If You Found a Pet

Please note: Cats are free to roam. Cats brought to the shelter will be evaluated by staff prior to acceptance. You may be required to return the cat to the area where it was found.

SCAS accepts stray cats during business hours under the following circumstances:

Altered and microchipped
Unaltered
Sick or injured
Kittens without a mother (see below for further information)

SCAS does not accept cats that meet the following criteria:

Healthy and altered with no microchip
Ear tipped (ear tipped cats are typically community/feral cats.

If the found cat is injured or ill during SCAS's non-business hours, please confine the cat and call your local non-emergency law enforcement number. An Animal Services Officer will be dispatched to pick up the cat. The cat can also be taken to a 24-hour veterinaary clinic/hospital.

person holding dog

What To Do If You Found A Pet

If the animal is sick or injured, please take it to the closest animal shelter or emergency facility.
If you find a stray animal in the City of Santa Rosa or Unincorporated areas of Sonoma County, the law requires that you report any stray dog or cat that you find in the City of Santa Rosa and Unincorporated Sonoma County to us within 24 hours.
Complete our online Stray Intake Form. Please note that the form will be reviewed by staff Tuesday through Saturday 9AM to 5:30PM, excluding holidays.
Call us at 707-565-7100 Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm.
Bring the animal to the shelter during office hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-5PM. If the dog is aggressive, please contact us for assistance.
After hours: Found dogs or cats can be brought to a 24-hour Emergency Veterinary Hospital.
Found kittens: please review the protocol here.
Found cats: please review our FAQ regarding feral/community cats.
Found livestock: a sheep, goat, pig, etcetera. Please call our dispatch line Monday through Saturday 8AM-5PM at 707-565-7100 and press 1.
Found wildlife: we do not handle wildlife; please contact Wildlife Rescue here.
If you found a stray animal outside the City of Santa Rosa and Unincorporated Sonoma County, please contact the appropriate agency from the list below, according to where the animal was found. Per County Ordinance, this must be done within 24 hours of finding the pet.

STRAY INTAKE FORM FOUND KITTENS FOUND WILDLIFE

girl holding dogs face

If You Keep the Found Pet at Home

Please attempt to find the pet’s owner and report the lost pet to Sonoma County Animal Services within 24-hours of finding the pet.

Call us at 707-565-7100 or email theanimalshelter@sonoma-county.org with a description of the animal, where you found them and a photo for posting on our lost and found page.
During business hours, an officer may be able to come to your home to scan the animal for a microchip.
During our non-business hours, take the pet to a veterinarian or shelter to be scanned for a microchip.
Post online:
- PetcoLoveLost
- PawBoost
- 24Petconnect
- Lostmydoggie
- Lostmykitty
- Nextdoor
- Craigslist (in the Community section under Lost & Found Pets)
- Mission Reunite
- Josie's Los Dog Alert of Sonoma County
Create "found" flyers and ask your neighbors if they know the pet.
If no one claims the pet after 15 days, the animal is legally yours. However, if within the city limits of Santa Rosa, if the previous guardian comes forward within 30 days of when the animal was reported to SCAS the previous guardian does have the right to get their pet back from the finder.

Stray Animal County Ordinance Stray Animal City of Santa Rosa Ordinance

If You Found a Pet

What To Do If You Found A Pet

If You Keep the Found Pet at Home

Other Shelters in Sonoma County

Forgotten Felines

North Bay Animal Services

Rohnert Park Animal Shelter

Pets Lifeline Logo

Humane Society of Sonoma County