Community Facebook groups
Share a clear photo, nearby cross streets, and a safe contact method. Check existing posts for a possible match.
Lost & found pets • Idaho resources & LC Valley connections
Missing a pet?Let’s help them get home.
Whether your pet is missing or you’ve found an animal who may be lost, start here. A photo, a report, and a few neighbors looking out can help connect pets with the people searching for them.
Start with your local shelter and law enforcement’s non-emergency line. File a lost or found pet report. A social media post does not replace a report. Use 911 only for an immediate emergency involving people’s safety.
Free lost & found pet search
More eyes. More chances to get home.
Petco Love Lost is a free service that brings together reports from pet owners, finders, and participating shelters. Upload a photo of a lost or found cat or dog to search for possible matches and help others recognize the pet.
This search service is provided by Petco Love Lost. Reporting here does not file a report with IARN, law enforcement, or your local shelter.
If the map does not load, open Petco Love Lost directly.
If your pet is missing
I lost a pet.
- Search nearby and alert neighbors.Check your home, yard, and nearby hiding places. Ask neighbors to check garages and sheds. Share the last-seen location and ask people to report sightings.
- File reports and check shelter listings.Contact your local shelter, veterinary clinics, and law enforcement’s non-emergency line. Check found-pet listings regularly and follow up with new information.
- Check your pet’s microchip registration.Contact the registry to flag your pet as missing and confirm your phone number is current. A microchip helps identify a pet when scanned; it is not a GPS tracker.
- Post a clear photo and useful details.Use LC Valley Pets and Petco Love Lost. Include the date, nearby cross streets, description, and a safe way to reach you. Put up flyers where permitted.
- Keep your reports current.Update sightings and contact information. When your pet is home, mark reports reunited and let shelters, neighbors, and group members know.
Keep searching. A pet may be hiding nearby or may have been picked up by someone trying to help. Check both community reports and shelter listings.
If you’ve found an animal
I found a pet.
- Keep everyone safe.If you can safely secure the pet, use a quiet, enclosed space and offer water. Keep them separate from your pets. Don’t chase, corner, or put yourself in danger.
- Look for identification.Check collar tags if safe. Ask a veterinary clinic or shelter to scan for a microchip. Call ahead for availability. IARN may also be able to scan, depending on volunteer availability.
- Report where the pet was found.Contact the local shelter and law enforcement’s non-emergency line. Record the date, time, and nearby cross streets. Ask which agency handles animals found in that location.
- Share and search for a match.Post a photo on LC Valley Pets and Petco Love Lost, and look through missing-pet posts. Someone may already be searching for this animal.
- Confirm the pet’s family.Ask for identifying photos, vet records, or microchip information before returning the pet. Ask the local shelter or animal control about required reporting and holding procedures.
Unable to safely hold the pet? Call the responsible shelter or agency before transporting them. IARN is foster-based and cannot guarantee holding space or foster placement for lost pets.
Find help near you
Idaho animal shelter directory.
Choose a region to find shelter and animal services links. Each listing includes the organization and its location.
Call before you go. Contact the shelter or animal control agency serving the place where the pet was found. Intake areas, species accepted, and holding procedures vary.
