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Lost & Found Pets

Lost a pet? Found a pet? We can help.

Bettie and her girl

Found Animals Find Your Lost Pet Microchip Scanner Locations Wildlife

Found Animals

Schedule an Eastside Animal Stray Animal Appointment Schedule a Westside Animal Stray Animal Appointment

Animal Welfare will accept non-emergency stray pets at each shelter location seven days a week from by appointment only. Use one of the buttons above to schedule an appointment. Finders of healthy stray pets are being asked to maintain custody of the pet until their appointment and look for its owner, as allowed per the HEART Ordinance.

  • Stray finders should have the pet scanned for a microchip at either a veterinary clinic or Microchip scanning locations (no appointment is necessary).
  • Stray finders must report the found pet to Animal Welfare by calling 311
  • Stray finders can ask neighbors and post flyers where the pet was found
  • Stray finders should visit petfinder.com, Pawboost, and 24PetConnect to post information about the pet they have found
  • Finders are also encouraged to post information on other social media outlets such as Facebook. NextDoor, CraigsList etc.
  • For feral cat information, please contact Street Cat Hub for assistance at 505-247-9357

No appointment is necessary for emergency admissions.

Emergencies are:

  • Domestic animals that are injured or suffering, having trouble breathing, bleeding, in pain or in danger of death
  • Kittens or puppies without a mom who are under 7 weeks of age or unable to eat on their own
  • Trapped stray cats
  • A circumstance that interferes with your ability to provide proper care for the found pet
  • Behavior that puts humans or other animals at risk

Stray Animal Hold Times for Animals Over 12 Weeks of Age

Stray animals that are turned into AWD are held for owners to reclaim according to the following schedule:

Stray animals without any identification (microchip or tags) are held for 3 days and then are available for adoption on the 4th day.

Stray animals that do have identification are held for 6 days and then are available for adoption on the 7th day.

As we are closed for adoptions on Mondays, pets that are listed as available for adoption on Mondays may be adopted on Tuesday.

Stray animals under 12 weeks of age may be held shorter or longer periods depending on age and condition.


What to Do if You’ve Lost Your Pet

  • Act fast! Don’t waste days hoping your pet will come home.
  • Remember that pets with ID tags and microchips are much more likely to find their way back home.
    • Check to make sure your dog's microchip information is up to date so the person that finds your pet can reach you quickly if they're brought to a shelter or veterinarian's office and scanned.
  • Search your neighborhood or the area where your pet was lost and let people know you have a missing pet.
    • Call your pet’s name and check any places where they could have become trapped, such as in basements or garages or under vehicles. A lost pet often will hide during the day, so be sure to go out again at night with a flashlight and call for them. Sometimes a can of food can lure a hungry and scared pet to you.
  • Check with your local shelters every day. Call and visit the shelters to search for your pet. Animals are difficult to describe over the phone, and only you really know what your pet looks like.
  • Check with local neighborhood groups and post on social media through lost pet pages or groups, and ask others to share and spread the word.
  • Put large, brightly colored posters in well-trafficked areas near your home (post offices, libraries, pet supply stores, veterinary offices and grocery stores) using simple, easy-to-read phrasing like "Lost dog. Please help." Include your phone number and a picture of your missing best friend.
  • Inform your veterinarian and groomer that your pet is lost in case they receive a call.
  • Place ads in local newspapers or newsletters and offer a reward in case someone found your untagged pet.
  • Watch the found ads. Respond to any that might be close to your pet’s description. A week of wandering the streets can make white pets look drab gray, and the ad’s description might not exactly fit.
  • Call local radio stations. Some radio stations will broadcast lost pet information for free. Give them very detailed information on where your pet was lost, their description and how to contact you.
  • Visit the websites of national locator services such as petfinder.com, Pawboost, and 24PetConnect. 24 Pet connect will help you create a free lost pet flier.

Animal Reclaim

The fees associated with reclaiming your pet can vary significantly and depend on whether or not your pet has been previously impounded, spayed/neutered, licensed or vaccinated and the number of days your animal has spent in our shelter. Other fees may apply when reclaiming your animal.

