Lost and Found Pets

What do I do if I lose my pet?

If your pet becomes lost, immediately go to the shelter and look for your pet. DO NOT WAIT!! Bring a good picture of your pet along with you to the shelter. If your animal isn't at the shelter at that time, it may come in at a later time. Be sure to complete a Lost Report at the shelter before leaving. CHECK OFTEN at the shelter for your animal. Although our staff is dedicated to reuniting pets with their owners, remembering the face of every lost/found animal isn't always possible due to the hundreds of animals that cycle in the shelter each month.

If you absolutely cannot make it to the shelter, send an e-mail to animalshelter@tpcg.org with "LOST ANIMAL" in the subject line with a few good pictures of your animal and the following information:

your name, address, phone number(s)
date, time and location you lost the animal
breed
color (primary and secondary)
sex (spayed/neutered)
age
temperament
markings (scars, microchip, tattoos, ear-tip, etc.)
collar/tags (color of collar)
approximate weight

Make flyers with a good picture of your pet and multiple phone numbers. Post them in your neighborhood and at veterinary offices, pet stores, boarding/grooming facilities, animal establishments, etc.

Spread the word!! Tell neighbors, friends, relatives, etc. to be on the lookout for your animal. Utilize social media outlets such as Facebook.

To search a list of animals reported to TPAS as LOST, click here. You can also visit Lost Pets of Terrebonne Parish Facebook page to see other postings of lost of found pets in the Terrebonne Parish area.

Also, contact the local newspaper(s) to place a free ad with a brief description (and picture) of the animal.

The Courier: (985) 850-1100; news@houmatoday.com
Daily Comet: (985) 448-7600; news@dailycomet.com
The Weekly: (985) 868-7515; mail@houmaweekly.com

DON'T GIVE UP!! Owners have been reunited with their animals after 6 months or more of being lost.

Animals need IDENTIFICATION!! If your animal is picked up and it has a rabies tag, ID tag, and/or microchip, it increases the chances of her/him being reunited with you. The Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter scans impounded animals for a microchip in addition to checking for tags.

Did not find your pet by using the TPAS links?
Search for/report your lost animal on other sites listed below.

PetcoLoveLost

PetcoLoveLost helps reunite people and pets by using facial recognition technology.

PawBoost

PawBoost is like an AMBER Alert for lost pets. Millions of pet lovers have joined their Rescue Squad by signing up for localized lost & found pet alerts. More importantly, PawBoost has helped reunite over 1 million pets with their families. Posting is free, with optional premium services available.

If you have lost your pet, please click on the "Report a pet to PawBoost" button below and complete the necessary information to add them to PawBoost's Lost & Found Pets database. The information you provide on PawBoost is searchable by members of the community who may have found your animal. It's also monitored by TPAS, and will help us contact you if your lost pet is brought to one of our shelters.

What do I do if I find an animal?

If you find an animal, contact the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter at (985)873-6709 ext. 202 or e-mail animalshelter@tpcg.org with "FOUND ANIMAL" in the subject line and send a few good pictures of the animal along with the following details:

your name, address, phone number(s)
date, time and location you found the animal
sex
approximate age
temperament
markings (scars, tattoos, ear-tip, etc.)
anything else that is significant that might help find its owner

Next, bring the animal to a veterinary office or the TPAS to have it scanned for a microchip.

To search a list of animals reported to TPAS as FOUND, click here. You can also visit Lost Pets of Terrebonne Parish Facebook page to see other postings of lost of found pets in the Terrebonne Parish area.

Also, contact the local newspaper(s) to place a free ad with a brief description (and picture) of the animal.

The Courier: (985) 850-1100; news@houmatoday.com
Daily Comet: (985) 448-7600; news@dailycomet.com
The Weekly: (985) 868-7515; mail@houmaweekly.com

Extra steps to reunite the animal with its owner include:

Making flyers of the animal and posting them around the neighborhood and at veterinary offices, pet stores, boarding/grooming facilities, animal establishments, etc.
Spread the word!! Tell neighbors, friends, relatives, etc. Utilize social media outlets such as Facebook.

You should continue to actively seek the animal's rightful owner for a minimum of 14 days.

Can I keep an animal that I find?

Terrebonne Parish Code of Ordinances - Sec. 5-23.

Taking ownership of stray/found animals

Any domestic animal found by a person other than the parish run Animal Shelter shall be held for fourteen (14) days before claiming ownership and/or adopting/transferring said animal so long as the said animal has not displayed or reported to have displayed any aggression towards humans or other animals and/or has not caused damage nor reported to have caused damage to property. Additionally, reasonable attempts to locate and reunite the found animal with its rightful owner shall be made within the fourteen (14) days, including but not limited to, placing an ad in the local newspaper(s), completing a found report with the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter, and having the found animal scanned for a microchip.

Pet Protection & Lost Pet Services