Lost and found

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​​Lost and Found Pets

AC&C has set up an online lost report for missing pets and a found report for recovered pets within the community in an effort to help reunite owners with their pets.

Note: if you found a pet and cannot hold on to it while actively looking for the owner, you can bring the pet to our shelter ONLY IF you found it within Mecklenburg County. We do NOT take in pets that are found outside of the county. Also know that we no longer take in adult cats that reside outside; this could be an owned indoor/outdoor cat or a community cat and there is no leash law so they are allowed to roam. Learn more about community cats and what to do is you see a cat outside.

Below are options to assist you with searching or reporting a lost/found pet.


Pet owners: if you have moved, changed your phone number, or haven't registered your pet's microchip with us, UPDATE OR REGISTER their microchips right now!

​Lost Pets in the AC&C Shelter​

If you are looking through our shelter for your lost pet:

AC&C picks up and receives lost animals found by members of the community. If an animal comes to the shelter with an identification such as a rabies tag, microchip, or t​attoo, AC&C staff will make every effort to locate the owner. This may take several days.

  • If you are looking for your lost pet the links below will show every animal that is currently in our shelter in their 72 hour hold period and adoption.

    *Please be sure to look at every picture on each page.  If you would like additional information on each animal make sure to click the photo to see when the animal arrived at the shelter.*

    ​​link to stray dogs at acc
    link to stray dogs at acc
    link to other pets at acc​

  • If you believe that you have found your pet (even an animal that might *look* like your pet), YOU NEED TO COME TO THE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. The shelter is located at 8315 Byrum Drive, Charlotte, NC, 28217. Please do not call 311 or ask staff to look at that pet for you; you know your pet better than any staff or volunteer at the shelter. Be sure to read over our reclaim instructions ​before coming just in case you ID that animal as yours.

  • Due to space restrictions, AC&C holds animals for three days only and cannot guarantee that a staff member will be able to read and respond to your email within this 72-hour timeframe.​​ Come to the shelter ASAP if you find a pet that you recognize. It's​ recommended that you look online daily and personally visit the shelter every 3 days.

  • If you have looked through the list of animals that we have at the facility and you did NOT find your animal, be sure to go to the "create a lost report for a personal pet" to file a new report and review "logged reports for found pets"​ as well as our AC&C Facebook found pets album.

  • The towns of Cornelius and Matthews  have their own Animal Control shelters. If you live in one of these towns, you should also contact them about your lost pet​. You should also investigate the surrounding county animal control organizations​ as animals do travel from one county to another (especially if they are at the county lines).​​​​​

There are several things to do but one of the main things is to make a lost report.

If you have lost your personal pet, you can create a lost report by uploading a photo of your pet along with specific details, or call 311.

CREATE A LOST PET ONLINE REPORT by clicking the correct animal button​:
link to lost dogs in the community report

link to lost cats in the community report

link to lost other pets in the community


NOTE that pet reports will expire in 30 days. You can make a new found report after the 30 day period.​

It's important for owners that have lost their pets to check the Lost Pets in the Shelter section daily as new pets are brought in at all hours of each day.


  • If your pet is microchipped contact the microchip company and let them know that your pet is lost. Make sure all personal information (address, phone numbers, etc.) are up-to-date.

  • Be sure to look at shelters where you live and surrounding counties. Citizens may find your pet and either bring them home or to an animal control agency where they live which could be in a neighboring county.

    • Within Meckl​enburg County the towns of Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, and ​Matthews have their own Animal Control shelters. If you live in one of these towns, you should also check with your local police department. You should also investigate the surrounding county Animal Control organizations as pets do travel from one county to another (especially if they are lost near the county lines).You should also investigate the surrounding county Animal Control organizations as pets do travel from one county to another (especially if they are lost near the county lines).​

  • Attract pets back by placing articles of your clothing or their favorite blanket/bed outside in a sheltered area, setting a humane trap that can be set with tuna or other strong smelling food. Cats can often be attracted with their own litter box. Check often. Check crawl spaces and ask your neighbors to do the same.​​

If you have found a dog or cat and wish to retain the pet in your home and provide care while actively seeking the owner, you may do so BUT you are required to fill out a found report; the below boxes will upload your report and picture to Petharbor, or call 311 to file a found report.

  • CREATE A FOUND PET ONLINE REPORT​:

    link to found dog report
    link to found cat report
    link to found other pet report

  • Microchipping is one of the best ways of reuniting a pet with its' owner so we ​urge you to bring the found pet to a local veterinarian to be scanned for a microchip.  If you are unable to transport the pet to a veterinarian, call 311 to have an officer come to your home to scan the pet for a microchip.

  • Things to know about keeping a found pet in your home:

    *In both the Charlotte and Mecklenburg County ordinances the definition of owners means: any person owning, keeping, having charge of sheltering, feeding, harboring or taking care of any pet for 14 or more consecutive days, unless the pet is boarded for a fee.

    *Section 3-72 Harboring Stray Animals - it shall be unlawful for any person, without the actual consent of the owner, to harbor, feed, keep in possession by confinement or otherwise have any animal which does not belong to him, unless he has, within 24 hours of the time the animal came into his possession, notified AC&C.

    *Harboring an animal - an animal shall be deemed to be harbored if it is fed or sheltered 14 days or more, unless the animals is being boarded for a fee.

  • If you are unable to retain the lost pet in your home, please call 311 to have an officer sent to your home to pick up the pet; or you may bring the lost pet to the pet shelter located at 8315 Byrum Dr., Charlotte NC 28217.

  • If the pet has not been reunited with its' owner after 14 days, you may continue holding/keep the pet, re-home the pet, ​contact the Humane Society of Charlotte or other area rescue organizations who may assist with permanent placement; or bring the pet to the AC&C shelter who will attempt every method possible to create a positive outcome.​ Understand that if the original owner finds the pet and wants it back, they retain the right to reclaim their pet from the new owner. If there is a dispute over ownership between the new owner and the original owner, it becomes a civil matter.​

If you have found a lost dog, or you need to get the number of the microchip that your pet has to make sure it is registered and up-to-date, you go to any of our partnering locations to have the pet scanned for a microchip.

VCA Stoney Creek Animal Hospital
626 W Mallard Creek Church Rd
Charlotte 28262
704-717-0616

Spay Neuter Clinic of the Carolinas
8045 Providence Rd
Charlotte 28277
704-542-9997

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center
2523 South Blvd
Charlotte 28203
704-523-2996

Independence Veterinary Clinic and AquaPups
2328 Crown Point Executive Dr
Charlotte 28227
704-935-7877

Woof n' Hoof
7710 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd
Mint Hill 28227
704-545-7387

Subaru South Blvd
9201 South Blvd
Charlotte 28273
704-556-0922

Pet Pause
3605 Mount-Holly Huntersville Rd
Huntersville 28078
980-237-8645

Harris Boulevard Veterinary Clinic
5710 W Harris Boulevard
Charlotte 28269

Lucky Dog Bark and Brew
1) Cornelius: 19607 Statesville Rd 28031
704-896-5550
2) Charlotte: 2220 Thrift Rd 28208
704-333-4114
3) Steele Creek: 13835 South Lakes Dr, Charlotte 28273
704-583-4750

Pet Supplies Plus
2001 East 7th St
Charlotte 28204
704-817-8360

PetPeople
4815 Berewick Town Center Dr
Charlotte 28278

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It's important for owners that have lost their pets to check the Lost Pets in the Shelter section daily as new pets are brought in at all hours of each day.

Common lost/found sites to share your found flyers and look for lost pets that have been posted and make reports: