Lost & Found Pets
Lost & found pets
The first hours matter most. Here is the short version of what to do, and the official places lost pets actually end up.
Home/Lost & Found Pets
If your pet is missing
Search close and immediately
Most cats are within a few houses; most dogs within a mile in the first hours. Walk the block calling, and leave your garage cracked with something that smells like home.
File with animal services and check in person
Report to Animal Services (via Marion County) and, if a pet is not claimed online, visit the shelter in person; intake descriptions rarely match how an owner would describe their own animal.
Confirm the microchip trail
Make sure your chip registration is current at the AAHA Microchip Registry Lookup — a chip with a stale phone number is how pets stay lost.
Post where neighbors actually look
Neighborhood groups and local lost-pet pages move fast. Include a clear photo, cross streets, and a number you answer.
If you found a pet
Any veterinarian or the county shelter can scan for a microchip at no charge. Filing a found report with Animal Services (via Marion County) protects you and gives the owner a real path back to their animal.