1
Start the SDHS recovery sequence
Text LOST to 858-726-5678 for the Humane Society's free Lost2Found guidance, then follow the current online lost-pet plan rather than relying on a phone or email report alone.
Verified local resource guide
Lost dog or cat in San Diego, CA?
Find the public agency that serves the exact location, review current found-pet listings, and use this verified local plan for a missing dog or cat.
3Regional contacts
3Online resources
✓Checked August 14, 2026
Search with your pet’s photoUse Petgraphy alongside official reports and local checks.
Start in the correct San Diego service area
San Diego Humane Society is the primary animal-control provider for the City of San Diego, and its live found-animal search updates throughout the day. SDHS does not retain a lost-pet report submitted only by phone or email, so follow the current online and in-person plan rather than relying on a call alone.
San Diego County contains several separate service systems. Chula Vista and Lemon Grove, Coronado, National City, and unincorporated county areas may use providers other than the City of San Diego's, making the exact location or ZIP essential before a shelter visit.
Routing note: Use the exact last-seen location to identify the correct animal-service provider. San Diego Humane Society serves the City of San Diego, while unincorporated county areas and several neighboring cities use separate agencies.
What to do for a lost dog or cat in San Diego
Work through these location-specific steps alongside an on-the-ground search and the species guide that matches your pet.
2
Refresh the live found-animal search
Review the SDHS ShelterBuddy listings throughout the day. Compare markings and found location, and save the animal ID for every possible match.
3
Prioritize the first mile
SDHS estimates that 80% of lost pets are found within one mile. Search that core area methodically, contact neighbors and nearby clinics, then expand while continuing official checks.
4
Confirm jurisdiction and avoid scams
Check the service provider for the exact location, especially near city borders. Independently call 619-299-7012 if someone demands urgent payment while claiming to be SDHS, because callers can spoof its number.
Animal shelters and lost-pet resources near San Diego
These organizations do not all offer the same services. Use the note on each record, confirm its current service area, and follow its official contact or visit instructions.
San Diego Humane Society — San Diego Campus
5500 Gaines St, San Diego, CA 92110
619-299-7012Primary animal-control provider and shelter resource for the City of San Diego.
San Diego County Animal Services
Unincorporated San Diego County, CA
619-767-2675Use for applicable unincorporated county locations, not as the City of San Diego default.
A Way Home for Dogs
San Diego County, CA
619-249-2221Regional lost-dog recovery resource; confirm current availability directly.
Official and regional resources to check
Review the relevant pages repeatedly. A community link should supplement—not replace—an official lost-pet report and agency listing check.
Facebook lost-pet groups and pages near San Diego
Local Facebook communities can spread a clear photo quickly and surface neighborhood sightings that never reach a shelter database. Post only after confirming that the community covers the last-seen location and allows lost-pet reports.
Independent community links—reviewed August 14, 2026. Facebook names, rules, activity, privacy, and coverage can change without notice. Confirm the current scope, never send payment or verification codes, and withhold identifying details that a legitimate owner should use to prove ownership.
Lost and Found Animals in San Diego CountyFacebook group · San Diego CountyListed by San Diego Humane Society; Facebook details require sign-in.Lost and Found ONLYFacebook group · San Diego areaListed by San Diego Humane Society; Facebook details require sign-in.Lost & Found Pets of OB 92107Facebook group · Ocean Beach 92107Listed by San Diego Humane Society; Facebook details require sign-in.Lost and Found Pets of San Diego and BeyondFacebook page · San Diego regionListed by San Diego Humane Society; confirm current posting options.
Other lost-pet websites
These services can extend your reach, but none replaces an official report, local searching, or checking the agencies that serve the last-seen location.
Show 3 additional websitesPetco Love Lost, PawBoost, and 24Petconnect
Petco Love LostFreeFree national lost-and-found database with photo matching and participating shelter listings. File directly with local agencies too because coverage is not universal.Open ↗PawBoostFree + paid optionsA basic lost-or-found alert and local Facebook-page post are free; optional premium promotion is offered.Open ↗24PetconnectSearch is freeSearch participating shelter and public lost/found records by location. Lost-pet notices can receive possible-match emails; postcards are optional and paid.Open ↗
Use the right field-search plan
Dogs and cats can respond differently when displaced. Use our sourced species guide for the field-search steps while this page handles local reporting and agency routing.
Lost-pet questions for San Diego
Where should I report a lost dog or cat in San Diego?
Use the exact last-seen location to identify the correct animal-service provider. San Diego Humane Society serves the City of San Diego, while unincorporated county areas and several neighboring cities use separate agencies.
How long will a shelter hold a stray animal?
Holding periods and intake rules vary by agency, jurisdiction, species, identification status, and circumstance. Check the current policy for the agency serving the place where your pet was found, and act immediately—do not wait for a hold period to expire.
Should I visit every organization on this page?
No. First identify the agency serving the exact last-seen or found location. Review its current listings and follow its contact or visit instructions. Add adjacent agencies when a boundary or likely travel path makes them relevant.
Are these contacts guaranteed to stay current?
No directory stays current forever. Petgraphy verified the listed sources on August 14, 2026. Always confirm hours, service areas, intake rules, and contact details on the linked official page before traveling.
Sources and verification
Contact details, direct links, and jurisdiction guidance were checked against these primary sources on .