Found a domestic animal
Due to staffing shortages the wait time at our shelter may be longer than usual. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding!
We are the shelter for animals found in San Mateo County only. We are unable to take animals found in other counties.
If you have found an animal that you are unable to temporarily keep in your home until the owner is identified, please bring the animal to our Coyote Point Shelter located at 12 Airport Boulevard in San Mateo between the hours of 11 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. weekdays or 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends.
If you are unable to visit during open hours, there is a 24-hour drop-off station which you can access at the front of the building.
If you would like to keep the pet while trying to locate the owner, please complete the “Found Animal Report” below and visit your closest veterinary practice to scan the animal for a microchip. Many veterinary practices are happy to provide this service at no cost to help reunite lost animals. If this is not possible, we encourage you to bring the animal to the Coyote Point Shelter any time during our regular open hours, and we will happily scan for a microchip.
Consider posting flyers in the area where the pet was found. You may utilize our Lost and Found Flyers by clicking here.
If you found an underage kitten or kittens (underage is defined as “still nursing and less than 8 weeks old”) and plan to care for the kitten/s on your own, please use our Fostering Kittens: Getting Started Guide to help you on this journey. We provide starter kits at our 12 Airport Blvd location, and they are also available at most pet supply stores. This is guidance only for individuals who have found a stray kitten and want to keep the kitten and provide care on their own; it is not guidance for PHS/SPCA foster volunteers.
For information about feral cat services, click here.