Please be sure to:

  • Have proof of animal ownership (vaccination or photo)
  • Have proof of vaccination (if applicable)
  • Have a valid driver's license or photo ID with your date of birth, and proof of your current address. Must be over 18 years of age.

Animal Services accepts payment by cash, check, VISA, MasterCard, and American Express.

About Animal Reclaiming

Find shelter locations and hours.

  • Residents must bring proof of ownership to reclaim.
  • A valid Photo ID is required with proof of address if other than what is on the ID.
  • If your dog is spayed/neutered and has never been impounded fees will be waived.
  • Otherwise fees typically apply and must be paid at the time of reclaim.
  • Credit cards will not be accepted after regular shelter business hours.
  • All animals must be sterilized before release; if your pet is not already sterilized, it will stay at the shelter and have surgery on the next available date.
  • Some situations require special approval and must occur during regular shelter business hours.
  • Only animals that already have a valid intact permit or animals from counties other than Bernalillo, Valencia, Torrance, Santa Fe, Sandoval, or Cibola, will be released unsterilized.

Reunite Microchip Scanner Locations

Found a cat or dog? One of the quickest ways to reunite the pet with its owner is to scan for a microchip.

The following locations will scan for free. These locations are for scanning only, they will not be able to keep any animals:

Business Locations

Police Substations

Police department employees are assigned to the substation to answer telephones and provide general information to walk-in visitors.

The following services are available at all substations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday:

Fire Stations

Call 311 for individual station telephone numbers.

AFR Station Finder (arcgis.com)

  • Station 1 - 724 Silver SW 87102 
  • Station 2 - 2401 Alumni Dr SE Huning 87112
  • Station 3 - 141 Girard NE 87112
  • Station 4 - 301 McKnight NW 87112
  • Station 5 - 123 Dallas NE 87112
  • Station 6 - 623 Griegos Rd NW, 87112
  • Station 7 - 5715 Central Ave NW 87112
  • Station 8 - 1400 Indian View NE 87112
  • Station 9 - 9410 Menaul NE 87112
  • Station 10 - 2841 Rio Grande NW 87112
  • Station 11 - 5403 Southern SE 87112
  • Station 12 - 201 Muriel NE 87112
  • Station 13 - 901 Prospect NE 87112
  • Station 14 - 9810 Eucariz SW 87112
  • Station 15 - 6600 Academy NE 87112
  • Station 16 - 4727 Juan Tabo NE 87112
  • Station 17 - 3630 Yucca NW 87112
  • Station 18 - 6100 Taylor Ranch NW 87112
  • Station 19 - 3520 San Andres NE 87112
  • Station 20 - 7520 Corona NE 87112
  • Station 21 - 10400 Cibola Loop NW 87112
  • Station 22 - 10005 Unser NW 87112

Clinics and Shelters

Lost Pets: Bernalillo County

Only lost or adoptable animals under the care of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department are searchable on this website.

If you are unsuccessful in finding your lost animal here, be sure to search for your animal on the Bernalillo County Animal Care Services website.

View Bernalillo County Animal Care Services.


Wildlife

Wild animals are an interesting and exciting part of our city and should be left alone when encountered. If you come across an injured wild animal and feel comfortable handling the animal you can take it to Wildlife Rescue, Inc. of New Mexico (Wild Life Rescue Inc. of NM) located at the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park located at the western end of 2901 Candelaria Rd NW. The phone number giving all information about hours and directions is 505-344-2500. The Phone Team, which responds to messages left, is available at the following times:

Date Days of the Week Open Times Open
May 1-Aug. 31 Everyday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Sept. 1-April 31 Monday-Saturday (closed Sundays) 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Alternatively, you may take the injured animal to our eastside or westside animal shelter intake desks on days and times referenced above under Animal Receiving. If you are unable or unwilling to handle the animal you may call 311 and an Animal Services Officer will be dispatched to pick up the animal.