05/30/2026
🚨 FOUND A STRAY DOG OR CAT? PLEASE READ 🚨
If you find a stray dog or cat, it is important that you take the proper steps to help reunite the animal with its owner.
Many lost pets are only a short distance from home, and owners often contact Animal Control, law enforcement, and local shelters first when searching for their missing family member. When a found animal is kept without being reported, it can significantly reduce the chances of a successful reunion.
⚠️ In Michigan, individuals who find a stray dog are generally required to notify local law enforcement or Animal Control within 48 hours of taking possession of the animal. If you find a stray dog, please contact your local Animal Control or shelter for guidance on the next steps.
If you choose to temporarily care for a found animal while efforts are made to locate the owner, you must be willing and able to provide:
✔️ Food and fresh water
✔️ Safe shelter
✔️ Necessary veterinary care if the animal becomes sick or injured
✔️ Cooperation with Animal Control and owner-reunification efforts
Before assuming an animal has been abandoned, remember that many beloved pets escape from yards, slip out of doors, or become lost during travel. Their families may be actively searching for them.
If you find a stray pet:
🐾 Contact Animal Control or local law enforcement within 48 hours.
🐾 Report the animal to your local shelter.
🐾 Check for identification tags and have the animal scanned for a microchip.
🐾 Share found-pet information with local lost-and-found pet groups.
🐾 Keep the animal safe while reunification efforts are underway.
Thank you for helping lost pets find their way home and for following the proper procedures when caring for found animals.
