Found an animal?
Did you find a stray cat or dog in your community? Here’s what you should do:
- Visit a local veterinary office or Dorchester Paws to have the pet scanned for a microchip.
- Visit Dorchester Paws and have someone look through recent lost pet reports to see if someone is looking for the pet you found.
- File a Found Pet Report at Dorchester Paws.
- Post flyers at local veterinary offices, pet shops and animal shelters.
- You can also try searching Craigslist Lost & Found or checking local lost pet pages on Facebook.
- Post the pet on Petco Love Lost Pet Page to reach a larger network.
If you are unable to care for the pet that you’ve found while you try to find its owner, stray pets can be turned in to Dorchester Paws during our hours of operation for admissions. Please note, our Pet Support Services Department is closed on Sundays for any strays or animals found.
Leaving a Found Pet at Dorchester Paws
When you arrive at Dorchester Paws, please enter our Pet Support Services Department through the front of the building. Our staff will ask you questions about where and when the animal was found, explain the admitting process and how you can further assist finding the pet’s home.
If the animal appears sick, injured or aggressive, please call Dorchester County Animal Control immediately at (843) 563-0015.
Do not leave an animal at Dorchester Paws after hours. If you are unable to care for a pet you have found until morning, please call Dorchester County Animal Control.
Lost pets currently at our shelter:
Please note, the animals have been renamed if brought in as a stray.