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Lost/Found Pet

This page helps our team and the community work together to reunite pets with their families. If you have lost or found a pet, please report it as soon as possible.

Use the form below to let us know whether your pet is lost or if you have found an animal, and include as many details as you can.

Report a Lost or Found Pet

Submitting this form helps the Animal Shelter and the community reconnect pets with their families as quickly as possible.

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What Happens Next

Once submitted, your report will be added to our lost and found records and shared with shelter staff.

We also encourage you to:

  • Check the shelter’s current stray animal pages regularly
  • Contact local veterinarians and Animal Control
  • Post on local social media and neighborhood groups

If You Found a Dog

  1. Report the found dog using the form above.
  2. Call the Animal Shelter or Animal Control.
    All stray dogs must be held at the Flathead County Animal Shelter for 72 hours.
  3. Do not keep a stray dog at your home.
    It is not recommended for members of the public to house stray dogs.
  4. If the dog appears sick or injured, get help right away.
    You may take the dog to the nearest veterinary clinic, but you may be asked to cover medical costs. You may also call Animal Control. Animal Control can transport the animal to a veterinary clinic when needed.

If You Found a Cat

  1. If the cat appears sick or injured, contact a veterinary clinic or Animal Control.
    If you take the cat to a veterinary clinic, you may be asked to cover medical costs.
  2. If the cat appears healthy, leave the cat where it was found.
    Many cats stay within a familiar area near home. Removing or feeding the cat may make it less likely to return home.
  3. Look for an ear tip.
    If the top of one ear has been tipped, the cat may be a feral or community cat that has been altered and released. Do not approach or try to capture the cat.
  4. Call before bringing a cat to the shelter.
    Cats are accepted by appointment only, and there may be a waiting list for cat intakes.

If You Lost Your Pet

  1. Submit a lost pet report using the form above.
  2. Use clear, current photos.
    Photos are helpful for flyers, social media posts, and shelter identification.
  3. Search the area where your pet was last seen.
    Check hiding places such as bushes, sheds, garages, crawl spaces, and outbuildings. For lost cats, also check closets, basements, and small spaces inside the home.
  4. Place familiar items outside.
    Food and water bowls, bedding, blankets, or a litter box may help guide your pet back toward home.
  5. Check with shelters, rescues, veterinary offices, and local law enforcement.
  6. Post flyers and share online.
    Post current photos and information in the area where the pet went missing. Social media and neighborhood groups can be helpful for sightings.

Have a microchip number?

If you have found a pet or already have a microchip number, you can search the registry below:
Search the AAHA Microchip Registry

Contact Info

+1 (406) 752-1310

Email Us

+1 (406) 752-1546

Page Last Updated: Apr 30, 2026