Helping a Stray or Lost Animal 

What do you do if you find a lost or stray cat or dog?

• Check for a Microchip
  • If the animal is not wearing an identification tag with their owner’s contact information, a veterinary clinic, animal shelter or some police stations can scan the animal for a microchip.
    • Call in advance to check if an appointment is necessary and if there are costs for this service (most facilities offer this service free of charge for stray or lost animals).

• Report the Lost Animal to Your Local City Shelter
  • If you found a lost pet, chances are good that someone is looking for them. Let your city or municipal shelter know the location where the animal was found as well as any other details you can provide and provide a photograph.

• Call Around
  • Call local shelters, veterinary clinics and pet stores to alert them of the found dog or cat.

• Post Flyers
  • Distribute flyers in a large radius of where the animal was found as he may have roamed far from home before being found.
  • If you are unsure if the animal is lost or a stray, post “Found Dog/Cat” with a short description to ensure the right owner has been located.
  • Post flyers in local supermarkets, coffee houses, dog parks, bus stops, veterinary offices, and animal shelters, including your local city pound.

• Post Online
  • Post information about the lost animal on: P.A.W.S. Tinley Park Stray Facebook Page, Lost Dogs Illinois, Lost Cats Illinois,Fido Find, and Pet Harbor .
  • If you are contacted about the pet, request proof of ownership (i.e. photos, vet records, description of the pet, type of collar the pet was wearing, etc.).

Who to contact in Tinley Park regarding a lost or stray animal:

• Village of Tinley Park Animal Control – Animal Control Officer Karen Schutt at (708) 444-5300 or kschutt@tinleypark.org.

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