Lost Pets

The most important step to take is to call a report in to the Humane Society IMMEDIATELY.

• Call 949-3573, 962 Second Line East or fax 949-0169 (Please DO NOT use email for this purpose)
• If possible, provide us with a colour picture of your pet (fax photos are not good to use).
• Call or visit in person daily. Ask to check the Stray Room and check the Cat and Dog adoption rooms.  
• If you are called to view a pet matching the description of yours, please come asap, keeping in mind the 5 day stray policy.

Cats and dogs arrive at the shelter daily and those that are deemed to be a stray (no owner known) are held in the City Pound according to the terms of the City by-laws. We are required to hold a stray for only 5 days before placing them up for adoption OR euthanizing them. 

During peak seasons when the shelter is at capacity, we are forced to adhere closely to the 5 day holding period, so filing a report of your missing pet with us is imperative. Your participation in finding your pet is vital to your success.  Your responsibility does not end with filing a lost report – we can have more than 250 lost reports from within the City limits and outlying areas and cannot remember them all.

Ensure that your pet-sitter is aware of the steps to take as well.  All too often we have seen people return from a 2 week vacation and they have to start looking for their pet that disappeared at the beginning of their holiday because the pet-sitter didn’t know what to do. 

Other Steps:

• Post notices on the internet, in your neighbourhood or the area they went missing (we have reunited pets lost during travel with owners in Toronto and Barrie because the owner contacted us),
• Call radio stations, post ads in paper.
• Check sheds, garages in neighbourhood. 

The best thing you can do to prevent your pet from going on the missing list is to not allow them to roam free and ensure that have proper identification.  A collar and dog license is the best means of being reunited with Fido.  You can provide your cat with a break-away collar and I.D. tag.  Veterinarians can provide microchip identification for both cats and dogs.