North Idaho3 shelters & services
- Better Together Animal Alliance Ponderay, Idaho
- Companions Animal Center Hayden, Idaho
- Hope’s Haven / Benewah Humane Society St. Maries, Idaho
North Central Idaho2 shelters & services
- Humane Society of the Palouse Moscow, Idaho
- Lewis Clark Animal Shelter Lewiston, Idaho
Central & West Central Idaho3 shelters & services
- Lemhi County Humane Society / Salmon Animal Shelter Salmon, Idaho
- MCPAWS Regional Animal Shelter McCall, Idaho
- Mountain Humane Hailey, Idaho
Southwest Idaho4 shelters & services
- Idaho Humane Society Boise, Idaho
- Mountain Home Animal Control Center Mountain Home, Idaho
- Pet Adoption League of Gem County Emmett, Idaho
- West Valley Humane Society Caldwell, Idaho
Magic Valley2 shelters & services
- Minidoka Joint Powers Animal Control Rupert, Idaho
- People for Pets / Twin Falls Animal Shelter Twin Falls, Idaho
Eastern & Southeast Idaho5 shelters & services
- Blackfoot Animal Shelter & Rescue Blackfoot, Idaho
- Idaho Falls Animal Services Idaho Falls, Idaho
- Pocatello Animal Shelter Pocatello, Idaho
- Rexburg Animal Shelter Rexburg, Idaho
- Snake River Animal Shelter Idaho Falls, Idaho
Don’t see your community? Contact your local police or sheriff’s non-emergency line to ask which shelter or agency serves your area. This list is a starting point and does not include every Idaho shelter or rescue. Tell us about a missing or changed listing.
Connect with people nearby
Put your community to work.
Use local reports, neighbors, and online posts together. Each connection gives a pet another chance to be recognized.
Law enforcement & microchip scans
File a report through your local non-emergency line. Ask a nearby veterinary clinic or shelter about a microchip scan; call ahead. IARN may be able to scan when a volunteer is available.
For an injured animal, contact a veterinary clinic promptly. Ask the responsible agency for help if you cannot approach safely.
Help people recognize the pet
What to put in your post.
Make the details easy to read and share. Use a current, clear photo and update the original post as you learn more.
Protect your privacy. Share nearby cross streets rather than your full home address. Choose contact information you are comfortable making public.
- LOST or FOUND at the top
- Date and time last seen or found
- City or community and nearby cross streets
- Clear photos, including the pet’s face
- Species, color, approximate size, and sex if known
- Collar or tag information and useful identifying details
- Your contact information and any instructions for sightings
Lost pet scam alert
Missing a pet? Beware of scams.
Scammers may use details from your public post and pretend to be a finder, shelter, rescue, or veterinary clinic. Claims that your pet needs emergency care, paired with demands for immediate payment, are warning signs.
- Ask for proof. Request current photos or video and ask about details you haven’t shared publicly.
- Verify the organization. Hang up and call the shelter or clinic using its official published number.
- Protect your information. Don’t share verification codes, banking details, card numbers, or payment-app information with an unexpected caller.
- Wait before paying. Confirm your pet is actually in their care. Give a reward only after your pet is safely back with you.
Pressure is a reason to pause. Be cautious if someone refuses current photos, avoids questions, or insists you must pay immediately.
A few important reminders
Help safely. Keep the search going.
Should I chase a scared pet?
No. Chasing can push a frightened animal farther away. Note their location and direction of travel, take a photo if possible, and report the sighting. Contact the owner or responsible agency for help with a safe approach.
Can I keep or rehome a pet I found?
Do not assume an animal has been abandoned. Make reasonable efforts to find their family, report the pet, and ask the responsible shelter or animal control agency about local requirements before keeping or rehoming them.
How do I avoid false claims or lost-pet scams?
Verify the pet and the person contacting you before sharing information or discussing payment. Review the lost-pet scam warning above for a quick checklist.
What should I do after my pet comes home?
Update every report and post, remove flyers, and thank the people who helped. Check collar tags, secure escape routes, and keep microchip registration current. Contact your veterinarian if your pet is injured or seems unwell.
Keep them connected to you
Ready for the unexpected.
Keep recent photos
Clear photos of their face, full body, and unique markings.
Update microchip information
Register their chip. Keep your phone number and backup contact current.
Check their ID tags
A readable tag with your current phone number. Replace worn or missing tags.
Need guidance or a microchip scan?
Contact IARN. Scans depend on volunteer availability.
Text (208) 352-0620hello@idahorescue.orgFile lost or found reports with your local shelter or agency. IARN is foster-based; contact us before bringing an animal.