Lost and Found Pets

Did you lose or find a pet and not sure what to do next? We have resources available to help you find your missing pet or reunite a lost pet with their family.

Step Zero: Use caution

Remember, companion animals can become frightened or disorientated when they are lost so please exercise caution, remain calm, never chase an animal, be alert for potential health issues, and pay attention to body language when approaching a found or missing pet (even your own).

Please do not assume the pet is neglected or abandoned. The pet may just need your help in finding his or her way home.

  • Dogs - use a lead of some sort to gently lead the pet to a safe, confined place like yard, vehicle, garage, etc.

  • Cats - Fearful cats may hiss, lunge and urinate. Setting a live trap may be the best approach at safely catching the animal. Live traps can be obtained at your local store or acquired through our facility, stock permitting.

Step One: Contact your local animal shelter or law enforcement agency.

Coulee Region Humane Society is the designated stray holding facility in La Crosse County which means any pet found within the county that isn’t able to be reunited with its owner should be brought to us. We do not accept strays found outside of La Crosse County.

  • Lost Pet - File a lost report with us online by selecting one of the buttons to the right. 

  • Found Pet – Call us to see if there’s a lost report on file for the pet you found. We also may be able to locate an owner if the pet has a La Crosse County license tag. La Crosse County residents are encouraged to call us at 608-781-4014 with questions and/or concerns, to arrange bring the found pet to us or depending on the time of day arrange for animal control to pick the pet up from you. Please note - if you are in the City of La Crosse and wish for animal control to bring the pet to us please call (608)-782-7575 as their Animal Control is separate from ours.

White and brown dog wearing a purple collar without tags sits on the floor in the Coulee Region Humane Society office in Onalaska, Wisconsin.

Portraits by Hilary Running

Step Two: Get feet on the ground

  • Enlist friends and family to help track down a missing pet or find an owner.

  • Check with neighbors, local businesses, and/or mail carriers.

  • Missing Cat - Check your home thoroughly (every closet, under furniture etc) to ensure they aren’t hiding or sleeping somewhere. When searching outside start at the entry the escaped from, check the perimeter of your home, under every bush, deck, vehicle, etc ask your neighbors if you can do the same to their yards. Most cats stay within a couple blocks of home. This is especially true for cats not used to being outside. If they aren’t accustomed to being outside cats will often hide until the quieter times of night. Further Tips: Best Friends - How to Find a Lost Cat

  • Missing Dog – Dogs can vary greatly in the distance they travel from home which can be affected by their breed, spay/neuter status, and personality. Further Tips: Petco How to Find a Lost Dog

Step Three: Use online resources

Many independent organizations, animal shelters, and community members utilize websites to post missing and found pets. Utilize websites like those listed below to help spread the word about the lost/found pet in the hopes of helping them reunite with their owner

  •  Facebook