Lost Pet?

The Orange County Animal Services Lost & Found Pet Forum is a place for people to connect if they have lost or found a pet. Here you can place a description and photo of a missing pet, give details on the location where it was lost or found, and reunite missing pets with their owners.

To register, take these simple steps:

1. Click register on the forum’s home page.
2. Read over the user terms and accept.
3. Enter your desired username, password and email address.
4. Enter your personal information (not required).
5. Select your forum preferences (not required)
6. Click Register.
7. You should receive confirmation that your submission was successfully registered.
8. Check your email to activate your account, check spam folder if e-mail not found.
9. Follow the link received via email.
10. Post the pet on the forum.

Note: This forum is an internet tool to aid in locating a missing pet and should not be treated as a substitute for looking for your pet in person.

In accordance with local law, those who have found a pet have two options:

• Bring in the pet to Orange County Animal Services, which can be done at any point the shelter is open to the public, or call 3-1-1 for assistance with picking up the stray pet. OCAS will attempt to find an owner, if one is identifiable, and hold the pet for the required stray period at the shelter, unless deemed medically unfit. If no owner steps forward to reclaim the pet will be made available for adoption or rescue placement, depending on overall suitability. Finders bringing in pets to the shelter do have the option of placing an adoption application on the pet and if interested should voice that to staff at time of drop off.


• Attempt to locate an owner and hold the pet for a period of 30 consecutive days. If no owner is found then the finder can presume ownership of the pet. The pet must be reported found to Animal Services (by contacting 3-1-1) within two calendar days of finding the animal. OCAS also recommends posting the pet on Next Door, social media sites and on flyers throughout the area in the hopes of locating an owner. Those who find a pet and rehome that animal without the required 30-day holding period are in violation of the local ordinance. Read the full ordinance here.

One of the best ways to ensure a lost pet is reunited with its owner is through microchipping.

Microchips are small implants (approximately the size of a grain of rice) that use a unique number to identify a registered pet. Any shelter or veterinary office can scan an animal to check for a microchip.

Orange County Animal Services offers affordable microchipping for just $15! Please call 407-836-3111 for more information or visit our microchipping page.

Don’t forget to register the microchip—it’s the fastest way to be reunited with a lost pet.