Lost a pet in San Francisco? Start here.
Search the last-seen area, file a missing-pet report with San Francisco Animal Care and Control, and check its found-animal links. Call the shelter before a visit to confirm arrangements. Share photos locally and keep your microchip contact details current; online listings and community posts are useful alongside direct shelter contact.
First steps in San Francisco
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.
Report to SFACC
Submit a photo with the missing-pet report and check the found-animal links on SFACC’s page.
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.
San Francisco 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.
SF Animal Care and Control
Complete the missing-pet form and use its found-animal search links. Call 415-554-6364 before visiting the shelter at 1419 Bryant Street to confirm arrangements.
Open lost-pet resources →Animal welfare organizationSF SPCA: Petco Love Lost
The SF SPCA recommends this independent photo-matching database as an additional place to report and search. This does not replace your SFACC report.
Read the reporting guidance →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
What if someone calls claiming the shelter has my pet?
SFACC warns about lost-pet payment scams. Contact the shelter using the number on its official website before responding to a payment request or sharing sensitive information.
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.