This database contains most of the lost animals brought to the shelter and stray animals being cared for by community members. Photos of lost pets arriving at DCHS are posted online within 48 hours. Most animals without photos are being housed by the public.

If you don't see your lost animal here, please complete the steps below (including calling us and submitting a lost pet report), as some animals may not appear in this database.

If you believe you have identified your missing pet in the database, please contact us at (608) 838-0413 ext. 100.

If you don't see your pet in the Found Pet Database, follow this two-step process to file a lost report with DCHS:

1. Report your lost pet by completing an online report or calling (608) 838-0413 ext. 182. Please note: We receive dozens of phone calls daily and hold times may be long. Leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible. To help you more efficiently, we encourage submitting your lost report online.
2. Email photos of your lost pet to [email protected] with “Find My Pet” in the subject line. We will add these pictures to your lost report.

Cat colors can be difficult to describe but are very important in helping us make a match. Learn more about how to accurately describe your cat.

If we find a possible match based on your lost report, we will contact you right away!

If you do not see your animal in our Found Pet Database, you should also contact Public Health Madison Dane County at [email protected] or call (608) 267-1989. 

If you have been reunited with the animal you reported missing, please email or call (608) 838-0413 ext. 182 to give us the happy news.

We encourage you to contact us at least once every 4 days to check on the status of your lost pet. State law requires stray animals brought to DCHS be held for 4 full days. Calling at least once every 4 days gives you the best chance of finding your pet if they were brought to DCHS. You can also visit the main shelter, and a staff member can assist you with a walk-through of the facility to see if your pet is here.

Ways to contact DCHS and check in on your lost pet:

• Check the Found Pet Database to find your missing pet.
• Email us at [email protected].
• Call us at (608) 838-0413 ext. 182.
• Visit the main shelter during our hours of operation.

Quickly spread the word that your pet is missing by taking these steps:

• Walk your neighborhood and tell neighbors, postal carriers, delivery drivers, and others working in the area that you are looking for your pet.
• Post a photo and information about your lost pet, including when and where they were last seen (nearest intersections and city) on neighborhood and social media sites like NextDoor, Craigslist, your neighborhood or apartment/condo Facebook pages, community pages like Dane County Neighbors Helping Neighbors, and local lost-and-found pet pages and groups, including LostPetsMadisonWI and Dane County WI Lost and Found Pets
• Register your lost pet with PawBoost, Petco Love Lost (formerly Finding Rover), Pet FBI (also sends information to Lost Dogs of Wisconsin or Lost Cats of Wisconsin), and 24PetConnect (which includes PetHarbor.com).
• Create a lost pet flyer and post in the area where the animal was lost, especially major intersections or stop signs, and in your neighborhood. Many of the sites listed in the previous bullet allow you to create and print lost pet flyers.
• If your pet is microchipped, contact the microchip company to have them flagged as lost. If you don't know your pet's chip information, contact the shelter or rescue where they were adopted or your veterinary clinic, if the chip was implanted there.
• If your pet is wearing a rabies tag issued by a veterinarian, notify your vet clinic that your pet is lost.
• Contact Public Health Madison Dane County at [email protected] or call (608) 267-1989.
• Check with Shelter from the Storm Animal Rescue (608) 284-7447 and [email protected].
• Call (608) 252-6363 to place a free ad in the Wisconsin State Journal under Buy & Sell, Community, Announcements, Lost Announcements.
• See our Lost Pet Brochure for other helpful hints on how to find your lost pet.
• Call Madison's emergency care facilities:
  • Madison Veterinary Specialists (608) 274-7772
  • Veterinary Emergency Service (608) 222-2455 East and (608) 831-1101 West
  • UW Veterinary Care (608) 263-7600
• Additional recommendations to search for your lost pet:
  • Lost Cat Behavior on Missing Animal Response
  • Lost Dog Search
  • Cats in the Bag

DCHS will never call you to request credit card information over the phone related to a lost pet. If someone contacts you claiming otherwise, it is a scam. Protect yourself by never sharing payment details with unsolicited callers, and reach out to us directly if you have any questions.

In addition to keeping a collar with identification tags on your pet at all times, microchipping is an effective form of permanent identification. It can be used in any kind of animal at any age and will last an animal's lifetime. DCHS offers collars and identification tags for sale in our Adoption Center as well as microchipping services by appointment. Call us at (608) 838-0413 ext. 100 to schedule a microchip appointment.

Learn more about microchipping