How Long Does an Owner Have to Claim a Lost Dog California

Skip to Top / Tab to View Menu Options

• Animal Care
  • Animal Care Home
  • COVID-19 News & Tips
  • ADOPT
  • LOST & FOUND
  • LICENSE
  • FOSTER
  • VOLUNTEER
  • DONATE
  • SERVICES
  • CONTACT US
  • About Us

Skip to Left Navigation / Tab to View Content

I FOUND A DOG

• IF YOU FIND A STRAY DOG, THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS TO HOLD ONTO THE DOG FOR AT LEAST A FEW DAYS AND LOOK FOR THE OWNER USING OUR FOUND PET TIPS.  92% OF LOST DOGS HAVE A FAMILY BUT FEW ARE FOUND ONCE THEY ARE IN THE SHELTER.  IT WOULD ALSO PREVENT OUR CROWDED SHELTER FROM GETTING OVERWHELMED. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP SAVING LIVES!

• IF YOU WISH TO SURRENDER A STRAY DOG TO THE SHELTER, WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND MAKING AN APPOINTMENT IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE WAIT TIME.  DIAL 311  TO SPEAK TO THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO 311 CALL CENTER (24 HOURS A DAY / 7 DAYS A WEEK).  IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO DIAL THAT NUMBER, PLEASE CALL 916-808-7387.

• WE WILL ONLY ACCEPT A STRAY DOG IF IT IS FOUND WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF SACRAMENTO. IF YOU FIND A STRAY DOG IN THE COUNTY LIMITS OF SACRAMENTO, CALL THE BRADSHAW ANIMAL SHELTER AT 916-368-7387.  THIS GIVES THE DOG THE BEST CHANCE OF BEING FOUND BY ITS FAMILY AND HELPS PREVENT SHELTERS FROM GETTING FULL.

STEP

Click on the link above to see if an owner has reported the dog as being lost.

If you see a dog that you believe is a match, write down the ANIMAL ID  and dial 311 to speak to the City of Sacramento 311 Call Center (24 hours day / 7 days a week). If you are unable to dial that number, please call 916-808-7387.

STEP

Text STRAY to 833-511-0426 to receive our proven tips to help you find the owner as well as a website link to fill out a found dog report.

STEP

FOLLOW THESE FOUND PET TIPS :

• Make it easy for someone who lost a dog to find you by filling out a FOUND DOG REPORT . Reports are added to our website daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.


• Make a found dog ad on CRAIGSLIST (with a photo) and post to the NEXTDOOR neighborhood where the dog was found.


• There are many local LOST & FOUND PET FACEBOOK PAGES  for different areas of the city. Post a picture and description of the dog on the pages near where the dog was found.


• Search Craigslist, NextDoor, and Facebook Pages to see if the owner has posted an ad looking for his/her dog.


• Take the dog to a shelter or veterinarian to scan for a microchip. Ask for the microchip number and search it on the MICROCHIP LOOK-UP WEBSITE .


• Make found dog posters that look like this: CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO . Hang them at the 6 busiest intersections near where you found the dog.


• Take a moment to add the dog's picture to PETCO LOVE LOST , a free tool that uses facial recognition to match lost and found pets.


• Report your found dog to other LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTERS


• If the found dog is wearing a tag with a phone number, call and send a text. People tend to be more responsive to texts than phone calls from unknown callers.


• Continue to update and re-post your online found dog posts every couple of days.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pets are considered to be the legal property of their owners. Finding a pet does not entitle the finder to keep, sell, or give away the pet, nor does it convey ownership to the finder. If you find a pet, you must actively look for the owner for at least 90 days.  Even after that period of time has elapsed, the owner may still have the right to reclaim his/her pet under certain circumstances.

According to California Penal Code 485, a person who finds lost property without first making reasonable and just efforts to find the owner and to restore property to the owner may be guilty of theft.  It is important to report the found pet to the animal control agency servicing the area where the pet was found and to follow your jurisdiction's policies and procedures regarding stray animals.

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU FIND THE OWNER

TEXTSTRAY TO833-511-0426 TO RECEIVE OUR PROVEN TIPS TO HELP YOU FIND A LOST PET'S OWNER AS WELL AS A WEBSITE LINK TO FILL OUT A FOUND PET REPORT.

Reply STOP anytime to end text messages ILost2Found Program Terms & Conditions

How Long Does an Owner Have to Claim a Lost Dog California

Source: https://www.cityofsacramento.org/Community-Development/Animal-Care/Lost-and-Found/I-Found-A-Dog

Share this post