Found Pet Resources - El Paso Animal Services (2024)

5001 Fred Wilson Ave. El Paso, TX 79906 (Right across from Ft. Bliss Cemetery) | (915) 212-PAWS [ En Español ]

In order to increase lost pets finding their way home, we are asking for the community’s support to help reunite healthy, non-aggressive strays with their families. A pet has a better chance of finding their way home if they stay within their community rather than coming to the shelter. If you’re able to hang onto and foster the lost pet while we look for their owner, we are happy to provide you with supplies and resources to help you care for that pet. Please reach out to our Community and Pet Support Team for more information on finder-to-foster assistance. (find more info on our finder-to-foster program below)

If the pet is injured, sick, in danger, vicious, aggressive, or facing cruelty or neglect, please call 311 and provide as much detail regarding the pet’s location so an Animal Protection Officer can be dispatched.

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IF THE PET IS SICK, INJURED, IN DANGER, AGGRESSIVE, VICIOUS, OR FACING CRUELTY OR NEGLECT, CALL 311 AND PROVIDE AS MUCH DETAIL ON THE LOCATION AND SITUATION AS POSSIBLE. IT IS ILLEGAL TO ABANDON OR DUMP ANY ANIMAL.

Did you find a pet? We are here to help!

In an effort to save more pet lives, our goal is to keep lost pets in their communities—when pets are brought to the shelter, only about 16% of them are ever reclaimed by their families. Pets have a higher chance of finding their families if they are fostered and reunited right in their community. We’re here to help you do that!

If you find a pet and are able to hang onto them, please fill out a Found Pet Report below. This report will be added to our database and our Pet Finder Map. Please provide a microchip number or tag number (if they have one) and photo with the report. You can find free scanning locations below.

Found Pet Report

Please continue to read through this page for more information and resources available to help you care for the found pet. If you have found a stray cat, please visit our Community Cats page for more information.

FOUND PET SERVICES

  • (915) 212-8715

    Community & Pet Support Helpline
    Seven Days a Week, 11 am – 5 pm

  • EPASFoundPets@elpasotexas.gov

    To request found pet support or supplies

EL PASO ANIMAL SERVICES CENTER

PET FINDER MAP

Your Found Pet Report will be viewable on this interactive map. Check the Lost Pets tab on the Pet Finder Map to view animals lost in your area. If one matches the animal you found, contact us at (915) 212-8715 for assistance.

HOW TO USE THE PET FINDER MAP

Take the pet to a microchip scanning location—there’s one probably right in your neigborhood!

Visit our Pet Finder Map for available scanning locations in your neighborhood.

There are numerous microchip databases. If the pet is microchipped, we recommend doing the following:

  • Search the microchip number on the AHAA Microchip Lookup Tool and contact the microchip company to let them know you found the pet
  • File a Found Report on 24PetWatch.
  • Call 311 to have dispatchers search local databases

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If you’re able to hang onto the pet for a few days, reach out to our Community and Pet Support Team for supplies and information to help in your search for the pet’s family. Here are some more ways to aid in your search—we recommend posting on as many social media groups, lost pet apps and hang flyers, as the more places you’re able to share the pet’s image, the higher chance they will find their family.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP REUNITE A PET

  • Knock on a few doors in the area where you found the pet to see if they recognize them
  • Check the LOST PETS tab on the Pet Finder Map to see if a lost pet matches the pet you found
  • File a Found Pet report on Petco Love Lost
  • Post on social media pages, Pawboost, Craigslist and the Nextdoor app
  • Call the pet’s microchip company and let them know you’ve found the pet
  • Hang flyers in your neighborhood, at grooming salons, pet stores and veterinarian offices
  • Post flyers in your neighborhood
  • Check with other area animal shelters and rescues

FOUND PET FLYER TEMPLATE

Download this found pet flyer template to add a clear, full-body photo of the found pet along with your contact information. We recommend hanging flyers at grooming salons, veterinary offices, pet stores and around your neighborhood.

DOWNLOAD

HELP MORE FOUND PETS

If you’re able to hang onto the pet you found temporarily, we are able to help you with care for that pet with supplies and resources through our Finder-to-Foster program. We rely on community members like you to help provide the best lifesaving options for pets that come into our care. You can make a difference by becoming a Finder-to-Foster today!

What’s involved in being a Finder-to-Foster?

  • You agree to become a temporary foster parent and keep and care for the animal in your home for at least six days.
  • We’ll intake the animal into the shelter’s system, vaccinate them, take a picture of the animal and put that picture on our website and Pet Finder Map.
  • We’ll provide a foster starter kit that includes key pet care supplies. You also will receive foster support through our Foster program.
  • As a Finder-to-Foster, we ask that you post the pet on social media pages and some of the other sites provided above.
  • If we are able to locate the owner during the six-day foster period, we will set up a time for you to bring the animal back to the shelter for their reunion.
  • If the six days have passed and we have not been successful in finding an owner, you can decide to continue fostering the pet and become an official part of our Foster Program, return the pet to the shelter, or adopt the pet. If you would like to adopt the pet, please email epasadoptions@elpasotexas.gov. Let the shelter know as soon as possible. If you’re able to extend your foster time, please let our Foster team know by emailing epasfoster@elpasotexas.gov.

