ACC is committed to reuniting lost and found pets with their families. We take in hundreds of animals every day at all locations, including our Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island Care Centers and our Bronx Resource Center (see our hours and locations).
ACC reminds all pet owners make sure your dog is licensed and always kept on a leash when outside, that your cat is kept indoors, your pet is wearing a tag and has a registered microchip.
Microchip
Microchips with up-to-date info are extremely important! If your lost pet is brought to any shelter or veterinary office, they will scan them for a microchip and contact you! Here at ACC, we reunite hundreds of animals per year specifically because of microchips! If your pet is not microchipped, have one implanted ASAP! If your pet is microchipped, call your microchip company and make sure the info is up-to-date. A microchip MUST be updated manually every time you move or change your contact info. If you don't know your pets microchip company, visit petmicrochiplookup.org.
Have Details and a Photo Ready
Make sure to have a recent, full-body photo on hand in case your pet goes missing. Being able to see your pet in their entirety is very helpful for shelters and people assisting in the search. Other details to have ready are approximate weight, age, and any distinctive features/markings on your pet.
Collars, Tags, and Leashes
Make sure your dog has a collar and tags with up-to-date contact info. Also, never walk your dog off-leash and make sure your collar and leash are not deteriorating.
Dog License
Make sure your dog is licensed in NYC - Click here to get your dog license today!
Protective Barriers
Cats are curious creatures and will leave through any exit available. Make sure windows are closed and/or have screens, especially when adding/removing an air conditioning unit as the seasons change.
File a Lost or Found Pet Report with ACC
A report filed with ACC will be entered into an online database that searches our computer records and will send you information if there is a match. This report will be valid for 60 days and will continue to send you information if applicable. This will also enroll you in a program where volunteers will actively assist in the search for your pet in both ACC and third-party lost and found sites. You should file a Lost Pet report only after making sure your lost pet is not already in our Found Pets database.
Finding a Lost Pet
Pictures and/or descriptions of animals that have been found and brought to our Care Centers are posted on our website's Found Pets Database daily. If you see an animal that fits the description of your lost pet, visit the identified Care Center to reclaim your pet.
When searching our Found Pets database, select the appropriate Animal Type only and click on "search". Leaving the other fields empty will maximize your search results. If you do not see a match in the animals listed in the Found Pets database, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "Show Pets Found by the Public", near the bottom of the page. This search will provide you with the Found Pets reports made by those who have found lost pets, but have chosen to keep the pets rather than turn them into the Care Center. If you still do not find your lost pet on this database, you should then file a Lost Pet report.
First, let's go over the 4 major mistakes people make when their dog gets lost.
Mistake 1: Waiting for your dog to come home. Start searching ASAP! It’s rare for dogs to come home on their own. Odds are, a good samaritan has taken them in or brought them to a shelter. The sooner you start looking, the sooner you and your dog will be reunited!
Mistake 2: Not checking ACC's website at least once every three days. Make sure to check our Found Pet database consistently! Dogs can enter our care weeks or months after they go missing.
Mistake 3: Not following every suggested method for finding your dog. The more you use, the higher the chance it is you will be reunited!
Mistake 4: Giving up too soon. Don’t succumb to grief fatigue. Sometimes it’s easier to stop searching and get closure than it is to keep searching. Persistence over time gets dogs home!
What to do:
The most important strategies to use are searching and marketing.
Search the area! If the dog was lost recently, walk/drive around the area asking members of the community if they have seen your dog.
Check online communities. Click here for a list of useful websites, pages, and groups. Include a full-body picture, name, short description, and contact info. Be sure to check back regularly!
Check the ACC Found Pet database often!
Make lost dog posters/flyers. Be sure to post them around your neighborhood/where your dog went missing and to hand them out to passersby. Include a full-body picture, name, short description, and contact info.
Pawboost Start Spreading Local Awareness with Pawboost! Pawboost is also a fantastic tool for generating a high-quality missing flyer!
Have a car? Use car markers and turn your back window into a moving lost dog poster. Be sure to include a full-body picture (taped from the inside), name, short description, location missing, and contact info.
