Lost or Found an Animal

Time is of the essence whether your pet is lost or you have found a lost pet. Either way, we can help. There are several things that you can do right away to get started:

  • Check with your neighbors and post signs throughout surrounding areas
  • Share photos that clearly show the pet's face and markings
  • Utilize social media, particularly neighborhood group chats and lost pet groups
  • Search websites dedicated to reuniting lost pets with their family
  • Inform animal shelters, veterinarians and other animal welfare organizations in your area

The more detailed the information is that you can provide, the more likely your search will be successful. Be sure to include the city, specific street names and names of landmarks near the last known location of a lost pet or where a lost pet was found.

We can only accept animals that are found in Williamson County. If you find an animal outside of Williamson County, it will have a better chance of being reunited with its family if you take it to the shelter that serves the county where it was found.

If you have been caring for a lost animal for 30 days or more, you are legally considered the pet's owner and will have to schedule an appointment to surrender the animal to us.

Calling ahead and/or completing the online found pet form will save you time if you bring a lost pet to us. We only accept lost pets at the center during regular business hours.

Whatever you do, don't give up. We hear stories on a regular basis - and have been involved with a few of our own - about lost pets being reunited with their family after weeks, months or even years.

WCAC's Crisis Sheltering Foster Program provides temporary housing for pets of Williamson County residents who are seeking or receiving assistance related to domestic violence, mental health, or substance abuse.

Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet helps find temporary foster homes for pets of deploying active duty service members and veterans in specific situations. They also assist homeless veterans with veterinary care and pet boarding expenses.

If we're not able to provide the assistance you need, try this "Shelter & Rescue Finder"

I Have Lost My Pet

Take these additional steps if you have lost your pet:

  • Place items that have your pet's scent on them around the outside of your home
  • Look in nearby storm drains and wooded areas, don't forget to look up in trees for cats
  • Be certain that your pet's microchip information is accurate
  • Notify your pet's microchip company to flag your pet as lost
  • Continue to check our social media for photos of lost pets that were brought to us
  • Visit the animal center and ask to see the lost pets that are in our care, we do require proof that an animal is your lost pet


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I Have Found a Lost Pet

Take these additional steps if you have found a lost pet:

  • Think "lost", not "abandoned"; most animals roaming at large are likely lost and have someone trying to find them
  • Safely secure the lost pet; contact our Animal Control Officers if you are not certain it is safe to approach or if the pet appears to be ill or injured
  • Check for tags or other items that contain contact information
  • If you only find a rabies vaccination tag, call the animal center; we may be able to identify the pet's family from the tag number
  • Bring the lost pet to the center, your veterinarian or any other agency that can check for a microchip
  • To check for a microchip outside of business hours, you can use the self-service scanner kiosk located at the entrance of our Medical Clinic that was developed and donated by Girl Scout Troop 1255 from Brentwood
  • Require proof that anyone who claims to be the lost pet's family is indeed so; you may do this by withholding a piece of information that only the family would know, asking to see vet records or a photo of the pet with the family


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Whether you're looking for a lost pet or found one, you can use Petco Love Lost to help get them home.

Petco Love Lost logo - small use


You can also use this interactive map to see lost and found pets reported in your area.


More Lost Pet Resources