Lost and Found Pets

We understand the worry that sets in when your furry friend goes missing, or the uncertainty of what to do if you find a pet without its owner. In either case, swift action is key. Think Lost…Not Stray! First and foremost, we encourage pet owners to come to the West shelter to look for their lost pet during business hours. Maricopa County offers guidance and resources to reunite people with their pets. Learn what steps you can take if you've lost or found a pet. If you need to report a different type of animal issue, you can do that here.

Lost A Pet Found A Pet Stray Animal Map

Lost a pet? Come to the shelter!

Report Your Lost Pet

VIEW OUR LOST PETS MAP

Check ONLINE RESOURCES

Register your lost pet with Petco Love Lost and view potential matches using facial recognition technology to search a national database.

Check out the 24PetConnect.com website. All animals we find are listed here. Keep in mind that we can only keep animals that are brought in without identification ( e.g. licenses or microchips ) for 72 hours as “Stray-Hold”.

After 72 hours, the animal may become available to the public for adoption.

_{Spread the word online}

Check Facebook for a local pages about lost/found pets in the area. These additional websites are also great resources:

https://nextdoor.com/ or download app for your phone
https://ring.com/neighbors or download app for your phone
https://gis.maricopa.gov/ACC/Stray/index.html or Google search "MCACC Stray Map"
https://lost.petcolove.org/
https://petfbi.org/
https://24petconnect.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Straydar
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/
https://twitter.com/NoLostPetsMC

Other THINGS YOU CAN DO

_{Check your pets microchip}

Contact your microchip company immediately. If you don't know where your chip is registered, you can look up your microchip here.

_{Spread the Word}

There are many ways you can spread the word. Try the following to increase your chances for a quick reunion:

Post flyers in the neighborhood where the pet was lost. Ask schools in your area if you can post a flyer. Download our free Sample Flyer (PDF).
Use social media, Nextdoor, Craigslist, and other free networking sources to get the word out about your pet. Consider Straydar, Lost Dogs Arizona , and other Facebook groups.

_{Keep Looking}

Many pets are found by residents who may not bring the animal to a shelter for several days. Often times, the fastest way to rule out a shelter is to physically visit it.
Search for your pet around the lost area. Look in common hiding places (under bushes, cars, inside of sheds, behind or under furniture) in your yard and neighborhood. Ask your neighbors to do the same. Lost pets are often hiding – especially lost cats.
Place familiar scent items outside at the front and back of your home such as your pet's favorite toys or bedding or the owner's worn t-shirt.
Visit nearby veterinarians to see if you pet has been brought in for a scan. Ask if you can leave a flier for your lost pet.

_{Call Us}

Call our Lost and Found Department at 602-372-4598. Please note: This phone number is not staffed 7 days a week. Please use the lost pet form above first.

REPORT FOUND PET

_{Found a cat?}

We do not impound lost/stray cats, but you can still help them reunite with their family by filling out this Found Pet Form.

_{Know who to contact first to report a lost dog}

If the pet is wearing a Maricopa County tag, call 602-506-PETS and follow the prompts to retrieve the owner’s contact information.
We strongly encourage you to use our online form to report a found dog. This will help us reunite the pet with their family.
You may also call our Lost & Found division at 602-372-4598.
If the pet is not wearing a Maricopa County tag, and you can safely contain the pet, call the appropriate agency below, to report it. An arrangement will be made to pick up the dog.

City Where Found	Healthy Animal	Sick or Injured Animals
Avondale	(623) 333-7012	(623) 333-7001
Buckeye	(602) 506-7387	(602) 997-7585 ext. 2073
Chandler	(602) 506-7387	(602) 997-7585 ext. 2073
Fountain Hills	(602) 506-7387	(602) 997-7585 ext. 2073
Gilbert	(602) 506-7387	(602) 997-7585 ext. 2073
Glendale	(623) 930-3212	(602) 997-7585 ext. 2073
Goodyear	(602) 506-7387	(602) 997-7585 ext. 2073
Guadalupe	(602) 506-7387	(602) 997-7585 ext. 2073
Mesa	(480) 644-2268	(480) 644-2268
Paradise Valley	(602) 506-7387	(602) 997-7585 ext. 2073
Peoria	(623) 773-8311	(623) 773-8311
Phoenix	(602) 506-7387	(602) 997-7585 ext. 2073
Queen Creek	(602) 506-7387	(602) 997-7585 ext. 2073
Salt River PMC	(623) 800-5427	(623) 800-5427
Scottsdale	(602) 506-7387	(602) 997-7585 ext. 2073
Sun City	(602) 506-7387	(602) 256-1011
Surprise/El Mirage	(623) 222-4000	(623) 222-4000
Tempe	(602) 506-7387	(602) 997-7585 ext. 2073
Tolleson	(602) 506-7387	(602) 997-7585 ext. 2073

The Arizona Humane Society accepts all stray animals who are sick, injured, or abused. Please contact them directly at 602-997-7585.

