Lost or found a pet in San Diego
What to do if your pet is missing
Now
Add a photo and where your pet was last seen. We’ll show you pets posted nearby that could be yours. Each one is a lead to check, not proof.
Start with a photoFree and private. No account needed.Next
What local animal services ask:
- File a lost report using the official online tools.
- Check shelter listings and follow up on possible leads promptly.
- Contact SDHS about identification and reclaim arrangements.
FindLostPets and the shelter keep separate reports. It helps to file one with the shelter too.
How long shelters hold a pet
San Diego Humane Society describes a 72-hour stray hold for animals that require one. Cats with no signs of ownership may be returned outdoors through its community-cat program. Contact the shelter promptly about a specific pet’s status.
This is a general rule, not a date for your pet. Go in person as early as you can, and ask the shelter how long it will keep a pet that could be yours.
More details about hold times
Official source:San Diego Humane Society lost and found (opens in a new tab)
More local help
Where to look
Search the shelter’s stray pets in care. Report a missing pet through PawBoost or Petco Love Lost: the shelter does not retain lost reports made by phone or email.
San Diego Humane Society lost and found (opens in a new tab)
Licensing and identification
Residents of the cities served by San Diego Humane Society can buy dog licenses through its DocuPet service. Have a valid rabies certificate ready; the license tag must be worn on the dog’s collar or harness. Check jurisdiction before applying.
Keep checking
- Look at the shelter’s listings again, and go in person when you can.
- Open your search here again to see what has been posted since.
- Write down who you called and any possible sightings, then make a flyer and share it.
What to do if you found a pet
Now
Answer three quick questions and see if someone nearby is missing them.
Look for their ownerPrivate until you choose to share. No account needed.Next
What local animal services ask:
- If safe, check for a tag and arrange a microchip scan.
- File a found report through SDHS’s official lost-and-found tools.
- Confirm the correct campus and intake arrangements before bringing a pet.
FindLostPets and the shelter keep separate reports. It helps to file one with the shelter too.
How long shelters hold a pet
San Diego Humane Society describes a 72-hour stray hold for animals that require one. Cats with no signs of ownership may be returned outdoors through its community-cat program. Contact the shelter promptly about a specific pet’s status.
More details about hold times
Official source:San Diego Humane Society lost and found (opens in a new tab)
Within San Diego Humane Society’s jurisdiction, notify the shelter about a found pet as soon as you can.
San Diego Humane Society lost and found (opens in a new tab)
More local help
Reporting a found pet
Check a tag, arrange a microchip scan and ask about intake if you cannot safely care for the pet.
Pets posted near San Diego
Pet Watch
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How Pet Watch worksAbout these instructions
These instructions are for pets lost or found in the city of San Diego. Confirm the correct campus before intake; healthy community cats may return to their outdoor homes.
- Local steps checked against the official pages on .
- Hold rule checked .
- Local details checked on .
