Lost a Pet?
Lost Pet Scam Alert
It has come to our attention that families of lost pets are being contacted by individuals falsely impersonating San Diego Humane Society and requesting payment. Please note that San Diego Humane Society will not ask for payment of reclaim fees for lost pets over the phone. If your pet is missing, please review these tips from PawBoost about how to recognize and avoid lost pet scams.
Losing an animal can be one of the most stressful moments in a pet owner's life. San Diego Humane Society is here to help!
Please review all of the following resources that can improve your chances of finding your pet. Lost pets can be found weeks to months after they go missing, so it’s important to not give up on your search and continue using the following tools.
If your pet is missing, take the following steps right now. You’ll find more information on each tip below:
- Sign up for our Lost2Found text alerts.
- Search the stray animals who have been found and reported to SDHS.
- If you don’t see your pet in our online database, submit a Lost Pet Report.
- Walk around your area and speak to neighbors.
- Post lost pet flyers in your neighborhood.
- Create posts in online lost pet groups and neighborhood websites frequently.
- If your pet is microchipped, reach out to the microchip company to confirm your contact information is correct.
1. Text "LOST" to 858-SAN-LOST
Use our Lost2Found texting service to receive automated texts from San Diego Humane Society with step-by-step instructions and useful tips to you find your pet.
Text “LOST” to 858-SAN-LOST (858-726-5678) to get started!
It can take weeks for lost pets to arrive at local shelters. This tool guides owners over two months by providing timely resources and reminders to support their search.
Lost2Found is free to use and owners can opt out of receiving the messages at any time.
TEXT US2. Search Found & Stray Animals
Search Found Animals Reclaim Your Pet
Fees for reclaiming a lost dog from San Diego Humane Society are waived through Jan. 2, 2024.
Looking for a community cat? When community cats – outdoor cats with no identifiable signs of ownership — are brought to our shelters, we spay/neuter, vaccinate and quickly return them to their outdoor homes. If you’ve noticed that a community cat is missing from your neighborhood, keep an eye out as they may be returned in a day or two. If they return with a tipped ear, it’s a signal they’ve been spayed/neutered and vaccinated! Learn more about our Community Cat Program here.
3. Submit a Lost Pet Report
If you lost your pet, click below and complete the necessary information to add them to PawBoost's Lost & Found Pets database. The information you provide to PawBoost is searchable by members of the community who may have found your animal. It's also monitored by San Diego Humane Society, and will help us contact you if your lost pet is brought to one of our shelters.
You can post to additional missing pet online databases, including Petco Love Lost, Pet FBI, Fido Finder and Lost Dogs of America.
4. Next Steps
Check your neighborhood. Eighty percent of lost pets are found within a mile of home. Walk your local area and speak with neighbors, letting them know your pet is missing and providing their description. Even if neighbors have not seen your pet, they will now be on the lookout and know to contact you if you pet is spotted.
When canvassing your neighborhood, consider your pet’s personality. If they are outgoing and enjoy the company of people or other pets, look for them at parks and highly populated areas. If your pet is shy and fearful of strangers, or lost in an unfamiliar area, check quieter spaces with room to hide.
Create a Lost Pet flyer. Use this template to create a flyer and post it around your neighborhood and at local coffee shops, dog parks, pet stores, veterinary offices and other businesses. Include as many details as possible, as well as a recent, clear photo of your pet.
Use online and local resources.
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Post about your lost pet on social media, and search neighborhood apps and websites like Nextdoor and Petco Love Lost, in addition to Pawboost. If you have a Ring security camera, use the Neighbors app to share your pet and check to see if they have been spotted on cameras nearby.
When creating a lost pet post, include as many details as possible about when and where your pet was lost and recent, clear photos. Monitor your posts for responses and don’t hesitate to post more than once — you can post again a few days later so your post does not get lost in the new feed posts.
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There are many Facebook groups that can help you find lost pets in San Diego County. We suggest entering “lost pet” and your zip code or city into the search bar to locate pages designed to help people in your area. You can start with our list of active groups.
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Check for your pet at other San Diego County Animal Shelters and review these additional helpful Lost and Found websites and tips.
Beware of scams! If someone online or by phone claims to have found your pet, ask that they share a detailed description and photo of your pet. Do not send requested money for a “reward” until your pet is safely back in your possession.
