Lost and Found FAQ
Q. What should you do if an animal is lost?
- Contact: your local Animal Control office or the Police.
- Visit: your local shelters and animal control facilities frequently. If possible bring a photo with you.
- Put "Lost Animal" posters up: in your neighborhood. Make sure you use a photo that is recent and not blurry. Use descriptive information when describing your pet highlighting distinguishing features.
- Contact: local vets and animal hospitals.
- Visit PETS 911: and post a lost report or search to see if anyone has found your pet.
- Visit PetFinder: and post a lost pet report or search to see if anyone has found your pet.
Q. Who should Jersey City residents contact if an animal is lost?
- Contact Jersey City Animal Control at Jersey City Board of Health: during normal business hours (201) 547-4888
- If Animal Control cannot be reached: please contact the Mayor's Action Bureau at (201)547-4900.
- Outside of normal business hours: contact the Jersey City Police (201) 547-5477.
Q. What other steps can I take to increase the chances of an animal being returned?
- ID tags for cats and dogs: should be current and up-to-date with your contact information, vaccinations, and more.
- Photograph: your pets and keep current photos on file. These photos can be used to create "animal lost" posters, posting lost or found reports online, and/or visiting shelters and other animal facilities.
- Microchipping ID: is a permanent way to identify your animal family members. The Microchip is injected between the shoulder blades and is about the size of a grain of rice. After the procedure is completed you add your pet's identification number and other information into a database online or through the mail. Animal facilities that are equipped for the Microchip ID, scan the animal for their unique identification number in order to find your contact information. Check out Home Again for more information.
Q. What should you do if you have found an animal?
- If you have found an animal that is injured or aggressive: Please contact your local Animal Control office or the Police. Jersey City residents read the "Who should Jersey City residents contact if an animal is lost?" section of this page for contact information.
- Notify: your local vets, animal hospitals, and shelters.
- Post "found pet" Reports and search for lost pets online: at the PETS 911 and PetFinder websites.
- Look in your neighborhood: for "lost pet" posters.
Q.What to do when you find kittens alone or motherless?
If you find very young kittens that are alone, you must determine if the mother has abandoned them or if she is just off looking for food. The only way to find this out is to wait. Observe from a distance or a hidden spot for a few hours to be sure she is not returning. If she does come back, you have multiple options to consider, outlined below. If she does not, you will need to determine if the kittens are young enough to be socialized, fostered or adopted, or if they are at the age to be trapped, neutered, and returned.
Lost and Found Resources
New Jersey Local Animal Control Facilities
- Associated Humane of Newark: 973-824-7080
- Secaucus Municipal Shelter: 201-330-2080
- Bergen County Animal Shelter: 201-646-3200
New Jersey Local Private Shelters and Rescue Organizations
- Companion Animal Placement (CAP): 201-963-3605
- CARE: 201-436-4595
- Hudson County Animal League: 201-200-1008
- Hudson County SPCA Assisi Center: 201-435-3557
