Please Note If you cannot help look for the owner, in some cases leaving the animal “alone” may even be better than taking to the shelter, unless the animal is in immediate danger or in need of veterinary care. Taking a photo and posting it online can be a better alternative (see step 3 below). If a found cat is healthy and has an “ear tip” (the tip of one ear is missing), it means that the cat is a stray or outdoor cat (aka community cat) and should be left alone.

Please follow the steps listed below to help reunite the pet with its owner.

STEP 1
Check for an ID tag on the pet’s collar
If the pet is wearing a collar with an ID tag or address, call the owner or take the animal to the address listed.

STEP 2
Walk your neighborhood and talk to neighbors
Check around the area where the animal has been found to see if you can locate the owner or if neighbors know where the animal belongs. Leash a found dog and walk around with the dog.

STEP 3
Post on Social Media
We recommend posting a photo of the pet and the location it was found on the Lost & Found Pets in Savannah, Georgia. This group is very active and has a large following and posting here will alert thousands of individuals in the area. You can also post the same information in neighborhood specific Facebook groups and Nextdoor.

STEP 4
Check the Chatham 90 Lost Pet Report Page
Visit our Lost Pets Page to see if the pet’s owner has submitted a lost pet report to Chatham County.

STEP 5
Check for a Microchip
Some pets will have a microchip implanted under their skin that can give you access to the owners information. Many locations in Chatham County have microchip scanners that can read the microchips ID and give you the owner’s contact information. You can find the microchip scanning location nearest to you on our Microchip Scanner Map.

STEP 6
File a report with Chatham County Animal Services
You must file a found animal report with Chatham County Animal Services. This report acts as the official notification to the County and starts the 5 day stray hold for both cats and dogs. Found dogs and cats can be kept at the home of the person who found them provided a found pet report is filed and they actively search for owner. When filling out the report please specify if the pet is microchipped as staff will try to track down the owner in cases where microchips are unregistered. If the microchip is not registered, it is still possible for Animal Services to track down the owner as certain agencies have access to more information regarding microchips than the general public. At the end of the 5-day hold, you can assume ownership of the animal, re-home the animal or work with a shelter/rescue. See our spay/neuter and wellness pages for low-cost veterinary care options in our area.