Helpful tips TO FIND THE OWNER

_{Have the pet scanned for a microchip}

Any veterinarian, including an emergency vet, will scan a found pet for free.

Your local MCACC shelters can also scan a found pet for free. You do not have to turn the pet in, but they can scan it and help you start the process of documenting the pet as found.
If a microchip is detected and you are taking the found pet home while the scanning facility attempts to contact the owner, ask for the microchip number. If they are unwilling to provide the chip number directly to you, ask the scanning facility to email the microchip number to lostfound@maricopa.gov.

_{Hang signs/flyers in the found area}

Include the pet’s photo and/or description and your contact number.

_{Use our Stray Map Tool}

https://gis.maricopa.gov/ACC/Stray/index.html or Google search "MCACC Stray Map"

The map will allow you to actively post a location where a stray dog/cat was spotted or picked up.
Note: Once added, animals will stay on this map for a maximum of five days.

_{Spread the word online}

Check Facebook for local pages about lost/found pets in the area. These additional websites are also great resources:

https://nextdoor.com/ or download app for your phone
https://ring.com/neighbors or download app for your phone
https://lost.petcolove.org/
https://petfbi.org/
https://24petconnect.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Straydar
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/
https://twitter.com/NoLostPetsMC

*Use the same websites to look for possible matches to the pet you found. Pet owners are referred to the same resources, so watch to see if an owner has posted searching for their pet.

**Be cautious about potential scams. Do not reply to messages asking for verification codes and do not post your address online. Have possible owner verify ownership with photos, vet records, or other proof of ownership documents.

Schedule a Stray Dog Intake Appointment

On August 3, 2022, MCACC reinstated a managed intake process for stray dogs by requiring an appointment. Please use this information and these resources. Managed intake is supported by the National Animal Care & Control Association for its benefits to people and pets.

Please Note: A separate appointment is required for each individual animal.

Click here to book a stray dog intake appointment for the West Shelter @ 2500 S. 27th Ave, Phoenix, AZ.
If the pet you found is ill or injured, please contact the Arizona Humane Society at 602-997-7585 or online at their Report an Injured Stray page.
NOTE: If the dog has bitten and broken skin on any person in the past 10 days, please do not submit an appointment request. Instead, please call 602-506-7387 for instructions.
If you need to make an appointment to surrender your own dog, click here.

Chip chip hooray!

Luna was missing from her family since October but is now back home! Her family says Luna escaped during a storm and they were devastated. Weeks, months passed, and eventually they moved to northern Arizona. Yesterday, our Field Officer got a call about a stray dog and scanned for a microchip—it was Luna! Not only did she have a registered microchip, her family also filed a lost pet report with us. We called them and they happened to be in the valley for the day! They couldn’t wait to see their girl.

“I believe in the Chip, 100%. This is living proof.”

Starlight's Story

10-year-old Starlight was brought into the shelter in mid-March. She was blind, a little timid, and mostly kept to herself. Then, Kammi saw her on social media and couldn't believe it--it was her mom's dog who went missing 5 years ago! She said her mom was inconsolable when she lost "Killa," and she never stopped looking for her. Sadly, her mom passed away two years ago. When Kammi came to the shelter, Killa smelled her and couldn't stop wagging her tail and giving her kisses!

Kammi said Killa wasn't blind before she went missing, but she's ready to take on that challenge as long as it means having a piece of her family back home.

Layla's Story

A 13-year-old old Chihuahua named Layla came into our shelter as a stray on March 27th. At the time, we didn't know her name was Layla or that a family had been looking for her for TWO YEARS! And Layla soon learned, her family never gave up looking for her.

Layla was not microchipped, but luckily her determined mom, Connie, scrolls through social media websites for lost pets every night, hoping Layla pops up. Sure enough, she saw a picture of Layla on our MCACC Field Officers Facebook page.

Connie came to the shelter and the two immediately recognized each other! Layla is now microchipped and back home with her family.