It’s critical to visit all nearby shelters to look through their rooms and report your pet as lost. Maryland stray hold is only 72 hours, so it’s important to visit quickly and often.
Make a lost pet post, including a photo, on Petco Love Lost. This online platform uses facial recognition tools to match lost dogs to strays in animal shelters. The Maryland SPCA and other area shelters are Petco Love Lost partners.
Please be aware: Petco Love Lost updates photos once every 24 hours. The only way to be certain whether your pet is at a shelter is to visit in person and speak with a staff member.
Use social media to post about your lost pet as well as check found-pet postings. Include a current photo of your pet and leave multiple ways for people to contact you.
Post flyers in the area your pet went missing. Neighborhoods, businesses, and veterinary clinics are all good locations. Ask individual people if they’ve seen your pet. And provide them your contact information.
If the pet is wearing a collar, check for an ID tag. Then take the animal to a veterinarian or animal shelter to scan for a microchip containing information that will link to the pet’s owner.
Contact animal control in area that you found the pet to file “Found Report.” The best way to reunite pets is to make sure they stay in the area. Some counties have laws that require surrender to animals control. Click here for a directory of shelters.
Make a found pet post, including a photo, on Petco Love Lost. This online platform uses facial recognition tools to match lost and found pets. The Maryland SPCA and other area shelters are Petco Love Lost partners and refer people looking for their pets there.
Post flyers in the area you found the pet. If you can’t hold onto the pet while you search for its owner, call your local Animal Control agency or take the animal to the closest animal shelter where you found the pet.
Check internet and social media sites for lost pet postings and post information about the pet you found. That includes neighborhood sites like Nextdoor, along with all the Facebook lost-and-found pages identified below. Leave multiple ways for people to contact you.
If at any point you become uncomfortable, please contact animal control in the area you found the pet. Share all information with them so that they can mediate and determine the best resolution for all.
If the found pet is wearing a collar, remove the collar before taking a photo of the pet.
When starting a dialog with the pet’s potential owner, don’t give out too much information about the pet you found. The key is to have the potential owner provide you with details about their missing pet to confirm they are indeed the actual owner. (Examples include color of collar, name on the tag, unusual scars or markings.)
The Maryland SPCA has been taking excellent care of your pet since they were brought to us. There may be fees for the care, food, housing and veterinary care they received.
Bring evidence the pet is yours—such as a microchip registered to you, veterinarian records, an adoption/breeder paperwork, clear photos of your pet with you, your family or in your home
Bring a valid government issued ID.
Pay all fees associated with the care of your pet.
Microchip and spay/neuter surgery services can be offered for a discount. Please discuss options with a counselor.
