Lost a pet in Denver? Start here.
Search near the last-seen location and check Denver Animal Shelter’s found-pet listings. Also check Humane Colorado, especially if your search extends beyond city limits. Save a recent photo, update your microchip contact details, and return to shelter listings as new animals arrive. These are separate organizations with separate records.
First steps in Denver
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.
Check both shelter systems
Search Denver Animal Shelter and Humane Colorado separately; a missing match in one is not a complete metro-area search.
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.
Denver 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.
Denver Animal Shelter
Use the city’s found-pet search and reclaim instructions. The city advises checking its listings daily. General inquiries: 720-913-1311.
Open lost-pet resources →Animal welfare organizationHumane Colorado
Search its lost-and-found database and follow its report link. If a listing may be your pet, confirm the specific shelter location before visiting.
Search Humane Colorado →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
Where should I go if I see a possible match?
Contact the shelter shown on that animal’s listing and follow its reclaim instructions. Gather photos, microchip information, and veterinary or adoption records; do not assume all Denver-area listings refer to the same building.
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.