If You Found a Pet

• If the animal is sick or injured, please take it to the closest animal shelter or emergency facility
• If you find a stray animal in the City of Santa Rosa or Unincorporated areas of Sonoma County: The law requires that you report any stray dog or cat that you find in the City of Santa Rosa and Unincorporated Sonoma County to us within 24 hours
• COMPLETE our Stray Intake Form (can be completed at the shelter) 
• CALL us at 707-565-7100 Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm
• BRING the animal to the shelter during office hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm If it is an aggressive dog you can contact us for assistance from Animal Control Officer
• After Hours: Found dogs or cats can be brought to a 24-hour Emergency Veterinary Hospital
• Found Kittens: please review the protocol HERE
• Found Cats: please review our FAQ regarding Feral/Community Cats
• Found Livestock: a sheep, goat, pig, or birds, Please contact us for details
• Found Wildlife: we do not handle wildlife; please contact Wildlife Rescue HERE 
• If you found a stray animal OUTSIDE the City of Santa Rosa and Unincorporated Sonoma County:
  • Contact the appropriate agency from the list below, according to where the animal was found. Per County Ordinance, this must be done within 24 hours of finding the pet

While we encourage you to try and find the pet’s owner you must also report the lost pet to Sonoma County Animal Services-

• CALL us at 707-565-7100 or email at theanimalshelter@sonoma-county.org with a description of the animal, where you found them and a photo for posting on our Lost and Found page – This must be done within 24 hours of finding the pet
• TAKE the pet to a veterinarian or shelter to be scanned for a microchip, or call us for an Officer to come out and scan the pet for a microchip
• POST Online- PetcoLoveLost, PawBoost, 24Petconnect, Lostmydoggie, Lostmykitty  Nextdoor, Craigslist (in the Community section under Lost & Found Pets) Mission Reunite & Josie's Lost Dog Alert of Sonoma County 
• CREATE "Found" flyers & ask your neighbors if they know the pet 
• If no one claims the pet after 15 days, the animal can be legally yours. However, if within the city limits of Santa Rosa, if the previous guardian comes forward within 30 days of when the animal was reported to SCAS the previous guardian does have the right to get their pet back from the finder