If You Have Found a Pet


Thank you for helping an animal in need. Here are some tips to help you locate the owner.

• Contact local animal agencies: Rowan County Animal Shelter704 216-7768, Faithful Friends Animal Sanctuary 704 633-1722, Humane Society of Rowan County 704 636-5700. Provide these agencies with an accurate description of the pet and where it was found.
• Advertise. You can put a “Found” ad in the Salisbury Post: Place a FREE Ad online or call 704 797-4220. This is required by law. Include the pet's breed, color and size, and where it was found. When describing the pet, leave out one identifying characteristic, such as gender or special markings, and ask callers to describe it.
• Post "Found" notices at nearby stores and veterinary offices. In the County, you can put a sign at traffic intersections. A simple Found sign placed at the end of your driveway might catch the eye of the owners as they drive around looking for their pet. Flyers distributed in the neighborhood can help.
• Be wary. When talking to a stranger who says it’s their pet, ask them to describe the pet thoroughly before you offer any information. If they do not include the identifying characteristic you left out of the advertisements, they might just be looking for a free pet. Ask for photographs and vet records as proof.
• Remind the owners that a pet—even an indoor pet—has a better chance of being returned if she always wears a collar  with her rabies tag and an ID tag with their name, address, and telephone number, and is microchipped.