What to do if you’ve lost a pet?

• Contact all local area veterinary practices. Most vet clinics keep a “lost pet log” and will let you know if someone calls about a pet who matches your pet’s description.
• Ask your neighbors if they have seen your pet; and let them know to contact you if they do. Ask them to check their garages and sheds as well, many times frightened pets will seek refuge there.
• Posting flyers is still an effective way to get the word out in your neighbourhood.
• You can also take advantage of the power of social media by posting to various lost/found Facebook pages.

What to do if you find a dog?

Look for any identification tags on the dog. If no owner information is found, contact the Municipal Animal Control Bylaw Officer at 519-525-7402 to report the lost dog. Please leave a message if your call is not answered directly and the officer will call you back. Try to confine the dog to a yard or tie him/her up to prevent escape if it is safe for you to do so. The Animal Control Officer will pick up the dog and transport him/her to a safe holding facility.

What to do if you find a cat?

There is unfortunately no stray cat bylaw in Huron East so they will not be picked up by animal control unless they are injured. It is best to leave straying cats where you find them. You might look for lost cat posters in your community or consider taking a photo of the cat to post to one of the lost/found pages on Facebook.

What happens to unclaimed lost or stray dogs?

Seaforth Animal Hospital sometimes acts as a temporary holding facility for the Municipality of Huron East which means stray animals are brought into our hospital by the Animal Control Officer.

All strays brought in are held for three business days before being assessed for suitability for adoption. You must come in during this period to reclaim your pet or you will lose all legal rights to claim him/her. This policy is set by Municipality of Huron East Bylaws.

Sometimes people ask, so let’s clear it up now – we do not euthanize healthy adoptable dogs! Unclaimed adoptable dogs are placed with an animal shelter or breed rescue organization. We do not adopt out dogs directly to members of the public.