Found a Pet
Scanning for a microchip is one of the first steps toward reuniting them with their family.
Please safely confine the pet. Be cautious when caring for a found animal in your home, as you are unfamiliar with the animal's health and temperament. It is wise to keep your pets and children away from the found animal for the safety of all involved and to help reduce the extreme stress and fear many pets will experience during this time.
First, Scan for a Microchip
- Slowly move the scanner between the pet’s shoulder blades in an “S”-shaped pattern.
- If no chip is detected, rotate the scanner 90 degrees and scan the area again.
- Still no results? Slowly scan the entire body, from the head to the tip of the tail, making several passes over each area.
Please be patient. It can take up to two minutes to detect a pet’s microchip.
Option 1: A Microchip Number Appears
Great! Write down the microchip number and visit Pet Microchip Lookup to identify the registry associated with the chip.
- Start with the first registry listed, which is typically the most recently updated.
- Contact the registry to see if the pet owner’s contact information is available.
- If the first registry doesn’t have the information, contact other registries listed in the search results.
- If you find a stray animal after hours and it appears ill or injured, please call 239-252-9300 to have the on-call Animal Control Officer contact you.
- Refer to 'Next Steps' below.
Option 2: No Microchip Number Appears
Don’t give up just yet!
- Double-check that you scanned the entire body, including the shoulders, neck and head.
- Try rotating the scanner and scanning again slowly.
- If you still cannot detect a microchip, bring the pet to Collier County Domestic Animal Services (DAS) for intake. Our team can help with the next steps toward reuniting the pet with their family.
- If you find a stray animal after hours and it appears ill or injured, please call 239-252-9300 to have the on-call Animal Control Officer contact you.
- Refer to 'Next Steps' below.
Location: 7610 Davis Blvd., Naples, FL
Phone: (239) 252-7387
Next Steps
Provide DAS Information
Call us at (239) 252-7387 and provide us with the following information:
- Your name
- Your phone number
- Detailed description of the pet, including: type (cat or dog), breed, sex, and color(s)
- Collier County License Tag number. Do not remove collar or tags.
- Microchip tag and number
- If you would like an Animal Control Officer to pick up the found pet.
- If you have had the animal scanned for a microchip, or if you would like an Animal Control Officer to come to your residence and scan for a microchip.
- Complete a Found Dog Report or a Found Cat Report with DAS, and provide clear photographs of the animal.
Community Outreach
- Hang a Found Dog (Cat) sign on your mailbox.
- Walk and drive the neighborhood: Take a walk or a slow drive around the neighborhood. Ask residents if they recognize the pet and know its owner.
- Found Pet Posters: Less is best. Be sure to include a photo. A neighbor or friend may recognize the dog (or cat).
- Use the internet: Send emails to your friends, family, colleagues, and ask them to share it with their friends and family.
Post on Social Media
Post a picture of the found pet with your contact information on social media sites:
Bring the Pet to our Shelter
Collier County Domestic Animal Services
7610 Davis Boulevard
Naples, FL 34104
239-252-7387
Hours
Monday to Friday
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesdays by appointment
Saturday and Sunday
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Important Reminders
Collier County Domestic Animal Services is the only agency that accepts stray animals. People looking for their lost pet come to the shelter with the hope of being reunited with their missing pet. Therefore, should you choose to hold a found pet in your home, you are first required to complete a Found Dog Report or a Found Cat Report with us, and provide clear photographs of the animal.
It is important to remember that animals are considered property. If you are interested in keeping the animal that you found, the best legal way to accomplish this is to surrender the animal to Domestic Animal Services for its legal stray hold. When surrendering the pet, please complete the adoption application(PDF, 256KB) and place an adoption hold on the animal. If the legal owner does not claim the animal, you will be contacted after the legal stray hold to finalize and adopt the animal.
Collier County Animal Control Ordinance States:
Impounded animals with identification not suspected of having an infectious or contagious disease shall be held for a minimum of three full days (72 hours) to provide time for the animal's owner to notify staff of intent to recover the animal. Upon the owner's acknowledgement of an impounded animal, the animal will be held for a minimum of five full days (120 hours) from the date of impoundment, after which time the animal shall be considered abandoned and shall become the property of the Division. All animals other than dogs, cats with identification, or livestock, for which an owner has not been identified or deemed to have an owner by an identification tag or other identification, shall immediately be considered abandoned and shall become the property of the Division. The Division may, at its discretion, place such animal(s) for adoption, place in foster care, transfer the animal(s) to another shelter, transfer the animal(s) to rescue or make disposition pursuant to law at the time, but shall not euthanize these animals for a minimum of five full days (120 hours).
The five-day (120-hour) hold only applies to animals physically held at Domestic Animal Services. By holding the animal in your home, you are subject to Florida State Statue, Chapter 705 for lost and abandoned property.
If you find injured or orphaned native wildlife, contact the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at Conservancy of Southwest Florida at 239-262-2273.
von Arx Wildlife Hospital
1495 Smith Preserve Way
Naples, FL 34102