Even if you are not a City resident, call us to file a lost or found report.

We check all incoming pets for identification, tags, tatoos, microchips, etc.  However, even if your pet was wearing some sort of identification and your pet is missing, you should still walk through our kennels to look for your pet.

LOST YOUR PET? CALL US!

• Contact us immediately for assistance @ 574.235.9303 
• It is your responsibility to come into our facility, IN PERSON to look for your pet.  Even if you describe your pet to us over the phone, our interpretation of your description may differ greatly and we don't want to risk missing a positive identifation of your pet.
• It is best to bring along a picture for help in identification and to post on our lost/found board.
• For the protection of both you and your pet, pets will only be returned to the legal owner.  This may require you providing proof of ownership
• Be sure to check lost/found columns in local newspapers.
• Place an ad in local newspapers, South Bend Tribune 574.235.6000.
• Check with the mail carrier, paper carrier and neighbors to see if they have seen your pet.
• The legal holding period is a minimum of two business days for pets who are NOT wearing a City License. After that time, pets will be evaluated and placed in our adoption program, or if adoption is not an option, humanely euthanized.
• Pets wearing City Licenses will be returned directly home.

IF YOU FIND A PET, CALL US:

• Call us to file a found report @ 574.235.9303.
• Bring the animal into the shelter to be scanned for a microchip.
• Check lost/found columns in local newspapers.
• Place and add in local newspapers, South Bend Tribune 574.235.6000.
• If you wish to keep the animal, you still must contact us to file a found report and get the animal scanned for a microchip.
• If you cannot or do not wish to keep the pet while trying to locate the owner, you may not give it away. Call us for pick-up so that we may attempt to find the owner.

HOW LONG TO WE HOLD ANIMALS?

• Pets wearing a current City license will be returned directly home without entering our shelter.  There is no charge for the first return, a $10 fee for the second, $20 for the third.  The fee will increase by $45 for each subsequent return.  We have the option of deeming your pet dangerous after being caught loose on three occassions.  This will require special licensing requirements.  Owners must reclaim their pet within 5 days, excluding Sundays & holidays.  After that time the animal will become the property of the City.  At this time, they will be evaluated for adoption or humanely euthanized. 
• A stray not wearing a City license is held a minimum of two days, excluding Sundays & holidays.  After that time the animal will become the property of the City.  At this time, they will be evaluated for adoption or humanely euthanized.
• A relinquished animal immediatly becomes the property of the City and has no holding period.  At this time, they will be evaluated for adoption or humanely euthanized.
• An injured animal will be evaluated for possible medical treatment or may be humanely euthanized to prevent unnecessary suffering.

Remember to keep identification on your pet at all times and your residence information current with us. 

Animal Care & Control
105 S. Olive St.
South Bend, Indiana 46619
574.235.9303