Found a Pet?
Pets get lost. It happens to good owners — they slip out, jump fences, get spooked by storms. The fastest way to get them home is to post a clear photo to Petco Love Lost. Their facial-recognition tool will match against owners already searching in the area.
Petco Love Lost is free — their facial-recognition tool matches photos against owners actively searching.
Take a Breath First
Your instinct to help is a good one. Two quick questions will tell you what kind of help is actually needed — and whether you're the right person to give it.
Does this animal actually need rescuing right now?
Not every loose animal is lost or in danger. Here in Corpus, plenty of dogs are owned or community dogs that roam and know their way home. Signs an animal truly needs help: injured, in traffic, dangerously thin, out in extreme weather, or a friendly pet that's clearly somewhere it shouldn't be.
Can you take responsibility if you pick them up?
Here's the honest part: the moment you pick an animal up, they're in your care. We're a limited-intake nonprofit — no trucks, no animal-control officers, and a waiting list — so we can't promise to take every animal in. Picking one up may mean caring for them for a while.
What To Do Depends On The Situation
A loose dog or pack roaming the neighborhood
If they're not hurt or in immediate danger, the right call is the City. Report roaming or packing dogs so Animal Care Services can respond.
Call 311 to reportA friendly pet that seems lost
This one likely has a family searching right now. Follow the recovery steps below — a microchip scan and a Petco Love Lost photo are the fastest ways home.
You can help for now, but not forever
Our Finder-to-Foster program lets you keep them safe while we cover food, supplies, and vet care — and help find them a home.
Explore Finder-to-FosterAn animal that's injured or in traffic
This is an emergency — don't put yourself at risk. Call the City's Animal Care Services right away so trained staff can respond.
What To Do Right Now
Most pets are found close to home. There's a good chance the owner is searching for them right now.
-
1
Secure the pet safely
If you can do so safely, contain the pet. Use a leash, a carrier, or a quiet room. If the animal seems aggressive or injured, call animal control instead.
-
2
Check for ID and a microchip
Look for a collar tag. Then bring the pet to any vet or shelter (including GCHS during open hours) for a free microchip scan — that's how most pets get home.
-
3
Post a Found report on Petco Love Lost
Upload a clear photo. The facial-recognition tool will automatically match against owners already searching for their pet in the area — often within minutes.
-
4
Notify animal control
Owners check animal control first. Filing a found report there means the owner has the best chance of finding their pet, even if you're holding onto it.
-
5
Share locally
Post in neighborhood groups, Nextdoor, and local lost-pet Facebook pages. Include where you found them but withhold one identifying detail (color of collar, a unique marking) so you can verify the real owner.
Own a pet yourself? A GPS collar like Fi can turn a frantic search into a quick reunion — and a microchip with up-to-date registration is the backup that gets most pets home.
Bringing a Found Pet to GCHS
Can Help, But Can't Keep Them?
Foster them while we do the rest. Through Finder-to-Foster, GCHS covers food, supplies, and vet care while the pet stays safely with you — until they're reunited or adopted.
Where to Report the Found Pet
File a found report in each of these places so the owner has every chance to find them.
Corpus Christi Animal Care Services
The city shelter — owners check here first. File a found report and they can connect you when the owner shows up.
Gulf Coast Humane Society
Call us to get on the intake waiting list. While you wait, keep the pet safely contained and continue posting about them online.
