How do you find a lost pet in Austin?

Short answer

Start close to home, since most lost pets are found within a few houses, then put the report where the matches happen: Petco Love Lost, the city's free official tool, uses photo matching and scans public posts for found pets. Check Austin Animal Services' found pets list and visit the shelter daily, because strays are held only 72 hours before they can be released for adoption or transfer. The shelter at 7201 Levander Loop, Building A is open every day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. If your pet is there, reclaim quickly with proof of ownership and a photo ID; the reclaim desk is open daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and answers at 512-978-0556.

Who this is for

Austin residents who lost a dog or cat, and neighbors who found one and want it back home.

Next steps

1. Search your home and immediate neighborhood first; most lost pets are found within a few houses.
2. Create a lost report on Petco Love Lost with clear photos; it photo-matches found pets, scans public Nextdoor posts, and makes flyers.
3. Check Austin Animal Services' found pets list and visit the shelter daily, because stray holds last only 72 hours.
4. Update your microchip contact info, text 'lostatx' to 844-764-2125 for step-by-step tips, and post in Austin's lost-and-found pet groups.
5. If your pet turns up at the shelter, reclaim fast: bring proof of ownership and a photo ID to the reclaim desk, open daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., or call 512-978-0556.

Have this ready

• Clear photos of the pet from different angles for the lost report
• The pet's microchip number and the chip company's current contact info
• Proof of ownership, such as vet records, for a reclaim
• A photo ID for the reclaim desk

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting a few days to check the shelter; the 72-hour stray hold runs whether or not you call
• Skipping the microchip company update, so a found pet scan leads to a dead phone number
• Relying on one channel; the fastest reunions stack the report, the shelter checks, and neighborhood posts
• Bringing a found pet straight to the shelter when keeping it nearby gives it much better odds of getting home

Key facts

• Petco Love Lost is the city's official lost and found reporting tool and it is free.
• Austin Animal Services holds strays for 72 hours before adoption or transfer, at 7201 Levander Loop, Building A, open daily 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Any shelter, vet office, Austin or Travis County fire station, or Tomlinson's Feed Store can scan a found pet's microchip for free.
• A sick or injured found pet goes to 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000, not the regular lost and found tools.

Checked September 8, 2026 against the official source.

Common questions

How long does Austin Animal Services hold a stray pet?

72 hours. After the hold, the pet can be released for adoption or transfer, so daily checks and a fast reclaim matter more than any other step.

What do I bring to reclaim my pet?

Proof of ownership such as vet records or a clear photo of you with the pet, plus your photo ID. If the pet has a rabies vaccination, the certificate or the vet's name helps; the shelter can vaccinate and microchip before release if needed.

I found a pet. Should I take it to the shelter?

Usually no. Most pets are lost just a few houses from home, so keeping the pet nearby while you report it on Petco Love Lost and post locally gives it much better odds. Have the pet scanned for a microchip for free at any shelter, vet, fire station, or Tomlinson's. If the pet is sick or injured, call 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000.

Official sources

• Austin Animal Services lost and found pets
• Reclaim your pet at Austin Animal Services
• Found a pet in Austin

Checked September 8, 2026. Recheck the official page monthly and when the official page changes.

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