Pet Lost & Found
People bring pets to Town Lake Animal Center from all over Austin, Travis County, and surrounding areas. We check all animals for any forms of identification, including collars and tags, tattoos, and microchips. If any identification is found on a stray animal, our staff will make every effort to contact the owner to let them know their pet is at the shelter.
Lost A Pet?
Please talk to your neighbors, physically search for your pet, post signs in your neighborhood and come to Town Lake Animal Center to look for your pet as soon as you can. Stray animals are brought in by citizens and by Animal Control throughout the day and night.
Because we receive so many animals, animals may only be held for 3 full days after intake. It is best if you visit the shelter at least every other day to check for your lost pet. Because we have limited staff and we do not know your pet, we cannot check the shelter for you!
Between visits to the shelter, you can check the shelter virtually by clicking View Found Animals. This is not as reliable as visiting the shelter in person, and is not a substitute for visiting the shelter.
Animals listed in the kennel “FOUND” are animals that have been found by citizens and reported. These citizens are keeping the found pet in their home instead of bringing them to the shelter. If you see your missing pet listed in the kennel “FOUND,” please contact the shelter so we can put you in touch with the finder.
Reclaiming Your Pet
When you visit the shelter to look for your pet, be prepared to provide proof of ownership and proof of a current rabies vaccination.
Be aware that there will be fees associated with reclaiming the pet.
Found A Pet?
Most stray animals ARE owned by someone. Please do not simply “keep” an animal that you find without making a real effort to track down the owner. Talk to your neighbors and post signs in your neighborhood.
If you bring a found pet to us, please provide us with all the information you can - the more information you provide about the animal, the better.
If you have found a stray pet and cannot bring it to the shelter yourself, contact Animal Protection & Control by calling 311.
If you have found a pet and wish to keep it while searching a little longer for the owner, please call 311 to submit a Found Animal report.
