Lost Pets
If your pet is missing, begin searching right away. Acting quickly and using several search methods can help increase the chances of a safe reunion.
We encourage you to visit West Valley City Animal Services at least every other day while your pet is missing. Animals at the shelter are posted on 24PetConnect.com and updated hourly; however, online listings may not always match the way you would describe your pet. Breed, color, size, or other features may be listed differently.
You know your pet best, so visiting in person is the best way to look for them. Keep recent photos of your pet’s face and full body on your phone to share with shelter staff.
West Valley City Animal Services holds stray animals for a required five-business-day stray hold before they may be adopted or transferred to a rescue partner.
Search your neighborhood regularly, calling your pet’s name calmly and checking places where they may hide, including garages, sheds, under decks, and bushes. Bring a flashlight, favorite treats, a toy, or a familiar blanket.
Pets may hide during the day and move around more at night when the area is quieter. If available, check your own doorbell or security camera footage and ask nearby neighbors if they can check theirs. Bring a leash and extra collar in case your pet has lost theirs, so you can safely bring them home.
Talk with your neighbors and share flyers with people who regularly travel through your area, such as mail carriers, sanitation workers, landscapers, and delivery drivers. You can hand out printed flyers or send a photo by text message. The more people who know to look for your pet, the better.
Use a recent, clear color photo and include:
- Your pet’s name, breed, color, and size
- Any unique markings or features
- Your cell phone number
- A reward notice, if you choose to offer one
Post flyers throughout your neighborhood and at veterinary offices, pet stores, libraries, and other appropriate community locations.
Post about your missing pet as soon as possible on neighborhood and social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, Ring Neighbors, and local lost-and-found pet groups. Ask friends and family to share your post and update it when you receive new sightings or information.
You may also wish to create a report on lost-pet websites, such as PetFBI, PawBoost, Petco Love Lost, or Lost Dogs of America. Include multiple photos and make sure your contact information is current.
Keep your phone charged and answer calls or texts from unknown numbers while your pet is missing. You may also want to update your voicemail greeting with a message such as:
“Hi, this is [Name]. I am currently searching for my missing pet. If you have seen them, please text or leave a message with the location, date, and time of the sighting.”
A lost pet may be scared—even if they normally know and trust you. Avoid chasing or yelling. Instead, crouch down, speak softly, avoid direct eye contact, and use familiar words, sounds, or treats to encourage your pet to come closer. If possible, sit quietly and allow your pet to approach you.
If it is safe to do so, make it easier for your pet to return home by placing familiar items near an entrance, such as their bed, blanket, or an article of clothing with your scent. Make sure someone is available to safely bring your pet inside if they return or if a community member brings them home.
Finally, once your pet is safely home, make sure their collar ID tag and microchip registration information are current. Proper identification can make a significant difference in helping lost pets return to their families.
Found Pets
If you have found an animal:
- If you find a lost pet, please take it to your local animal shelter as soon as possible. Bringing the pet to the shelter gives them the best opportunity to be safely reunited with their owner.
- You can also help by posting a “Found Pet” sign in your window, sharing the pet’s information on social media and local lost-and-found pet groups, and speaking with neighbors in the area. Once the pet has been taken to the local animal shelter, be sure to include the shelter’s name and location in your posts so the owner knows where to look.
- Keeping a found pet at home can make it more difficult for an owner to locate them, especially if the owner is checking local shelters. Many lost pets also have microchips. Animal shelters and veterinary clinics can scan for a microchip, which may provide the owner’s current contact information and help reunite the pet with their family.
- West Valley City and other local ordinances require found stray animals to be taken to the local animal shelter within 24 hours. Bringing the pet to the shelter gives the owner the best chance of finding them.
- Please do not release a found pet back into the neighborhood. A frightened animal may run farther from home, be injured by a vehicle, or be attacked by another animal.