Excuse me, I’m looking for someone

Found Pets

I was lost but now I’m found! Because of my license and the Humane Society’s lost pet database, they were able to reunite me with my family. Reunited never felt so good.

More than a shelter

Scam alert

Please note, another shelter in Colorado has experienced a scam where people missing their pets receive a phone call from someone claiming to represent the shelter and requesting a Venmo payment to return the pet. HSPPR will never request a Venmo payment. If you receive a similar call, please alert HSPPR immediately at 719-473-1741.

What to do

If only lost pets could call a cab to take them home. Since they can’t, let’s team up to get them reunited with their humans!

1

Check for tags
If the pet isn't wearing an ID tag, but has a local license or rabies tag, we may be able to trace the owner - just give us a call. You may also take a lost pet to a veterinary office to have him scanned for a microchip.

The next steps

Thank you for taking the time to help reunite a missing pet with his owner! Here’s what to do next: 

Bring the pet to the shelter

If it's safe to do so, you can help out by bringing the stray pet to one of our shelter locations. We provide him with a safe place to stay and daily care while our lost & found team works to reunite him with his family.

If possible, please schedule an appointment to bring in a stray pet.

Found a kitten? Read more

Call us to pick up the pet

Depending on where you live, Animal Law Enforcement may be able to pick up the lost pet for transport to the shelter. Please know depending on emergency call volume, pickup may be delayed. 

Care for the pet in your home

Some good Samaritans are able to temporarily care for a lost pet in their home. Fill out a found report so pet owners can find their missing pet. We suggest you check with neighbors and area veterinarians, hang signs, submit the pet to Petco Love Lost, and post notices on social media sites such as Facebook and Craigslist.

Petco Love Lost

Petco Love Lost is a searchable national database that uses patented facial recognition technology to help find lost pets at nearby shelters. Upload a photo of the stray pet to the Petco Love Lost database after submitting their found report to HSPPR. 

Frequently asked questions

By law, stray dogs are held a minimum of five days and cats a minimum of three days (five days in Pueblo County) before we can make an animal available for adoption. We evaluate each and every animal as an individual, and there’s never a time limit on how long we’ll care for an animal before he’s adopted. We may also work with other shelters/rescues to assist in assessing the specific needs of a pet. In some cases, seriously ill animals or animals with severe behavior problems may be humanely euthanized. As a socially conscious animal shelter, our focus is on the health and well-being of every animal in our care and the safety of the community.

Depending on where you live, Animal Law Enforcement may be able to pick up the lost pet for transport to the shelter. Please know pickup may be delayed when emergency call volume is high.

Please contact us if you are interested in adopting the stray pet you found should his owner not come forward. Legal ownership of an unclaimed pet can only be transferred through the adoption process at a licensed shelter or rescue facility after completion of the stray wait period.

It is extremely difficult to see a deceased pet on the side of the road. If you are willing and able, you may bring a found dog or cat to our Colorado Springs or Pueblo campus for cremation. We do attempt to match deceased pets with any lost reports we have on file so we can provide closure to their owners. If you are unable to bring an animal in, our Pueblo Animal Law Enforcement team can provide domestic pet pickup in Pueblo County. Please know depending on emergency call volume, pickup may be delayed. If you are outside of Pueblo County (including Colorado Springs/El Paso County), please contact your local roads department.

HSPPR is not licensed to accept wildlife. If you find orphaned or injured wildlife, including deer, birds, rabbits, turtles, or tarantulas, please check with Colorado Parks and Wildlife for licensed rehabilitators.

Don't be a kit-napper

When we find a litter of kittens, our good-hearted instincts tell us to rush to the aid of these fragile felines. Thankfully, human intervention is typically not required. In fact, the best thing we can do is leave the kittens alone. Mom will likely return shortly, and it’s critical that the kittens remain in her care, as she offers the best chance for survival. Kitnapping them can do more harm than good!

two neonatal kittens