Submit a Lost-Pet Report
Complete the form as soon as possible and share as much information as you can. Do not delay submitting your report if you do not know every detail.
The most helpful information includes:
- A clear, recent photo of your pet
- Where and when your pet was last seen
- A detailed description of your pet
- Your current contact information
Once you submit the report, our team will compare the information with animals brought into our care.
What to Do When Your Pet Is Missing
After submitting your lost-pet report, begin these four actions as soon as possible. Friends, family members and neighbours may be able to help you work on several steps at once.
1. Search your home, property and neighbourhood.
Check every room, closet, basement, garage, shed and other place where your pet could be hiding or accidentally trapped. Look under decks, porches, bushes, vehicles and outdoor equipment, and ask neighbours to check their properties. A frightened pet may remain silent or may not come when called.
2. Check animals found by GHS.
Animals currently in GHS care who are waiting to be reunited with their families are posted on our GHS Found Pets Facebook page. Check the page regularly, as new animals may be added.
If you recognize your pet or believe they may have been brought into our care, call us at 519-824-3091.
3. Update your pet’s identification information.
If your pet is microchipped, contact the microchip company to report them missing and confirm that your contact information is current. You may also wish to notify your veterinary clinic.
If your pet is licensed through DocuPet, report them missing through its HomeSafe service and update the information in their profile.
Report Your Pet Missing Through DocuPet
4. Share that your pet is missing and continue searching.
Tell neighbours and share a clear, recent photo through local lost-and-found pet groups. Include where and when your pet was last seen, a description and your contact information. Continue following up on possible sightings and repeating your search, as some pets remain close to home but may not be seen immediately.
Reclaiming Your Pet from GHS
If you recognize your pet on the GHS Found Pets Facebook page or believe they may have been brought into our care, call us at 519-824-3091. Our team will help confirm whether the animal is yours and explain what you need to do next.
To reclaim your pet, please bring:
- Government-issued photo identification
- Proof that the animal belongs to you, such as veterinary records or bills, adoption documents or proof of purchase
Reclaim fees may apply. The amount will depend on how long your pet has been in our care and whether they required emergency or veterinary care. Our team will explain any applicable fees before your pet goes home.
Update or Close Your Lost-Pet Report
If your pet returns home or you receive new information that may help with the search, please call GHS at 519-824-3091 or email info@guelphhumane.ca.
Please call for urgent or time-sensitive updates. Our phone line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Letting us know when your pet is home allows our team to close the report and keep our lost-pet information current.
Lost-Pet FAQs
If an animal who may match your lost-pet report is brought into GHS care, our team will use the contact information in your report to reach you. Please make sure your telephone number and email address are current and monitor your messages while your pet is missing.
If you do not have a recent photo or know every detail, submit the lost-pet report with the best information you have. Do not delay reporting your pet.
If you need to add important information later, call GHS at 519-824-3091 or email info@guelphhumane.ca. Please call for urgent or time-sensitive updates.
You do not need to submit another lost-pet report if you receive a possible sighting or remember additional information. Call GHS at 519-824-3091 or email info@guelphhumane.ca so our team can update your existing report.
Lost-pet reports do not expire. Your report will remain active until you let us know that your pet has returned home.
Do not give up hope. GHS has reunited families with their pets months—and sometimes years—after they went missing. Please keep your contact information current so we can reach you if a possible match is found.
The GHS Found Pets Facebook page shows animals currently in our care. It does not include every lost-pet report or community sighting. Continue checking the page, searching your neighbourhood and monitoring local lost-and-found pet posts.
A pet must be reclaimed by their owner. If the owner has died, their next of kin may reclaim the pet after providing the required identification and documentation.
Please call GHS before coming to the shelter so our team can explain what will be required.
Stray animals brought to GHS are held for a minimum of five business days to give their families an opportunity to reclaim them. During that time, we have an extensive process to check for identification, review lost-pet reports for matches and post the animal on GHS Found Pets.
A registered microchip can make an important difference when a pet goes missing. Unlike a collar or tag, a microchip provides a permanent form of identification, but it can only help reunite you with your pet if the contact information connected to it is accurate. We strongly encourage having your dog or cat microchipped and updating the registration whenever your telephone number, email address or home address changes.
If an owner is not located during the holding period, the animal may become available for adoption once they are ready. After an adoption has been completed, the new family becomes the animal’s legal owner. GHS cannot reverse a completed adoption or share the adopter’s personal information.
This is why it is important to submit a lost-pet report as soon as possible. If you believe an animal adopted through GHS may be your missing pet, call 519-824-3091 or email info@guelphhumane.ca so our team can review the situation with you.