311 HelpA to Z Services

Denver Animal Shelter

 

Lost Pets

Pets without identification are held for five working days. Animals with identification are also held for five days while their owners are contacted.  You can view our pets online, Our database is updated daily.


After the five day hold, animals will be evaluated for adoption or transfer.  

If your pet is lost, it is important to notify ALL shelters in the metro area.  Your veterinarian, Craigslist, PetHarbor.com, and the lost and found section of your local paper are also useful resources. 

If your pet is at our shelter, you must have a valid driver’s license or ID with your current address and proof of ownership such as photos or veterinarian records to redeem your animal.
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Found Pets

If you have found a lost pet in the City and County of Denver and can not house the animal, you are welcome to bring the animal to our facility located at 1241 W Bayaud Ave,  Monday through Friday 9:00am - 6:00pm and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The animal shelter is closed on Sundays and Holidays.  After regular business hours, the animal shelter provides ten night drop off boxes for found pets.   

If you have found a lost pet in the City and County of Denver and would like the animal picked up by an animal control officer, you may contact the 3-1-1 Call Center at 720-913-1311.  You must be 18 years of age and home for approximately two hours for an officer to respond.  

If you have found a pet with identification tags and would like to try and contact the pet owner, contact the City and County of Denver’s 3-1-1 Call Center at 720-913-1311.  An animal control staff member will return your call to assist in the tag trace.

If you have found a pet with a Microchip tag that indicates the dog or cat has been microchipped you can use the the Universal Microchip Lookup Tool to trace the Microchip number.

It is important to contact ALL of your local Animal Control agencies when looking for a lost pet

Local Animal Shelters

Report animal and pet problems to 311 using the online help form.

Report problems like: 

  • Barking Dogs  
  • License Inquiries 
  • Dead Animal Collection 

Or Contact 311 By Phone

Within Denver dial: 3-1-1 Outside Denver: 720-913-1311

Prevent Lost Pets

  • Licensing your pet can be helpful if your pet becomes lost. Make sure your pet is always wearing a collar displaying their license, rabies tag, and ID tag. 
  • Microchip implants are an excellent safeguard.  In the event your pet loses their collar, the microchip information can bring your pet home.  Be sure to register your microchip and keep information current.
  • Obey the Denver leash laws and make sure that your pet is kept in a secure enclosure when not leashed.  

Helpful Resources

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