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Lost Pet Help

Fast, practical steps to bring your missing pet home.

Lost Your Pet? Time Matters

Every hour counts when a pet disappears. Acting within the first 24 hours gives you the best shot at a safe reunion. Work through the steps below and keep at it.

Lost dog waiting to be reunited with its owner
Move fast when your pet goes missing
Pet owner searching the neighborhood for a lost animal
Check your neighborhood regularly
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How to Recover Your Lost Pet

  • Hang flyers: Place them throughout the area where your pet went missing and anywhere it might have wandered — grocery stores, community centers, vet offices, busy intersections, and pet supply shops. Newspaper ads and radio announcements can help too.
  • Give a detailed description: Note sex, age, weight, breed, color, and any distinctive markings. Hold back at least one identifying detail and ask the finder to describe it, so you can verify the match.
  • Cover your neighborhood: Walk or drive the area several times daily. Ask neighbors, mail carriers, and delivery drivers if they have spotted your pet, and give them a recent photo with your contact details.
  • Contact clinics and shelters: Call local emergency and veterinary clinics in case your pet was hurt and taken somewhere other than animal control. File lost reports with nearby county shelters and rescue groups, and if your pet is microchipped, report it lost to the chip company.
  • Alert Animal Control: Call Animal Control in your own city and in neighboring cities too.

Animal Control Phone Numbers

Common Questions

What is the first thing to do when a pet goes missing?
Move fast — the first 24 hours can make a real difference in getting your pet back. Hang flyers where your pet was lost, search your neighborhood several times a day, and alert Animal Control in your city and nearby cities.
Where can I post about a lost pet online?
Plenty of sites let you share lost animals’ descriptions and photos. Try Craigslist.org under the “Lost+Found” and “Pets” sections, Facebook groups like Lost & Found Pets – Hampton Roads, VA and Virginia Lost and Found Cats, Nextdoor.com, The Center for Lost Pets, Fido Finder, HelpingLostPets.com, and Lost Pet USA.
Which Animal Control offices should I call?
Contact Animal Control in your city and in neighboring cities too. This page lists numbers for Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Isle of Wight, Franklin County, Kill Devil Hills NC, Dare County NC, and Elizabeth City NC.
What should a lost pet flyer say?
List your pet’s sex, age, weight, breed, color, and any distinctive markings. Leave out at least one identifying feature and ask whoever finds your pet to describe it.
Is it worth calling veterinarians and shelters?
Yes. Call local emergency and vet clinics in case your pet was injured and taken somewhere other than animal control. File lost reports with nearby county shelters and rescue groups, and if your pet is microchipped, be sure to report it lost to the chip company.

Get Help in Person

Want hands-on help with your lost pet search? Contact our team directly.

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Working through these steps quickly and consistently gives you the best chance of a happy reunion. Keep flyers and online posts updated with fresh photos and details, and check back with shelters and Animal Control regularly as new animals arrive.