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Pet Support

Lost a pet, found a stray, or need low-cost vet care? Find nearby shelters, humane societies, county pounds, and animal clinics — most shelters are walk-in.

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What this covers

Animal shelters, humane societies, and municipal or county pounds that take in found strays and hold lost pets; low-cost and emergency veterinary clinics; spay/neuter and vaccine clinics; and pet food assistance.

Does not cover: Wildlife and livestock. For a pet poisoning, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 1-888-426-4435. If a person is in danger, call 911.

Who is this for?

Anyone who has lost a pet, found a stray, or can't afford vet care or pet food. You do not have to surrender your pet to get help.

How help usually works

If you lost a pet, file a lost report and visit the shelters serving your area in person — animals are usually held only a set number of days, so go soon. If you found a stray, most shelters and county pounds will take it in and scan for a microchip. Low-cost clinics treat on a sliding scale; call ahead for hours and whether they take walk-ins.

Typical timeline: Shelters are usually walk-in during open hours and stray intake is immediate. Because holding periods are short, acting the same day matters most for lost and found pets.

Best first steps

  1. Search your ZIP code above to find shelters, pounds, and clinics near you.
  2. Lost a pet: visit every shelter in range in person, not just by phone — staff match animals to owners on sight. Bring a photo and proof of ownership.
  3. Found a stray: keep it safe, check for a collar or tag, and take it to the nearest shelter or vet to scan for a microchip.
  4. Need vet care you can't afford: call the clinics listed and ask about sliding-scale fees, payment plans, or charitable care before the visit.
  5. If nothing is nearby, call 211 and ask about animal welfare and pet food assistance.

What to bring

For a lost pet: a clear photo and anything showing ownership (vet records, adoption papers, a microchip number). For vet care: your pet's history if you have it, and ask about fees up front.

Emergency vs. standard help

A poisoning or injury is an emergency — call an emergency vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (1-888-426-4435) right away. Lost-and-found and low-cost care are same-day but not life-threatening; still act quickly, because shelter holding periods are short.

Can't find what you need? 211 · 911 — Call 211 — free, 24/7, in many languages. In an emergency, call 911.