Most people who contact us to take stays don’t realize they are legally obligated to try to find the owners first. The shelter is where people look for their lost pet and is a useful resource for reunited owners with their pets. If you have exhausted all avenues of finding the owners and are able to host the dog you have found, we have a guest dog program and  you can learn about in on this link here.

You may want to take your stray to Dallas Animal Services (DAS)  if in Dallas or the local shelter in your area. In addition, there are many shelters you can consult to see if they have capacity.


Dallas City Ordinance 27888:
A person commits an offense if he/she finds a dog and fails to make a reasonable effort to locate the dog's owner within 72 hours by calling the telephone number listed on the dog's tags; taking the dog to a veterinarian for a microchip, tattoo, or other identification screening; calling 311 to request the dog be picked up for identification screening and impoundment; or bringing the dog to our adoption center for identification screening and/or impoundment.


You may want to take your stray to Dallas Animal Services (DAS)  if in Dallas or the local shelter in your area. In addition, there are many shelters you can consult to see if they have capacity. Dallas Animal Services
Guide to Finding Lost Dogs
  1. Search the immediate area thoroughly.
  2. Visit us ASAP to search for your pet and to file a report with our Lost & Found Coordinator.  You can also email us at [email protected], but you need to come to the shelter in person to check for your dog.
  3. Advise your microchip manufacturer right away.  If you don’t know how to contact them, you can look up your pet’s chip at http://www.petmicrochiplookup.org/
  4. Contact your neighborhood or homeowner’s association.
  5. Put up signs.  Find out how to make signs that get noticed at https://bit.ly/lostpetflyer
  6. Tag your car.  It works! Find out more at https://bit.ly/tagyourcar
  7. Post online on Craigslist and Lost Pet websites, like the Lost Dogs of Texas Facebook Page
  8. Alert the veterinary clinics in your area.  You can find them quickly and easily using AHNow.org
  9. Never give up.  We’ve seen some amazing reunions over the years — some weeks, months, and even years later.
For in-depth information on lost pet behaviors, and additional information on finding lost pets, visit DallasAnimals.org, and look for Lost Pet Network.
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Dallas Animal Services
Guide to reuniting found dogs
  1. Check for identification tags.  Even city-issued registration tags are traceable.
  2. Walk the dog around the area where he was found to see if anyone recognizes him.
  3. Take the dog to the nearest shelter or veterinary clinic to have it scanned for a microchip. Locate vets near you using AHNow.org
  4. Notify us by emailing the Dallas Animal Services Lost & Found Coordinator at [email protected].  The Lost& Found Coordinator can not only take your report, but he can check “Lost” reports on file.  If someone is looking for the dog, they will likely contact us.
  5. Put up large, brightly colored posters.  Find out what information to include on your posters at https://bit.ly/lostpetflyer.  Be sure to leave out at least one specific descriptive characteristic that can be used to help verify ownership.
  6. Contact your neighborhood or homeowner’s association
  7. Post online on Craigslist and share on your social media channels
  8. Complete the Found Pet form on www.PetHarbor.com and on the Lost Dogs of Texas Facebook Page
It is best if you house the dog yourself while attempting to find the owner.  However, if you are unable to temporarily house the dog until the owner is found, please bring the dog to:
Dallas Animal Services
1818 N. Westmoreland
Dallas, 75212
The Lost & Found department is open 11am – 6:30pm Monday – Saturday and 12pm – 5pm on Sunday.