Lost a pet in Boston? Start here.
Search the last-seen area, notify Boston Animal Care and Control, and send a lost-pet report to the MSPCA Boston location. Check more than one shelter: a report to one organization does not notify every shelter. Use the contacts below while you ask nearby residents to check their properties.
First steps in Boston
Check the immediate area
Look carefully around the last-seen spot and ask neighbors to check garages and sheds. Ask permission before entering private property.
Notify the city and MSPCA
Keep the city report and the MSPCA Boston-area report separate; save each confirmation for follow-up.
Prepare one clear description
Keep a recent photo, last-seen time and location, identifying markings, and a safe contact method ready for reports and flyers.
Record and follow up
Keep a list of reports and sightings so helpers can coordinate. Check shelter listings again as new animals arrive.
Boston contacts and reporting tools
These links lead to independent organizations, not Your Pet Finders partners. Resources reviewed September 27, 2026. Confirm current hours, service areas, and availability with each organization.
Boston Animal Care and Control
The city lists Boston Animal Shelter, the Animal Rescue League, and MSPCA contacts. Report a missing pet to the city shelter at 617-635-1800 and prepare a photo and identifying details.
Open lost-pet resources →Animal welfare organizationMSPCA: Boston-area lost-pet reports
Select the Boston Area report, upload a photo, and check the linked lost-animal listings. MSPCA advises contacting town animal control as well, particularly for missing dogs.
Open reports and listings →Keep your search organized
Use your shelter reports, local outreach, and sightings together. No single listing covers every found pet.
Update the phone number and email held by your pet’s microchip registry.
Use a consistent photo and last-seen description in your posts; update them when reliable sightings arrive.
Avoid posting your full home address. Verify unexpected requests for money by contacting the organization directly.
When your pet is home, close your reports and update the people helping with your search.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to contact shelters outside Boston?
Yes, include nearby towns when your pet went missing near a boundary or sightings point beyond the city. MSPCA receives animals from across the region; its report is useful alongside local animal control.
What should I include in a lost-pet report?
Use a recent clear photo, the last-seen place and time, a description including distinctive markings, and a contact method you can monitor. Provide microchip details directly to the registry or shelter.
Does creating a Your Pet Finders case file these shelter reports?
No. Your free case helps organize your search, but you still need to contact the listed organizations and submit their reports yourself.
Do I have to buy an alert package to start?
No. Start with a free case and Action Plan. Paid Facebook and Instagram alerts are optional and subject to platform review. Neither an alert nor a shelter report guarantees a sighting or reunion.