Does your dog have a microchip? Call your microchip company and make sure your info is up to date! If your dog is brought to any shelter or veterinary office, they will scan your dog for a microchip.
Use Petco Love Lost and Pawboost!
If you find your dog, approach properly (especially if your dog is skittish). Approach slowly making minimal noise, bring treats, and use a soft tone of voice.
Don’t give up! Keep following these tips! It can take time, but many dogs are reunited with their families after months of being lost.
First, let's go over the 4 major mistakes people make when their cat gets lost.
Mistake 1: Waiting for your cat to come home. Start searching ASAP! Start your search and follow these tips immediately after your cat goes missing.
Mistake 2: Not checking ACC's website at least once every three days. Make sure to check our Found Pet database consistently! Cats can enter our care weeks or months after they go missing.
Mistake 3: Not following every suggested method for finding your cat. The more methods you use, the higher chance it is you will be reunited!
Mistake 4: Giving up too soon. It can take weeks or months, don’t succumb to grief fatigue and give up early. Sometimes it’s easier to stop searching and get closure than it is to keep searching. Persistence over time gets lost pets home!
What to do:
The most important strategies to use are searching and marketing.
Make sure your cat really is lost. Cats are very good at hiding! Search everywhere in your apartment/house and around your property, make sure to check every nook and cranny. Just because you don’t see or hear your cat, it doesn’t mean they aren't close to home! Try going out at night and using a flashlight to look for the reflection in their eyes.
Lure your cat back home. If you know what door/window your cat escaped from, try to leave it open so the cat can return. Put their bedding and your clothes near the open window/door, the scent can lure them in.
Search your neighborhood. Research has shown that lost indoor cats are usually just a block away from their home. Knock on neighbors' doors and hand out flyers.
Check outside at night. Most cats return home within a week and come home between the hours of midnight and 7 am. Check your doors and look out the window during that time if you are able to do so.
Make lost cat posters/flyers. Be sure to post them around your neighborhood/where your cat went missing and to hand them out to passersby. Include a full-body picture, name, short description, and contact info.
Pawboost: Start Spreading Local Awareness with Pawboost! Pawboost is also a fantastic tool for generating a high-quality missing flyer!
Have a car? Use car markers and turn your back window into a moving lost cat poster. Be sure to include a full-body picture (taped from the inside), name, short description, location missing, and contact info.
Does your cat have a microchip? Call your microchip company and make sure your info is up to date! If your cat is brought to any shelter or veterinary office, they will scan your them for a microchip and contact you
Check online communities. Click here for a list of useful websites, pages, and groups. Include a full-body picture, name, short description, and contact info. Be sure to check back regularly!
Check ACC’s Found Pet database often!
Use Finding Petco Love Lost. By registering your pet in the Petco Love Lost, your pet becomes searchable by thousands of users if he or she is ever lost.
If you find your cat, approach properly (especially if your cat is skittish). Approach slowly making minimal noise, bring treats, and use a soft tone of voice.
Don’t give up! Keep following these tips! It can take time, but many cats are reunited with their families after months of being lost.
Additional Resources
Pawboost
Start Spreading Local Awareness. Print A High-Quality Missing Flyer! Boost Recovery Chances. Notify Thousands Nearby. All with Pawboost!
Petco Love Lost
By registering your pet in Petco Love Lost, your pet becomes searchable by thousands of users if he or she is ever lost.
AUTOMATED TEXT MESSAGING PRIVACY POLICY / TERMS & CONDITIONS
Agreement to Receive Text Messages
By providing your mobile number, you agree that Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) may send you text messages (including SMS and MMS). ACC will send you up to fifteen (15) messages per month. Message and data rates may apply.
You may opt-out at any time by texting the word STOP to phone number 56525. For help, send the word HELP to 56525.
You agree to notify us of any changes to your mobile number and update your account with us to reflect this change.
Animal Care Centers of NYC does not store your personal information. Phone numbers and other information are stored by Simple Texting. Simple Texting's privacy policy can be found at https://simpletexting.com/privacy-policy/.
Will I be charged for the text messages I receive?
Though ACC will never charge you for the text messages you receive, depending on your phone plan, you may see some charges from your mobile provider.