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Help! I Found A Stray Pet
Resources  /  Help I found a Stray

Help! I Found A Stray Animal: Now What?

So you found a stray animal and are wondering what you should do. That depends on several factors, one of which is where you live.

Ways To Locate The Owner

The recommendation of the Delco Animal Protection Board is to call 911 – the 911 center is keeping a log of found animals – and the Brandywine Valley SPCA at (610) 692-6113

I Found a Cat

IF YOU FOUND A CAT:

  • This cat may be someone’s cat that either escaped the house or has been let out.
  • If the cat is ear tipped then it has a caretaker and it will return to its colony on its own. If it isn’t ear tipped, you can bring the cat to the police or a veterinarian to see if it is micro-chipped and if they can match it up with their lost pet files and return it to its owner. Nearly all veterinarians have microchip scanners and they can scan to see if the animal is chipped-and that will display the owner’s name & contact information. **Be aware that healthy looking adult cats, who are not micro-chipped and not in any danger, are more likely to find their own way home than to be reunited by any other method.**
  • You can contact the police and file a “found report”. Staff will check your “found” animal with reported “lost” animals to see if there is a match.
  • You can take photos and create fliers to hang around the immediate area where the cat was found.

CAN YOU KEEP A CAT IN YOUR HOME WHILE LOOKING FOR THE OWNER:

  • Yes, if you feel comfortable and have a safe isolated area in your home to care for the pet, you can contact the police and file a “found report”.  Staff will check your “found” animal with their lost pet files and return it to its owner.  The police can also check the pet for a microchip to reunite with their owner.

I Found a Dog

IF YOU FOUND A DOG:

  • You can contact the police and file a “found report”. Staff will check your “found” animal with reported “lost” animals to see if there is a match. The police can also check the pet for a microchip to reunite with their owner. 
  • You can take photos and create fliers to hang around the immediate area where the dog was found.

CAN YOU KEEP A DOG IN YOUR HOME WHILE LOOKING FOR THE OWNER:

  • Contact the local police to ask if you can hold a dog while they search for the owners. In most places, a stray dog must be brought to a facility where the public can view and search for their lost dog.

Check on Facebook

Bring the Lost Pets of Delaware County, PA Home 

Lost and Found Pets of Chester and Delaware County 

Bucks County SPCA

Additional Places to Check

  • Call veterinarians in the local area where the pet was found to see if anyone reported a lost pet to the local vet offices.

The BVSPCA designed a page to facilitate the reunion of lost animals with their owners in Chester and Delaware Counties of Pennsyvania

 

In Philadelphia, you can bring the animal to the Animal Care and Control Team (ACCT) facility at 111 W. Hunting Park Avenue.

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