Lost & Found Animals
Have you lost a furry friend or found one wandering? You're in the right place! Our hope is that by putting our noggins together, we can get lost companions home.
While we may be unable to personally assist in locating a missing animal, we are happy to post lost pets to our Instagram and Facebook social channels as well as share on the SE MN Lost Found Facebook page.
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ENLIST HELP Ask your neighbors, friends, acquaintances, ask on craigslist and Facebook. Many people are willing to go out of their way to help a lost pet—you can also enlist the help of an organization that has experience finding lost pets such as The Retrievers in MN. Be sure to give people concrete actions they can take. Have fliers ready, share information, and keep contact information organized and available.
RECORD Note the exact address/cross street of where the pet went missing. Additionally, record the direction of travel, special collars or identifying features, as well as sharing the demeanor (happy adventure or running scared?) can assist helpers
CHECK LOCAL Contact area shelters, animal control, non-emergency police numbers, and local vet offices.
PRINT FLYERS Utilize the library if you have no other means. Effective flyers will have a large, clear font with basic info: date lost, location, contact phone, and a photo of your pet.
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CONTAIN If you see a stray cat or dog, try to capture and contain the animal if circumstances permit. Ideally, dogs should be secured using a leash or contained in a fenced yard. Most cats do not like to be held for any length of time, so stray kitties are best confined inside a cat carrier, secure box (with air holes), small room of your house or temporarily in your car (as long as the car is well ventilated and not too hot).
CHECK FOR ID/MICROCHIP Check to see if the animal is wearing an ID tag. If the pet is not wearing an ID tag, the best course of action is to take it to your local animal shelter or animal control where staff can scan for a chip. If the animal is microchipped, staff will be able to look up the owner’s contact info.
POST ONLINE Whether you hold the lost animal yourself or place it in the custody of a local shelter, there are several ways you can help find the owner. Take a photo of the pet and post fliers around the area where the pet was found as well as local vet clinics. Social media such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are great platforms to share information in your local community and with friends, just ensure the post is “public” so that others may share as well. If you found the pet in your own neighborhood, go door to door with a photo of the animal and see if anyone knows who owns it. You can also post on neighborhood sites such as Ring or Nextdoor.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only. We cannot guarantee, and are not responsible for, the health, safety, or well-being of you or any animals. Please exercise caution and consult a qualified professional when necessary.