Think Lost NOT Dumped • ACT Good Faith Effort

Think Lost NOT Dumped

Good Faith Effort to Find a Pet’s Owner

Before Animal Compassion Team can consider a found pet for surrender, we ask that the finder make a real and documented good faith effort to locate the owner. Many lost pets are loved, missed, and simply separated from their families. Taking these steps first gives that pet the best chance of getting back home.

Please note: ACT has limited space and cannot guarantee intake of found pets. We prioritize pets that were adopted from us, pets in our local shelters, and animals with urgent placement needs.
Important: A found pet should not automatically be considered abandoned. In most cases, a reasonable search for the owner is expected before surrender options are reviewed.

What ACT Means by “Good Faith Effort”

A good faith effort means taking practical, reasonable, and well-documented steps to try to reunite the pet with their owner before requesting rescue intake.

At ACT, we generally expect finders to make multiple attempts through shelters, online posts, flyers, and neighborhood outreach rather than only asking around once.

Why This Matters

  • Most found pets are not homeless — they are lost.
  • Owners may be checking shelters, social media, and neighborhood groups every day.
  • Rescue space is limited and often needed for at-risk shelter pets and emergency cases.
  • Reuniting a pet with their family is usually the best and fastest outcome.

Expected Steps Before Contacting ACT About Surrender

  1. Check for identification. Look for tags, a collar, tattoo, license, or other identifying information.
  2. Have the pet scanned for a microchip. Most veterinary offices and shelters can scan for free.
  3. Report the pet as found with the appropriate local shelter or animal services agency based on where the pet was found.
  4. Post the pet as found on local Facebook lost-and-found pages, Nextdoor, PawBoost, and Petco Love Lost.
  5. Create and post flyers in the neighborhood where the pet was found, including major intersections, parks, local stores, and veterinary offices.
  6. Talk to neighbors. Ask nearby homes, apartment managers, mail carriers, and local businesses if they recognize the pet.
  7. Keep records of your efforts. Save screenshots of posts, photos of flyers, and notes about where and when you looked.
  8. Allow reasonable time for an owner to respond. Not every owner will see a post the same day.

Local Shelter and Animal Services Information

We recommend reporting found pets to the shelter or animal services agency that covers the area where the pet was found. This is one of the most important steps in a good faith owner search.

Fresno Humane Animal Services

Best for: Fresno County areas served by Fresno Humane Animal Services

Address: 1510 W Dan Ronquillo Drive, Fresno, CA 93725

Phone/Text: (559) 600-7387

Website: www.fresnohumane.org

What to do: Submit a found report, check found reports online, and have the pet scanned for a microchip.

Fresno Animal Center

Best for: Pets found within the City of Fresno

Hours: Monday–Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; closed Thursdays

Phone: (559) 621-PETS

City Contact: 311 or (559) 621-CITY

Website: www.fresnoanimalcenter.com

What to do: Check City of Fresno animal resources and report the pet through the appropriate city channels.

Clovis Animal Services

Best for: Pets found within the City of Clovis

Main City Number: (559) 324-2000

Website: app.clovisanimalservices.com

What to do: Contact Clovis Animal Services through the City of Clovis and report the found pet as soon as possible.

Shelter coverage can depend on where the pet was found, so it is always best to report to the agency serving that specific jurisdiction.

Helpful Places to Post

  • Fresno Humane found pet report
  • Neighborhood Facebook groups
  • Nextdoor
  • PawBoost
  • Petco Love Lost
  • Local veterinary offices
  • Apartment office bulletin boards and nearby businesses

What to Include in a Found Pet Post

  • Date the pet was found
  • General area where the pet was found
  • A clear photo
  • General description of the pet
  • Your contact information
  • A note that proof of ownership will be required

Important Safety Tip

If someone claims the pet, ask for proof of ownership before releasing them. This may include photos, veterinary records, knowledge of unique markings, collar details, license information, or microchip information.

What ACT May Ask For

If you contact Animal Compassion Team for help after making these efforts, we may ask you to provide proof of the steps you took to locate the owner.

  • Screenshots of online posts
  • Photos of flyers you posted
  • The date the pet was found
  • The exact area where the pet was found
  • Confirmation that the pet was scanned for a microchip
  • Confirmation that a found report was filed with the appropriate local shelter or agency

After Good Faith Efforts Have Been Made

Once these steps have been completed, ACT may review the situation and determine whether surrender is appropriate. Intake is never guaranteed and depends on space, the pet’s behavior, medical needs, and available foster or adopter resources.

Thank you for making every effort to help a lost pet get back home. These steps help families, reduce shelter crowding, and give each animal the best possible outcome.

Animal Compassion Team • www.animalcompassionteam.com