Lost and Found Pets

City of Denton Residents: For after-hour emergencies (dog bites, injured animals, aggressive animals, wildlife in houses, etc.), call Police Dispatch: (940) 349-8181 (Option 1).

Tips for Keeping Track of Your Pets

Avoid the headache — and heartache! — of losing your favorite furry friend. Make sure you have a way to track your pet if they get out:

  • Get your pet microchipped. Did you know that as of May 21, 2024, it is a City mandate that all pets within the City of Denton be microchipped? We truly cannot emphasize more the importance of making sure your pet is chipped. (Ready to make that appointment? Check out our upcoming, free-and-discounted microchip/vaccine/spay/neuter events on our Events calendar.)

  • Purchase a GPS collar for your pet. These come in a variety of budget ranges and can be purchased easily online.

What To Do if Your Pet is Lost

If your pet is missing, we recommend that you:

  • Check the PetCo Love Lost website to see if your pet has been taken to an animal shelter. PetCo Love Lost (formerly Finding Rover) is a tool to help you reunite with your lost pet. The app provides instant identification of missing dogs and cats using photo facial recognition. The app matches faces of lost dogs and cats with those found or brought to the shelter and surrounding areas, allowing owners to look for their animals via smartphone or computer.

  • Check the City of Denton’s website to determine if your pet is at the animal shelter in Denton.

  • Reach out to the Lost & Found Pets of Denton, TX Facebook group to see if anyone found your pet.

  • Post flyers in your neighborhood.

  • Cats normally do not wander beyond their immediate territory — less than ½ mile or so. Sometimes they explore open garages and sheds where they can accidentally get locked in. The best course of action when trying to find your cat is to walk the neighborhood, talk to your neighbors, and put up flyers.

If you believe your pet is at the Denton animal shelter, email Animal.Services@cityofdenton.com immediately with the animal ID number (assigned during pet registration) noted in the subject line. You can also speak to a customer service representative in the front lobby during regular business hours and begin the reclaim process (fees may apply).

What To Do if You Find a Lost Pet

If you find an animal that is almost certainly someone’s lost pet, you can take the pet to the nearest veterinary clinic, animal shelter, or spay/neuter clinic to scan the pet for a microchip. Then you can contact the pet's microchip manufacturer and report that the pet has been found.