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Lost or Found an Animal in DeKalb County?
If you have lost or found an animal in DeKalb County (excluding the city of Garrett), the steps below will help guide you through the process. Animals picked up as strays within the county are brought to the DeKalb County Shelter for reclaim. They will be held for three business days before ownership is transferred to DeKalb Humane Society if unclaimed.
Reporting a Lost or Found Animal
You will need to fill out a lost or found report. Please follow the steps below based on your situation.
What to Do if You Have Lost a Pet
Walk the Neighborhood
Take a walk around your immediate area and speak to neighbors, postal workers, landscapers, or anyone who might have seen your pet. Look in areas where your pet may have been interested in hiding. Most pets are found close to home.File a Lost Pet Report
Online: Click here
By Phone: Call us at 260-868-2409 during business hours.
When filing your report, include detailed information such as whether your pet is microchipped and wearing identification tags.
Additional Steps
After reporting the lost pet to us, reach out to:Local Police Department: Call 260-333-7911
KPC Newspaper: They offer free FOUND pet ads, and you can check their classifieds online.
Nearby Veterinarian Offices
Microchip Company: Ensure your contact information is current.
Our goal is to reunite lost pets with their families. After calling us, call:
What to Do if You Have Found a Pet
Walk the Neighborhood
Speak with neighbors, postal workers, or others who may recognize the pet. This often helps reunite pets with their owners quickly.File a Found Pet Report
Online: Click Here
By Phone: Call us at 260-868-2409 during business hours.
When filing the report, include as much detail as possible, such as whether the pet is microchipped, has identification tags, and the exact location where the animal was found.
Additional Steps
After reporting the found pet, contact:Local Police Department for Dogs Only: Call 260-333-7911 (DeKalb Sheriff’s Non-Emergency Line)
KPC Newspaper: They run free FOUND pet ads, and you can check their classifieds online.
Nearby Veterinarian Offices
Microchip Company: To check if the chip is registered.
Found a Pet Within Garrett City Limits?
Location: Cats and dogs found within Garrett are taken to the Garrett Humane Shelter at 508 E Quincy St., Garrett, where they will be held for three days in hopes of reuniting them with their owner.
Additional Steps:
LOST AND FOUND HOURS AND LOCATION
DeKalb Humane Society
5730 CR 11A, Auburn, IN 46706
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Retrieving a Lost Animal
To reclaim your pet:
You must visit the shelter in person.
Bring a photo ID (e.g., driver's license).
Additional proof of ownership may be required (e.g., pet photos, microchip verification, or vaccination records).
Reclaim fees will apply.
Lost your pet?
This form will add your pet into our list database to help us match your pet with our reports. This is not a perfectly sound system, so please continue to routinely call us and check our website and Facebook page for your pet.
Please note that it currently takes up to 24 hours (on business days) to update an animal into our lost pet database.
Photos of your lost pet may be sent to us on Facebook messenger or at our email: staff.dhshelter@gmail.com. Please include your name, pets name, last known location in the messageand contact info. The more photos we have of the pet, the more likely they are to be reunited with their owner.
We have partnered with Petco Love Lost to easily help search the national lost and found database and create a searchable/shareable alert for your missing pet. Upload a a picture of your pet or search by location. Powered by facial recognition technology, Petco Love Lost helps match found animals to reported lost pets nationwide.
If you haven’t done so already, be sure to register your pet on Petco Love Lost and create a shareable listing of your lost pet, with the option to print out pre-made flyers. Flyers can also be received via text or email. You can distribute your listing on social media, Craigslist and Nextdoor.
