Lost and Found

If you have lost an animal, please fill in our lost pet report or contact us at intake@ottawahumane.ca or 613-725-3166 ext. 223. 

Submitting a complete lost report will help us to quickly identify some pets. If you are able to include a picture in your report, this will help us further.

Find out more steps to take to help get your lost pet home. 

If you have found an animal, you cannot simply keep it. There may be a distraught family looking for their lost pet. You can notify us that you have found an animal by completing our online found pet report or contact us at intake@ottawahumane.ca or 613-725-3166 ext. 223.

Learn more about how you can help the lost pet return home.

If you are unable to search for or can't find the owner, please bring the pet to the Municipal Animal Shelter at the Ottawa Humane Society, 245 West Hunt Club Road. 

The City of Ottawa’s By-law Services manage stray dogs in the city. They can be reached by phone at 3-1-1.

In accordance with the City of Ottawa Animal Care and Control Bylaw, stray animals are held in the Municipal Animal Shelter for a period of three full days (not counting day of entry or statutory holidays) to allow their owners time to claim them.

After the stray period, the OHS becomes the legal owner of the animal.

To claim your pet from the Municipal Animal Shelter, the City of Ottawa requires that you provide the following:

• valid identification with your current address, or photo ID and proof of current address (for example, a hydro or phone bill, lease, pay stub with address, bank statement or government document).
• proof of ownership (for example, an adoption certificate or purchase bill or a recent veterinary bill, rabies tag number or City licence).
• funds to pay the release fees (cash, credit or debit card – no cheques). Release fees vary depending on the length of time the animal has been in the Municipal Animal Shelter. The animal cannot be released without release fees being paid.
• funds to pay a licence fee (cash, credit or debit card — no cheques) if your animal is not registered with the City of Ottawa. Learn more about current animal registration fees.

Please contact the OHS at 613-725-3166 ext. 223 before your arrival to confirm your fees payable. If there is no answer, please leave a message, and we will return your call as soon as possible.

You may also come to the Municipal Animal Shelter without an appointment to pick up your lost pet. 

If an animal is not claimed after being held for the mandatory stray period of three full days, the animal is then assessed to determine their suitability for adoption.

The OHS verifies that the animal is in good health and not demonstrating aggression. Animals considered suitable for placement will receive required veterinary care within our resources to provide, be sterilized, then transferred to our Adoption Centre.

Learn more about the City of Ottawa’s Animal Care and Control Bylaws.

Different regulations apply to dead animals, depending on where the animal was found, and what kind of animal it is. If the animal’s owner is not known, and the animal is on public property (such as the street or in a park), contact the City of Ottawa at 3-1-1.

If the animal is on private property, contact us at 613-725-3166 ext. 223 for instructions.