In this guest blog post, Katie Woolsey of the Escondido Humane Society explains why you should always turn in stray animals to Animal Control.

Several years ago, I was walking my dog, Blue, when I noticed a young, unleashed pit bull mix ahead, happily sniffing the ground and following behind a woman and her two dogs. My dog is afraid of other dogs, so my eyes are always peeled for loose canines and I was prepared to politely ask the woman to leash her dog as we passed. But as we got closer it became very obvious that the pit bull didn’t belong to her…or to anyone nearby.

About a dozen things ran through my mind as I contemplated what to do next. Should I call Animal Control or should I pick him up myself? Should I bring him to my veterinarian? Is he friendly? Does he look like he’s injured? Does he have any tags or identification? Does his owner live nearby and just not know that he got out?

When The Drake Center asked me to write a guest blog about lost pets, I jumped at the chance because I know I’m not the only person who has ever encountered a stray animal and wondered what to do. The following information should offer some insights into Animal Control’s role in our community and what you should do if you find a loose pet.

Animal Control in San Diego County: The Escondido Humane Society is contracted to provide Animal Control services for the cities of Escondido, San Marcos and Poway, meaning if you find a lost animal within those jurisdictions you should bring him to us. The San Diego Humane Society provides Animal Control services for the cities of Oceanside and Vista; the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services provides Animal Control services for the unincorporated areas of San Diego County and the cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, San Diego, Santee and Solana Beach.

What should I do if I find a lost animal? People sometimes ask us if they have to turn in a lost animal to our shelter. The simple answer is yes! In the eyes of the law, our pets are considered property – I know this sounds harsh because as pet parents we don’t think of them that way, but that’s the law. According to the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services, state law describes the misappropriation of found property to be theft and therefore a violation of law.

As an Animal Control agency, it is our responsibility to reunite lost pets with their owners. We will scan for a microchip ID and complete a found animal record. If the dog is licensed, we will check our database to find the person who licensed him. The animals are placed on our website and they are available for public viewing so the owner can find their pet. You can help by posting “found” notices in the neighborhood where you found the animal, watching out for “lost” posters and monitoring the shelters’ online listings. You can also place an ad in the local newspaper to report the animal as “found” and keep an eye out for “lost” ads the owner may have placed.

Law aside, we think turning in a lost pet is just the right thing to do. It’s important to remember that the animal you found may be an important member of someone's family and they could be frantically searching for him. If you don’t bring the dog or cat to your local Animal Control agency, the owners won’t know where to look for him. I know if my dog was ever lost I would be forever grateful to anyone who found him and turned him in.

What if I can’t pick up the lost animal? If you are unable to pick up the animal or you fear for your safety, call your local Animal Control agency immediately.

  • Escondido Humane Society (Escondido, San Marcos, Poway): (760) 888-2275, option 1
  • San Diego Humane Society (Vista, Oceanside): (760) 757-4357, ext. 2854
  • County of San Diego Department of Animal Services (unincorporated areas of San Diego County, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, San Diego, Santee, Solana Beach: (619) 767-2675

What if I want to keep the lost pet? Upon request, we and other Animal Control agencies will offer anoption of a "Finder's Hold" that is offered only at the time the animal is turned in. Here at the Escondido Humane Society, a Finder's Hold allows the finder to put down the adoption fee when turning in a lost pet. If we cannot locate the pet's owner, we will notify you and you may adopt the animal when it becomes available for adoption. If we do locate the pet's owner, we will return the adoption fee to you and you can feel good knowing that the pet was returned to his family.

Animal Control also plays other important roles for people and pets: As we’ve discussed, one of Animal Control’s main responsibilities is to reunite lost pets with their owners. But we also play other important roles in our community. We are responsible for protecting the welfare of people and pets, investigating animal cruelty cases, prosecuting animal abusers and educating the public on how to properly care for their animals. You are our eyes and ears, so if you ever suspect an animal is being neglected or abused, please call your local Animal Control agency immediately.

I hope this information has given you a better understanding of Animal Control’s roles. I would encourage you to visit your local shelter to meet some of the animals and staff—and don’t be shy about asking questions if you have any. Education is a large part of our mission and we need our community’s support to continue our lifesaving work.

Oh, and that young pit bull I found was happily adopted from County of San Diego Department of Animal Services not long after I found him. It was a happy ending all around!