Lost & Found Pets
We know how stressful it is to lose a pet or find one in need. Here are resources and steps to help reunite pets with their families.
I Lost My Pet
Lost your pet in the Wichita area? Take these steps immediately:
Go to Wichita Animal Services
Go to Wichita Animal Services (3303 N. Hillside St., Wichita, KS 67219). State law requires a three-day stray hold for animals at the shelter. If an animal is not claimed in that time frame, it can legally be euthanized. Go to the shelter at least once every three days to look for your lost pet. Do NOT rely on the shelter's website or on phone calls to the shelter — these can be helpful, but they aren't always reliable or accurate. YOU know your pet better than anyone else, and you will be the best person to recognize them in person at the shelter.
Advertise your lost pet on social media
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other forms of social media can be exceptionally useful tools in reuniting people with their lost pets. Post your pet often, and make your posts public and shareable. Include photographs, detailed descriptions (physical and behavioral), and the last location your pet was seen.
Look for AND post your dog on helpful websites
Check with other facilities
If your pet is sick or injured, a good samaritan may have taken it to the Veterinary Emergency Specialty Hospital. Call (316) 262-5321 to ask if your pet has been taken there. If you are in a smaller city outside of Wichita, check with your local city hall and/or veterinary clinic, as they may have holding areas for stray animals.
Use word-of-mouth
Ask your neighbors, delivery drivers, and mail carriers to be on the lookout for your pet. Post flyers with your pet's photos, description, and your contact information on utility poles and bulletin boards.
I Found a Pet
Found a pet in the Wichita area? Take these steps immediately:
Advertise the pet on social media and helpful websites
Odds are very good that the pet's worried family will be scouring Facebook, Nextdoor, PawBoost, etc. to find their lost family member. Include photographs, a physical description, and the location found. If someone claims an animal is theirs, request that they provide proof before turning the animal over to them (veterinary records or pictures of the pet).
Have the animal scanned for a microchip
Any animal shelter or vet clinic can scan for a microchip. Many rescue organizations, including Kansas K-9 ResQ, also have microchip scanners. There is a microchip scanning station outside of the Wichita Animal Shelter that can be used 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Make sure to scan the pet's entire body as microchips can shift over time.
Post the pet's photo on the Wichita Animal Shelter's bulletin board
Posting at the shelter ensures that owners who are searching in person will see your found notice and can contact you directly.
If you cannot keep the animal, take it to Wichita Animal Services
Owners should be searching local shelters to find their pet. It can be hard and sad to drop an animal off at the shelter, but owners of lost pets will look there and will be relieved to be reunited with their pet.
Need More Help?
Kansas K-9 ResQ often gets requests to take stray dogs. We cannot legally take a stray dog without first giving the owner the opportunity to claim it — the dog must first serve a three-day hold at the Wichita Animal Shelter. That said, if you have found a stray dog and we have an available foster home, we may be able to help. Contact us to learn more.