Lost and Found Pets

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One out of every three pets will become lost in his or her lifetime according to the ASPCA. Thankfully, however, 85% of vigilant owners who actively search for their lost pets do eventually find them. Both finders and missing pet owners can take important steps to increase the likelihood of pet reunification if they act immediately when they find a pet or notice theirs is missing.

Please see the steps below for suggestions on how the ARL can help and what to do if you find a pet or lose your own.

If you have lost or found a pet, please click on the button to report the pet to the ARL. Thank you!

Report a lost or found pet

CLICK HERE

What to do if you′ve lost your pet

Check the pictures below to see who has recently come into the shelter as a stray. If your pet has been missing for more than a few days, please also check our adoption pages. These pages are updated hourly; please check regularly!
Please use this form to report your pet as lost. If you cannot complete the form below, please call us at 610-373-8830 instead. We also recommend contacting other shelters in the area. They are:
Call your local police department as well as local veterinarians and animal hospitals.
Post your lost pet on Finding Rover as well as the popular Facebook groups Berks Dog Search and Berks County Cat Search. Many people also use their local neighborhood Nextdoor site to find pets or report lost ones.
Make flyers and post them around the area where your pet was last located. Knock on doors in your neighborhood and check under shrubbery and in garages or other areas where you pet may be hiding or seeking shelter. Many times lost pets are only a few blocks from home.
Search your neighborhood several times a day. Call for your pet. Shake a favorite treat jar or bag. Wait and see if your pet responds or comes to you.
Search for your cat using a flashlight to help spot his/her eyes.
If you have more than one dog, bring your other dog with you (on a long leash) as you search. Your other dog may catch your lost dog’s scent or encourage him to come out of hiding.
Put out items with your scent or your pet’s scent, like a dog bed or litterbox.
Don’t give up after a few days. Pets have sometimes been lost for week or months before they find their way home.

What to do if you′ve found a pet

If the cat you’ve found has a tipped ear, please return the cat to the place where you found it. A tipped ear typically means that the cat is an outdoor community cat, has been spayed/neutered and has a person taking care of her/him.
Please use this form to report that you’ve found a pet. If you cannot complete this form, please call us at 610-373-8830 instead. We also recommend contacting other shelters in the area. They are:
Call your local police department.
If the pet does not have any identification tags, take him/her to a shelter, police department or local veterinarian to have him/her scanned for a microchip.
Make flyers and post them around the area where you found the pet. Knock on doors. Many times lost pets are only a few blocks from home.
Post the found pet on Finding Rover as well as the popular Facebook groups Berks Dog Search and Berks County Cat Search. Many people also use their local neighborhood Nextdoor site to find pets or report lost ones.
While we realize that most people think that bringing a lost pet to a shelter is the best thing to do, in actuality, it may harm the pet’s chances of finding his/her family again. The ASPCA reports that only 6% of dog owners and 2% of cat owners found their lost pets at a shelter, but more than half of pet owners found their lost pets in the neighborhoods where they lived. If you cannot keep the pet in your home, please contact your police department to find out who your animal control provider is, or contact us or another shelter/rescue.

Tips to prevent your cat or dog from becoming lost

Have your pet wear an ID tag on a collar. Additionally, have your pet microchipped and make sure you update your information with the microchip company should you ever move or change your phone number. We can microchip your pet by appointment for a $25 fee. Please call 610-373-8830 to learn more.
License your dog. Besides it being PA law, more than 90% of licensed dogs are reunited with their owners. We are able to issue dog licenses at the shelter for a $7 fee; please call 610-373-8830 to schedule an appointment.
Make sure your dog is leashed or secured in an appropriately fenced-in area anytime he or she goes outside. Routinely check the perimeter of your fence to make sure there are no areas that need repair or holes that need to be filled.
Keep your cat indoors at all times. If you have to take your cat out for an appointment, make sure your cat is secured in a carrier.
Have clear and well-lit full-length and close-up pictures of your pet on your phone or computer to share with the police, shelters and the websites below in case he or she ever goes missing.

These pets were recently brought to the ARL:

If you think one of them may be your lost pet, please contact us immediately at 610-373-8830 or come into the shelter to identify your pet. You will want to bring proof of ownership (photos, veterinarian records, etc.) to reclaim your pet. All pets are held for a minimum of 48 hours before they are released to the shelter for adoption. Please also check all of the animals available on our adoption page in case your pet has already been released and cleared for adoption.

Just a kind reminder: The pets who are listed below are not available for adoption at this time.