Found a Pet

Found a lost pet?

Over the last few years, and through the recent challenges, we’ve begun to see how a critical shift, and a different path forward, can actually save the lives of the animals in our community without having animals languish in shelters. There will always be a need for shelters to help animals in emergency situations and victims of animal cruelty, but the real safety net for pets is a caring community – neighbors helping neighbors.

Take 48 is an initiative to help more lost pets get back home to their families. Given that most dogs will be found less than a mile away from their home, taking them to the shelter could impede their chances of ever finding their family again. We are encouraging all finders to take 48 hours and follow a few quick steps first to help that pet, before bringing them to the shelter.

For questions regarding lost and found pets, please email our admissions team: [email protected].

You can also check out community Lost and Found Facebook pages here:

FOUND DOGS

They were lucky to find someone caring like you to help get them back home. Here is what you need to know to give this lost pet their best chance at reuniting with their family.

If the dog is not friendly, do not approach them. Try to take their photo and follow step number 2 below to find their owner. For after-hours emergencies regarding injured strays only, please contact Metro at (304) 348-8111 or the Animal Emergency Clinic at (304) 768-2911.

Within the First Hour

  1. Check for ID. Some pets have a collar with the phone number stitched in, or a tag with a number that you can call to locate the pet parents.
  2. Take a photo. Alert your neighbors about the found dog. Snap a photo of the pet and post it on Nextdoor, your neighborhood social media group and your social media accounts.

Within the Next Few Hours

  1. Bring the pet to the nearest veterinarian and get a free microchip scan.
  2. Walk the dog around the neighborhood to see if anyone might recognize them.

Within the First 24 Hours

  1. Make a found pet flyer and hang it within a 1-mile radius of where you found the pet. PetFBI has a helpful online found pet flyer template.
  2. Email a photo and information to [email protected].
  3. Upload a photo to Petco Love Lost, a free online service that uses facial recognition technology to reunite lost pets with their owners.
  4. Search local Lost & Found pet alert sites to see if an owner has already posted this pet. If not, create a found pet alert on Pawboost and Helping Lost Pets.

Become a Friendly Finder

If you haven't found a lost pet's family in 48 hours and live in Kanawha County, consider becoming a Friendly Finder. Through the program, you'll keep the dog for just five days during their mandatory hold period. This increases the chances of finding the pet's family nearby, keeps them out of the shelter and saves space for other animals in need. We'll take the dog's picture for our website and provide the vaccines, de-wormer and flea treatment.

Lost & Found Sites

FOUND CATS

  1. If you find a healthy adult cat outdoors, alert your neighbors. Snap a photo of the pet and post it on NextDoor, your neighborhood social media group, and your social media accounts.
  2. If the adult cat is injured or looks malnourished or sick, take them to a vet or bring them to your county's shelter.

The cat could be an owned outdoor cat or a community cat. Community cats are often happiest outdoors and some will have an ear tip. The best thing you can do for community cats is Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) - have them spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and returned to their familiar environment. Read more about TNR and how to help community cats.

For more information about what to do if you find a cat outside, contact us at [email protected]

When you find stray kittens, their best chance at survival is leaving them where they are and waiting for mom. Don't pick them up until you've read the information below.

FOUND KITTENS

Follow these steps to determine what to do if you find stray kittens.

Are the kittens visibly dirty, cold, underweight, sick or injured?

YES – Bring them to your county shelter or the closest veterinarian, immediately.

NO – Their mother is likely taking great care of them and out hunting for food. Estimate the kittens’ age by what they look like.

  • Eyes still closed or just beginning to open: 1–2 weeks old.
  • Eyes open and alert, becoming mobile: 2–4 weeks old.
  • Very mobile and often talkative, can eat food: 4–6 weeks old.
  • Very active and playful, around 1–2 lbs: 6–8 weeks old
  • Very active and playful, around 2 lbs or more: 8+ weeks old.
  • At 2 weeks old, kittens will be nursing every 4-6 hours. Mom will begin weaning them at 4 weeks and by 8 weeks, they should be fully weaned.

Can you see the nest or hiding spot?

YES – Gently return the kittens to the nest where the mother will provide care.

NO – If the kittens are in danger (near a busy road, out in the open where predators may find them, etc.), move the kittens to a safe space and watch from a distance.

The kitten’s best chance of survival is with mom, especially for kittens under 4 weeks old. When waiting for her return, distance yourself so she cannot see or smell you.

Click and save image to share with your networks.

And don’t forget, wherever there are kittens, there are cats! Always work to sterilize the local community cats in order to prevent future births.

If the mother cat doesn't return after 6+ hours, are you willing to temporarily care for the kittens?

YES - Great! If these kittens were found in Kanawha County, reach out to [email protected] to let us know. Our vet staff will examine the litter and give you supplies and instructions.

NO - Please reach out to our Admissions Department at 304-342-1576 ext 118 or email [email protected] - or reach out to local rescue groups.

For detailed information about caring for underage kittens, check out KittenLady.org.

FOUND WILDLIFE

Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association is not equipped to humanely house found wildlife. If you find sick, injured or abandoned wildlife, please contact WV's Department of Natural Resources for assistance. Their website can be found here: https://wvdnr.gov/

Tips For Preventing Lost Pets

Keep your pet indoors or safely confined to a fenced area.

MICROCHIP

Having your pet microchipped is a quick, painless and easy way to ensure that if your pet gets loose, you will be contacted if they come into a shelter. You can have your pet microchipped at LifeLine’s Clinics or at any veterinarian’s office. Keep your microchip information updated if you move.

ID TAG

Inexpensive tags can be purchased from local pet stores. Include your phone number and address. Get a new tag each time you move or change phone numbers.

SPAY/NEUTER

Unaltered pets have hormonal instincts to seek out a mate when in heat. In order to prevent this, have your pet spayed or neutered. LifeLine provides low-cost spay and neuter services.