Guilford County, NC

Bringing in a Stray Pet

Thank you for helping the pets of Guilford County! We could not help reunite pets with their families if it were not for caring citizens. Please see the information below about steps you can take a home to help reunite a pet with their family or how to bring a found pet into Guilford County Animal Services.

Our intake department is open from 12-4pm everyday. There is no appointment necessary to bring in a found pet.

The process for dropping off a stray pet is as follows:

• Please be advised that dropping off a stray animal may take up to an hour or longer depending on number of people in line and space available. We have times where multiple people are bringing in stray pets at the same time alongside our Owner Surrender Appointments and must process in order of arrival. 
• Please fill out the stray pet form before or upon arrival.
• We lock our intake doors and have a managed intake area for the safety of the animals, public and our staff. When you arrive at the shelter, please remain in your vehicle and call or text 336-646-2925 and let our intake staff know you are here. They will take your name and text you when it is your turn. Please remain in your car until your turn for safety as animals will be coming and going from the entrances. 
• You will need a government issued photo ID to surrender a stray and will be required to fill out a stray pet form and provide information about where you found the pet and any information you may have about the pet. This helps us reunite pets with their owners or gives us additional information for helping the pet get adopted. Any information you can provide is greatly appreciated!
• We can only accept pets found in Guilford County. If you found a pet in another county you will need to take the pet to that county's animal shelter as that is the most likely place an owner will look for their animal.

Stray to Foster Program

We ask that every finder practice the Stray to Foster program for a found pet if possible. We are happy to help with supplies for members of the public that are willing to foster stray pets through their stray holds. 

 What to do if you've found a pet?

Thank you for helping the animals of Guilford County! If you have found a pet, please follow the steps below to increase the chances of finding the pet's owner.  

1. Check the pet for identification. If the pet is wearing an ID tag, contact the information listed on the tag and arrange to return the pet.

2. Check for a Microchip. Microchips help reunite pets with owners and those with a microchip are more likely to be reunited. It is critical that you get stray pets checked for a microchip as it can help reunite them with their owners quickly. You can have pets microchipped scanned for free at the resource center, veterinary offices, or some grooming or boarding facilities or groomers. Call ahead to check that they are able to scan for a chip. 

3. File a found pet report with Guilford County Animal Services. This pet report will help alert not only Animal Services, but there is an option you can check to have your found pet courtesy posted on social media with the GCAS Pet Detective Program page.

4. Canvas the Area. Place found pet flyers in the area the pet was found in. If it is safe to do so, ask people in the area if they know or have seen the pet before.

5. Spread the news. If you choose to keep a found pet and look for their lost owner, spread the word not only in your neighborhood, but through social media and lost and found apps. Some of the commonly used social media and lost and found apps are listed below. 

Guilford County Animal Services Volunteer Pet Detective Program

If your lost and found Facebook, app, or page is not listed here, please email hscott@guilfordcountync.gov to be added to the list!

If you have any questions, please feel free to call or text our intake department at 336-646-2925. Intake staff may not be able to answer the phone due to assisting the public and processing in animals. We apologize if we are unable to take your call right away. Please leave us a voice message or text message with your name, phone number and brief message and we will contact you back as soon as possible. 

If you find a stray pet, but are unable to capture or bring the pet to the shelter, please contact animal control at 336-641-5990.

If it is after hours for animal control and is not an emergency, please contact Guilford Metro at 336.373.2222. Select option 3 for non-emergency law enforcement, and ask them for help with the found pet. 

If it is an emergency situation, please call 911.