Lost and Found

Losing a family pet can be a traumatic experience. Let Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter help you find your pet or help locate the owner of a pet that you have found.


Lost Pets: We will assist you in locating your lost pet. Forms are available at the Shelter to describe your lost pet, when it was lost/missing and from what area. There is a list of all the Shelters, Humane Societies and SPCAs in the area. Our kennels are available for viewing from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 10 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Staff will advise you on helpful things to do, such as check other Shelters, let the mail carrier know your pet is missing (they travel your neighborhood daily), and post flyers in the area. Check back with the Shelter every few days.

Found Pets: If you have found a pet, call our office and leave your name, phone number, a description of the animal, the date and location it was found. If you need an animal picked up, leave the same information as well as letting us know if the animal is in a trap, loose, injured or dead.

Stray animals are held for six business days following the day of impoundment. On the sixth day, the Shelter has the option to place the animal for adoption, transfer to a non-profit organization, euthanize, or hold it longer.

Redemptions: If Animal Control has picked up your pet or it comes into the Shelter by a concerned citizen or the Police Department, you will be charged a redemption fee. Fees are based on how many times the animal has been here, and whether or not it is licensed.

Owned animals released to the shelter are held for six days. The owner may change their mind and reclaim the animal during that six-day period. After this holding period, the animal may be placed for adoption, transferred to a non-profit organization, euthanized, or held longer.