Lost your pet?
1. Check our Found Animals page. If you see your lost pet listed, call us at (510) 535-5602 between 11am-4pm, 7 days a week
2. Be sure to check for your lost pet on Petco Lost Love as well as there may be additional pets listed there
3. If your pet is microchipped, contact your microchip company immediately to inform them your pet is lost and ensure your contact information is up-to-date
4. Email a completed Lost Animal Form and a recent photo your lost pet to oas@oaklandca.gov. Use the subject “lost pet form” on your email
5. Contact all of the animal shelters in and around the area that your pet was lost and file a lost animal report with each shelter
6. Register your lost pet on:
7. Post on Nextdoor and Craigslist
8. Post to the Facebook pages of local pet groups: Oakland Lost and Found Pets, Point Isabel Dog Owners (PIDO), North Oakland Dog Owners, Oakland Dog Owners Group (ODOG)
9. Notify your neighbors and search the area thoroughly especially in the evenings, since pets become frightened and hide during the day. Door-to-door canvassing may provide leads in finding your lost animal. Leave a contact number in case your animal is found
10. Check with your local veterinarians, as injured pets may have been taken to a vet by a concerned resident
11. Place posters in the vicinity where the pet was lost. Include your pet’s color, size, age, gender, and any special markings, as well as the date when your pet was lost. Remember to remove the posters once you have found your pet
You can find more resources at Missing Pet Partnership. Don’t give up too soon! Many animals have been missing for weeks before being brought into a shelter. Well-meaning residents may have held your animal for some time before turning your pet in to the shelter.
When you find your pet, be sure to microchip your pet and place an animal license tag or ID tag on your pet’s collar. Always keep your contact information with the microchip company up-to-date
Found a pet?
The law requires that you report any stray dog or cat that you find in Oakland to Oakland Animal Services. You can report a found animal by calling us at 510-535-5602 between 11am to 7pm, 7 days a week. You must also submit a Found Animal Report with a photo of the pet, either in-person or email to oas@oaklandca.gov.
A first step is to always make sure to get the pet scanned for a microchip. Your local veterinarian or shelter can scan pets for microchips. We also recommend placing ads online, through social media (see links above in Lost Animals), and posting flyers in the area where the animal was found.
After you have submitted a Found Animal Report to Oakland Animal Services, you may be asked if you are willing to hold on to the pet in your home while we try to locate the pet’s owner. This helps to keep pets out of the shelter, which can be a stressful place for many pets.
