LOST A PET?

 

Humane Society of Harford County
410-836-1090 ext. 105

Lost Pets
All pets that are picked up by the Harford County Division of Animal Control are brought to the Humane Society of Harford County (HSHC). We are the only public shelter in Harford County and we accept stray animals from the public as well as from Animal Control.

We maintain an extensive file of lost reports. We highly recommend that if your pet is lost, you file a lost report with HSHC, complete with a picture and detailed description. You should also check back with HSHC in person every couple of days as descriptions can be misrepresenting and many pets are especially difficult to match up to lost reports.

Law requires that stray animals be held for a period of time so that owners can find and reclaim them. Dogs are held for five days (not including Sundays or holidays) and cats for four days on "stray holds". After this time, the animal is placed up for adoption and is considered the property of HSHC. For this reason, it is important that you check with HSHC via phone and in person frequently during the first few days of losing your pet. However, you may still redeem your pet after the stray hold has ended if the animal is still at HSHC. Keep in mind dogs with Harford County license tags will be held 10 days at HSHC. A tag, microchip, or tattoo increases your chance of finding your pet threefold.

You may also consider:

• Checking with local veterinarians in case your animal was injured and taken there. A list of local veterinarians is on the back of this handout.
• Hang flyers in your neighborhood. Check with your neighbors and mail carriers. Offer a reward - even a small one is an incentive. Make sure to include a phone number and description of your pet (pictures are great).
• Place ads in your local newspaper.

Lost Cats
Because of the overwhelming numbers of cats we take in to HSHC, it is particularly difficult to match cats with a lost report. If you have lost your cat, please make frequent, in person checks at HSHC. This is the most effective and successful way that cats are returned to their owners.

Other Shelters If you live close to other counties, keep in mind your pet may have traveled into those counties or may have been picked up by a concerned citizen and taken to other shelters. Please consider contacting the animal shelters outside of Harford County. We have listed some below:

Cecil Count SPCA - 410-398-9555
Baltimore County Animal Control- 410-887-5961 or fax 410-817-4257
Baltimore City Shelter- 410-396-4694 or fax 410-396-7332
Baltimore County Humane Society- 410-833-8848 or fax 410-833-9251
Maryland SPCA- 410-235-8826 or fax 410-235-1053
Anne Arundel SPCA- 410-268-4388 or fax 410-268-8020
Anne Arundel County Animal Control- 410-222-8900 or fax 410-222-8915
Carroll County Humane Society- 410-848-4810 or fax 410-875-9736