Guilford County, NC
Home Menu
What to do if you've lost a pet?
We know how frightening losing a pet can be for both owner and pet. It is our mission to do everything we can to return lost pets home and help those who have lost a pet find their family member and bring them home. Stray animals are typically held per NC State Law for a minimum of 72 hours for an owner to come reclaim their pet.
Please follow the steps below to increase your chance of finding your lost pet.
1. Update your Microchip Information. Microchips help reunite pets with owners and those with a microchip are more likely to be reunited. It is critical that your information on your microchip is up to date. The first step is to be sure this information is accurate and up to date so that if a Good Samaritan finds your pet and takes it to a veterinary office or animal control picks up your pet, they have accurate contact information for you. We cannot stress enough how important it is to make sure this information is up to date.
| 2. File a lost 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 lost pet courtesy posted on social media with the Pet Detective Program page. |
3. View our lost pets. You can see every animal currently at Guilford County Animal Services via the links below. Look through our gallery to see if you recognize your pet.
4. Spread the news. Create a lost pet flyer and 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
Friends Of Guilford County Pets
Guilford County Pets Lost and Found
Guilford County Lost and Found Pets
Lost and Found Pets North Carolina
L.A.F Guilford, Forsythe and Surrounding Pets
Abandoned Lost and Found Pets in NC
If your lost and found Facebook group, app, or page is not listed here, please email scarlson@guilfordcountync.gov to be added to the list!
Reclaiming A Pet
If you believe your pet could be at Guilford County Animal Services, you do not need an appointment to come into the resource center and look for a lost pet. You do not need an appointment to reclaim your pet.
You will need a current government issued ID, proof of ownership, such as vet records or adoption papers, and be able to pay a reclaim fee for your pet.
Reclaim Process is as follows:
- Upon arrival at the resource center, please check in with the front desk in our adoption center. They will be able to have someone assist you in looking for your lost pet, or processing your reclaim.
- You must show proof of ownership to reclaim your pet. This can be vet records, adoption paperwork, papers, bill of sale with description of the pet and your information, photos taken at least 6 month prior to reclaim date. These photo can be on your social media or actual photos.
- Pay reclaim fees and sign reclaim paperwork.
- Receive a copy of the reclaim paperwork and take your pet home.
Reclaim Fees are as follows:
- $75 impound fee for animals that are not spayed/neutered
- $30 impound fee for animals that are spayed/neutered
- $10 per evening at the Resource Center for boarding fee
- $10 Rabies Vaccine fee if no proof of rabies vaccine
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our intake department at 336-641-3414. 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 with your name, phone number and brief message and we will contact you back as soon as possible.