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If You Have Found a Lost Dog,
follow these steps:
- Check Nearby Homes: Look around for nearby houses the dog may have come from. If you’re comfortable, knock on doors and ask neighbors if they recognize the dog.
- Take a Clear Photo: Post the photo to social media and online forums such as:
- Facebook (especially local groups like “Lost and Found Pets of Delaware”)
- Nextdoor
- PetFBI.org
- Craigslist – Pets & Lost and Found
- Microchip Scan: Take the dog to the nearest vet clinic or animal shelter to be scanned for a microchip. This is typically free. If the dog is chipped, the vet or shelter can contact the owner directly.
- Call Your Local Dog Warden: If the dog is not chipped or no owner is found, contact the Dog Warden in your county:
- Delaware County Dog Warden (740) 368-1915
- Franklin County Dog Warden (614) 525-3647
Important: HSDC does not take in stray dogs. All stray dogs must go through the county Dog Warden, who will hold the dog for a mandatory 3-day stray hold period to give owners a chance to reclaim their pets. After that, most unclaimed dogs are transferred to other animal welfare agencies such as HSDC for adoption. This process ensures that pet owners are given time to reclaim their pets.
If the dog is aggressive or injured, call 911 for emergency assistance.
If You Have Found a Lost Cat,
consider the following:
Around 35% of cat owners allow their cats to roam outdoors, and many cats do not wear visible identification. In Delaware County, it’s common for cats to be indoor/outdoor or part of a community cat colony. If the cat appears healthy and well-fed, it may be owned and allowed outside.
Follow the steps below to see if the cat has a home:
- Check Nearby Homes: Look around for nearby houses the cat may have come from. If you’re comfortable, knock on doors and ask neighbors if they recognize the cat.
- Take a Clear Photo: Post the photo to social media and online forums such as:
- Facebook (especially local groups like “Lost and Found Pets of Delaware”)
- Nextdoor
- PetFBI.org
- Craigslist – Pets & Lost and Found
- Microchip Scan: Take the cat to the nearest vet clinic or animal shelter to be scanned for a microchip. This is typically free. If the cat is chipped, the vet or shelter can contact the owner directly.
If you are unable to locate and owner and you would like to surrender the cat, go to our Surrender a Pet page and follow the instructions.
If you’ve found a cat that is injured, please call the shelter at (740) 369-7387 to discuss next steps with a staff member.
Found Kittens
If you find a litter of kittens without their mother:
- Do not immediately assume they are abandoned. The mother may be off searching for food or moving the litter.
- If the kittens appear healthy and are not in immediate danger, the best outcome is often to leave them until the mother comes back.
- Observe the area from a distance for 1–2 hours to see if the mother returns.
You may use your judgment after observation based on the kittens’ needs and your ability to care for them.
If you decide the kittens need help, you may fill out a Cat Surrender Form. Once submitted, our staff will contact you to discuss space and support options.
If the kittens appear sick or injured, call HSDC to speak with a staff member at (740) 369-7387.
Caring for Unweaned Kittens
HSDC does take in unweaned kittens (also known as bottle baby kittens), but due to the intensive care they require, we must have an available foster home ready to take them immediately at intake. These kitten often are not old enough to have their eyes fully open and will not have many teeth, if any.
If you’ve found unweaned kittens, please call us at (740) 369-7387 to speak with a staff member about your options and fill out a surrender form.
If you’re willing to care for the kittens until HSDC can place them in a foster home—or until they are old enough to eat on their own—we will support you with supplies, training, and guidance. Once the kittens are ready, HSDC will find them loving homes through our adoption program. To find helpful resources check out our resource page on our website.
If you’re open to fostering, even short-term, please let us know when you submit the surrender form.