to help found pets get back to their families. It can even scan public posts on Nextdoor for possible matches.
If the pet is sick or injured, please call 3-1-1 (or 512-974-2000) to report it.
View pets who have been reported lost in the area.
Found Pet Checklist
- Check for a microchip
Have the pet scanned for a microchip, that could have owner information, as soon as possible. Austin Animal Services, any area animal shelter, veterinarian offices, fire stations, and Austin Public libraries have scanners! - Text ‘foundatx’ to (844) 764-2125
Receive proven tips that guide you through the family-finding process. Msg & data rates may apply. - Post on social media
Austin has a large community of people who can help—the biggest groups are Austin Lost and Found Pets and Austin TX Lost and Found Pets on Facebook. Don't forget about other platforms like Nextdoor or Craigslist ‘Pets’ and ‘Lost and Found’ sections. You will need to upload photos of the found pet - be sure they are clear and show the pet from different angles to make it easier to identify. - Search lost pet reports
Look through pets that have been reported as missing on Petco Love Lost.
- Create a found pet report
Let the community know about your found pet. Petco Love Lost will also use pet recognition software and create flyers for you. You will need to upload photos of the found pet - be sure they are clear and show the pet from different angles to make it easier to identify. - Talk to neighbors
Neighbors may already have info or can help keep an eye out for you. - Get support
Austin Animal Services can help with supplies as well as medical and adoption support through our Finder to Foster program. - Amplify the message with PawBoost
PawBoost is a platform and community dedicated to reuniting lost pets with their people. Create a free alert on their website to increase the chances of reuniting lost pets and their families.
Download the free Animal Services guide for full details Lost and Found Pet Guide (Español).
- Check for a microchip
To Reclaim Your Pet from Austin Animal Services
The pets on our Lost and Found page are waiting to get back to their families, and we work hard to help make that happen.
- If you have found your pet in our shelter, please visit us quickly to reclaim. Pets are held for 72 hours and then are released for adoption or transfer. Our Reclaim Department is open every day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 7201 Levander Loop, Building A, Austin, Texas 78702.
- If you cannot immediately visit the shelter, call 512-978-0556 or email animal.reclaim@austintexas.gov. (The hotline is answered daily during business hours).
- Bring proof of ownership, such as veterinarian records or a photo ID of your pet, to reclaim.
- Bring your photo ID. We accept Driver's Licenses, US or International passports, government or other official photo identification, and National Consulate cards.
We also want to be sure your pet is as healthy as possible when they leave the Animal Services. If he or she already has their rabies vaccination, please email a photo of their rabies certificate or let us know where they got their vaccination so we can verify that. If your pet has not received their rabies vaccine or been microchipped, that will be taken care too so they can get back home to you as fast as possible. The microchip will help should they become lost again in the future.
When you arrive at the shelter:
- Come to the Reclaim Desk in the Adoption Lobby
- Bring any documentation requested by staff with you to take your pet back home with you.
Sometimes pets are taken to shelters in other areas. List of surrounding shelters.
Finder to Foster Program:
If you lost your pet, where would you want your pet to wait for you?
You can help found pets get back home by joining the “Finder” program. This program supports people who find pets and want to help reunite them with their families.
Finder to Foster
Keep a found pet in your care instead of bringing them into the shelter. The pet will still be entered into our system, but they can stay with you while their owner is located. This helps reduce stress for the pet and saves space in the shelter.
Found Kittens:
Found Kittens?
Kittens are very vulnerable, and many end up in shelters because people are trying to help without knowing their mothers are still nursing them.
Before moving them, take a moment to look around. It is common for the mother cat to be nearby getting food or staying out of sight. Kittens usually do best with their mom, so leaving them in place is often the best choice. Check back after 24 hours for signs that the mother cat has been back, if there is no sign of her, that's when action may be needed.
To decide what to do, use the CASA method: Condition, Age, Situation, Ability.
Want to learn more? Hannah Shaw is a trusted kitten expert. Watch her video, What To Do If You Find a Kitten, to help you make the right call.
Found Pets in Our Care
For more details on everything lost and found, view our Lost and Found Pet Guide (español).
LostATX and FoundATX Texting Programs
AUTOMATED TEXT MESSAGING PRIVACY POLICY / TERMS & CONDITIONS
Agreement to Receive Text Messages
By providing your mobile number, you agree that Austin Animal Services may send you text messages (including SMS and MMS). Austin Animal Services will send you up to twenty (20) messages per month. Message and data rates may apply.
You may opt out at any time by texting the word STOP to phone number (844) 764-2125. For help, send the word HELP to (844) 764-2125.
You agree to notify us of any changes to your mobile number and update your account with us to reflect this change.
Austin Animal Services does not store your personal information for this service. Phone numbers and other information are stored by Simple Texting. Simple Texting's privacy policy can be found at https://simpletexting.com/privacy-policy/.
Will I be charged for the text messages I receive?
Though Austin Animal Services will never charge you for the text messages you receive, depending on your phone plan, you may be charged by your mobile provider.