Lost & Found

WHAT TO DO... IF YOU HAVE LOST A PET

Please view these tips for what you should do when missing a beloved family member. 

SEARCH PHOTOS OF CURRENT STRAY ANIMALS AT THE Buncombe county animal SHELTER, 16 Forever friend lane

Note: If you find a photo that resembles your pet, come to the Buncombe County Animal Shelter located at 16 Forever Friend Lane immediately with proof of ownership which includes one of the following:

• Rabies license
• Veterinary records for your missing pet
• Photo(s) of your missing pet

Animals cannot be held that have not yet been identified in person. All animals reclaimed from the Buncombe County Animal Shelter must be microchipped and current on their Rabies vaccination. There are fees associated with reclaiming your pet; however, the fees vary depending on how your animal was brought to the shelter and length of stay.

To view current photos of lost dogs, click here: Lost Dogs

To view current photos of lost cats, click here: Lost Cats

To view current photos of other lost animals, click here: Other Lost Pets

iF YOU didn't find your missing pet in the above photos...

ACT FAST!

It’s important that you visit all area shelters to look for your pet, because animals can wander far from home.  If you don’t find your pet at a particular shelter, leave a lost pet report and current photo with the staff. The Buncombe County Animal Shelter is located at 16 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville, NC 28806; the phone number is (828) 250-6430.

WHAT TO DO

• Visit the nearest shelters immediately and file lost reports. Don’t assume that a shelter will house your animal any longer than a few days. In North Carolina the legal hold time for stray animals is 72 hours. After stray hold time elapses, adoptable animals in the Buncombe County Animal Shelter are transferred to Asheville Humane Society's Adoption Center or another area placement partner like Animal Compassion Network or Brother Wolf Animal Rescue.
• It’s also necessary for you to personally look for your pet, because the description you give over the phone may not be the same as another person would provide for that animal. (For example: you might refer to your pet as a Shepherd mix while someone else might recognize it as a Labrador mix)
• Even if you call ahead, our recommendation will be that you visit the shelter in person as your description of your lost pet might not match our description. We advise walking through the Buncombe County Animal Shelter and viewing the stray animals to find your lost friend. Upon arrival, you will complete a lost report which will be kept on file for 30 days. A staff representative will then escort you through the stray holding areas so you can look for your pet.

• Animal Control and private citizens bring stray animals to the Buncombe County Animal Shelter each day so by visiting the shelter every few days, you may increase the chances of finding your pet.

• If you have registered your pet by an ID tag or microchip, contact the registering agency and alert them that your pet is missing. Be sure your contact information is up to date.
• Notify friends and neighbors that your pet is lost.
• Contact veterinary practices in your area. They may have a Lost and Found bulletin board in their offices.
• Read the “found” ads, and take out a “lost” ad in the newspapers.
• Post flyers in your neighborhood and/or the area where you lost your pet, at nearby shelters and veterinary clinics. Area pet shops, pet groomers, schools, drug stores, gas station and grocery store bulletin boards are also good locations to place your flyers. Include a photo of your pet and any distinctive markings.
• Look for your pet in the area where he or she was lost as well as near your home. The quiet early morning hours are a good time to look for your pet.
• Don’t give up!
  

Why Pets Stray

    A common reason a pet will stray from home is that it isn’t spayed or neutered and is looking for a mate. Spaying or neutering eliminates an animal’s reproductive instincts and decreases the chances of its straying from home.

    The first step is prevention: keep your pets indoors or safely enclosed in a yard. Make sure it has a collar with ID tag and a microchip. Lost pets that have identification are many times more likely to be returned to their owners!

WHAT TO DO…IF YOU FOUND A PET

You have three different options when you find a pet.

• You may either bring the pet to the Buncombe County Animal Shelter located at 16 Forever Friend Lane
• Contact Animal Services if you find the pet after business hours
• You may also keep the pet in your home and file a found report with the Buncombe County Animal Shelter at (828) 250-6430 

Bringing A Found Pet To The Buncombe County animal Shelter

In Buncombe County, the shelter is located at 16 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville, NC 28806; the phone number is (828) 250-6430. When you arrive with the pet, please enter through the front of the building marked "Receiving". We’ll ask you some questions about where and when the animal was found.

After Hours

If the Buncombe County Animal Shelter is closed and you find a pet that you are not able to care for until the morning, please call Animal Services in your area. In the City of Asheville that is 252-1110, in Buncombe County it is 250-6670.

Caring For The Pet In Your Home

If you'd like to care for the pet yourself, call the Buncombe County Animal Shelter at (828) 250-6430 and leave a "found report" with a shelter staff in case the pet's owner contacts us. You can also visit your veterinarian or bring the animal to the shelter to have the animal scanned for a microchip ID and identify the breed, gender and age.