Quick action and personal involvement in the recovery process are key components of recovering your lost pet. These steps can help you locate a lost pet as quickly as possible.

If your pet has a microchip, make sure it's updated with your current contact information. Not sure how? Read more about microchip registry and database information.

Tell the community about your lost pet

• Create a missing pet post on Petco Love Lost — a free, online tool that utilizes facial recognition technology to scan lost and found pet listings nationwide.
• Post and search reports on other online resources:
  • Lost Dogs MN and Lost Cats MN on Facebook
  • Craigslist
  • Petfinder
  • Nextdoor Pet Directory
• Tell your family, friends, and neighbors. Post notices throughout the neighborhood using a clear, up-to-date photo. Talk to your neighbors and any neighborhood businesses. Offering a reward can also be helpful. 
• Contact your local animal control agency and/or non-emergency police department. File a lost pet report and ask where your animal will be taken if it's picked up by one of these agencies.
• Notify your veterinary clinic and microchip company to let them know your pet is missing. Confirm your pet's microchip has your most current contact information.
• Visit Animal Humane Society’s stray animal listing at least once a day in the event someone found and brought your pet to AHS.

Follow up

When your pet is found, remember to take down any notices you've posted online and around your neighborhood.

Here's how you can help them find their way home.

Check for identification

• If there's an ID tag, contact the owner immediately.
• If there is no ID tag, consider taking the animal to a local veterinary office or a retail pet store (like Petco or Pet Smart) to be scanned for a microchip.

Tell your community about the pet you've found

• Create a found pet post on Petco Love Lost — a free, online tool that utilizes facial recognition technology to scan lost and found pet listings nationwide.
• Post and search reports on other online resources:
  • Lost Dogs MN and Lost Cats MN on Facebook
  • Craigslist
  • Petfinder
  • Nextdoor Pet Directory
• Tell your family, friends, and neighbors. Post fliers around your neighborhood.
• Call your local animal control facility to see if a report filed matches the description of the animal in your care.

Schedule a surrender appointment at AHS

If you're unable to match the stray animal to any lost pet report, you may bring it to any one of our locations. First, call our Pet Helpline at 952-HELP-PET (952-435-7738) to schedule an admissions appointment.

Due to capacity, we may not be able to admit the animal right away (with exception to medical or behavioral emergencies). In the event we’re unable to immediately accept the animal, a staff member can still scan the animal for a microchip and refer you to your local animal control facility. Alternatively, we may be able to provide you with some supplies (like pet food, litter, cage, etc.) to support you until your admissions appointment date.

When the stray animal is admitted, we’ll scan them for a microchip and perform an initial evaluation for placement. Stray animals are held for the state-mandated five days to provide owners time to locate lost pets. If an owner doesn't come forward and the animal is a candidate for placement, the animal will become available for adoption or placed in adoption preparation programs.

Feral cats that would not be appropriate or happy in a home environment may be placed in our Community Cats program.

Other options

You may also consider taking the animal to your local animal control facility. If animal control has closed for the day, please call their after-hours line or your local, non-emergency police number.

There are several steps you can take to keep your pets safe and reduce the likelihood that they’ll become lost or stolen.

1. Your pet should wear a collar and ID tags at all times. Include an up-to-date phone number where you can be reached. ID tags are available at each AHS facility.
2. Have your pet microchipped. Microchips are an implanted form of identification equipped to access your contact information when scanned at a veterinary clinic or shelter.
3. Spay/neuter your pet. Studies have shown that sterilized animals are less likely to roam.
4. Keep them safe when you’re out and about. Animals love the outdoors but it is our responsibility to protect them. Always leash your animals when outside. Keep them close to home and away from traffic, unfamiliar animals and those who may not concern themselves with your pet’s best interests. 
5. Leave them comfortable at home. Never leave your dog leashed outside a store or unattended in the car, even if it’s locked or the windows are rolled down.

Local animal control agencies and Animal Humane Society will never ask for money over the phone. 

If you receive a call from someone claiming to be an animal control officer or affiliated with a local shelter and they ask you for money, hang up the phone and contact that organization directly to verify the information.