My Paw Finder

Helping Paws Find Their People.

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Lost or found a pet?

Take a breath. Start here, one step at a time.

My Paw Finder helps people find adoptable animals through shelters and rescues. We don’t accept lost or found reports or run a recovery service. This guide connects you with national resources and practical next steps.

I lost a pet

  1. Start where they were last seen. Check hiding places around your home and ask neighbors to check garages, sheds and yards. Ask permission before entering property.
  2. Contact shelters and animal control. Give them a photo, description, last-seen location and a way to reach you. Ask how to check new arrivals and follow up regularly.
  3. File a lost report. Use the national services below, search found reports, and keep the information current.
  4. Contact your microchip registry. Report your pet missing and check that your phone and email are current.
  5. Share a clear photo. Post in local lost-pet groups and distribute flyers. Keep a record of sightings with the time and location.

Read Pet FBI’s lost dog checklist or lost cat checklist.

I found a pet

  1. Keep yourself and the animal safe. Don’t chase or corner a frightened animal. If approaching isn’t safe, note the location and contact local animal control.
  2. Look for identification if safe. Check a collar or tag, and ask a veterinary clinic or shelter about a microchip scan.
  3. Tell local shelters and animal control. Ask about their found-animal procedures, especially if you cannot safely keep the pet.
  4. Post a found report. Include a photo, date and general area. Search existing lost reports too.
  5. Verify a claimed owner. Ask for older photos, veterinary records or a distinguishing detail before arranging a return.

Read Pet FBI’s found pet action plan.

Report and search nationwide

These services handle reports on their own websites. Start with their free reporting or search tools, and review any optional paid features before choosing them.

Petco Love Lost

Report a lost or found pet and search listings using photo matching. A free service to help reunite pets with their families.

Search or report with Petco Love Losthttps://petcolove.org/lost/

PawBoost

Search lost and found pet listings or create a free alert to help spread the word in your area.

Search or report with PawBoosthttps://www.pawboost.com/

Pet FBI

A free lost and found pet database with reporting tools and guidance for finding a missing pet or helping a found animal.

Search or report with Pet FBIhttps://petfbi.org/

Microchip help

A veterinary clinic or shelter can scan a found animal to retrieve a chip number. With that number, AAHA’s lookup tool can identify participating registries to contact. It does not display the owner’s private information or update their registration.

Open AAHA’s Microchip Registry Lookup

If your own pet is missing, contact the registry directly to update your contact details and report the pet missing. If you don’t know the chip number, check adoption paperwork or ask your veterinarian.

Guidance for your situation

Lost dog checklist

Pet FBI’s starting checklist for reporting and searching for a missing dog.

Lost cat checklist

Cat-specific search and reporting guidance from Pet FBI.

Understanding a missing cat

Missing Animal Response Network explains how a cat’s circumstances and behavior can shape your search.

Found pet action plan

Steps for helping a found animal and trying to locate their family.

Birds, horses and other animals: include the species and distinctive markings in your report. Contact local animal control and a rescue experienced with that species for help with safe handling and recovery.

What to put in a post or flyer

Use a recent, clear photo. Include the city and state, nearest cross streets, date, species, color, size and a contact method. Keep your full home address and microchip number out of public posts. For a found animal, hold back one identifying detail to help verify an owner.

Copy a lost-pet post
LOST PET — [City, State]
Name and species: [Name / species]
Last seen: [Date, time, nearest cross streets]
Description: [Color, size, collar, identifying features]
Please send sightings with the time and location.
Contact: [Preferred contact method]
[Attach a clear photo]
Copy a found-pet post
FOUND PET — [City, State]
Found: [Date and general area]
Species and description: [Basic details]
Please contact me with photos or identifying information.
Contact: [Preferred contact method]
[Attach a clear photo]

Be careful with unexpected messages

Ask for evidence when someone says they have your pet. Don’t share verification codes or account passwords. If someone claims to be a clinic or shelter, call that organization using the number on its official website before sending money or personal information.

Common questions

Can I submit a report to My Paw Finder?

Not currently. Use one of the reporting services above. Our adoption listings are not a complete list of animals found or held by local shelters.

Should I use more than one service?

Checking multiple services can widen your search. Don’t assume a report is shared everywhere. Contact local shelters and animal control as well.

A link won’t open inside Facebook. What can I try?

Copy the address shown under the resource and paste it into Chrome, Safari or another browser. If a service is temporarily unavailable, try another resource and check back later.

What should I do after a reunion?

Mark your reports reunited, update social posts, remove flyers and let the people helping you know. Check the pet’s identification and registry contact details.

Resource links reviewed September 19, 2026. These services are independent of My Paw Finder.

Looking to adopt? Return to animal search