FOSTER RESOURCES

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STRAY CATS
  • If the cat has a tipped ear (a corner of their ear is clipped off), this cat is not a stray but a Community Cat and is already fixed, vaccinated and being cared for by a cat colony manager.
  • If the cat does not have a tipped ear, please visit our Community Cats page to schedule an appointment for spay/neuter before you trap the cat.
KITTENS

If you find a litter of kittens, DON’T pick them up and leave them where you found them. While you may think they are abandoned and in danger, momma cat is actually caring for them and either watching them from a distance, or is out hunting for food. A kitten’s best chance at survival is staying with mom, so the best thing you can do for them is to leave them alone. For more information on what to do if you find kittens, visit www.SaveTheKittensEP.com. Kittens 8 weeks or older can go through our Community Cat program.

NOTE: If kittens are sick, lethargic, dirty and cold to the touch, then you can intervene. If you can foster the kittens, please reach out to our Community Resources team for foster support and supplies. If you are unable to care for the kittens, please call 311 or schedule an appointment to bring in kittens with no mom.

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Found Pet Resources - El Paso Animal Services (2024)

FAQs

How long before a stray dog is legally yours in Texas? ›

The aim is to ensure that the dog is either reunited with its owner or properly cared for until the owner is found. If the owner isn't found, then the dog is considered abandoned. And for many places across Texas, that means after 3-5 days, the dog is considered yours.

How many dogs can you have in El Paso, Texas? ›

There is no limit to the number of pets you're allowed to own within El Paso city limits.

How to rehome a dog in El Paso, TX? ›

Rehoming Support

El Paso Animal Services is a coordinated-intake shelter that accepts pets from the El Paso County and Fort Bliss by appointment. Please utilize our links under the “rehoming your pet” section along with posting your pet on the Home to Home and Adopt-a-Pet websites.

What is the dog barking ordinance in El Paso Texas? ›

El Paso city code bans animals that make noise frequently or for long periods of time, and that disturb a residential neighborhood, said Code Compliance Manager Elda Hefner. “Dogs are gonna bark,” Hefner said. “That is what they do.” In a residential area, the noise limit from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. is 50 decibels.

Can I legally keep a dog I found in Texas? ›

These local laws will dictate your legal obligations and the process you must follow. In Texas, the law legally classifies dogs as property. Keeping a stray dog without attempting to find its owner or failing to follow local regulations could be considered taking someone else's property, essentially theft.

Can you keep a dog if you find it in the street? ›

If you are able to transport the animal, take them to the nearest animal shelter. If you plan to keep the animal in the event no owner is found, notify animal control that you have the animal or that you have taken them to a veterinary hospital for treatment.

Can I bury my dog in my backyard in El Paso, Texas? ›

The answer to the question of if you can bury your pet in your backyard is yes, most cities only require property owners to bury that remains of their animals at least three to four feet in the ground but you should still verify with your city or county first before attempting to bury the remains of your pet.

What time is quiet hours in El Paso? ›

9.40. 050 Interior noise standards.
Noise ZoneLand UseTime Interval
AllResidential10:00 p.m. to 7 a.m.
7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Is there a leash law in El Paso County? ›

Back in February, El Paso County Commissioners voted to reinstate leash laws at regional parks and trails.

At what point should you rehome a dog? ›

Poor hygiene and worsening behavior may be a clue that your pet needs a change. Other signs that it may be time to find a new home for your pet include: Physical inability to exercise him properly. Inability to drive or use public transit to purchase food and supplies or take him to the vet.

Where is the best place to rehome my pet? ›

Check with the animal shelter, rescue or breeder where you got your pet. Some organizations require in the adoption contract that you return the pet to them if you can no longer provide care. Even if it wasn't part of your contract, the organization or breeder may be able to help you find your pet a new home.

How do you convince someone to rehome a dog? ›

Share the story of your pet. Write a story about your pet that includes the reason you need to rehome them, the type of home and family your pet would thrive in, and some fun information to gain interest in your pet (such as what their favorite things are, tricks they can do, their funniest characteristics, etc.).

Can my neighbor call the cops on my dog barking? ›

As a rule of thumb, the police department will not be able to help you unless it is an urgent situation. It may be more helpful to call your local animal control service instead. If they believe your complaint has merit, they may contact the owner of the offending animal with a warning.

How long can a dog bark legally in Texas? ›

In Texas, there is no specific law that dictates how long a dog can bark. Instead, the law focuses on whether the barking constitutes a public nuisance. So, while there is no set time limit, excessive and continuous barking could potentially be considered a violation of local noise ordinances.

What can I do if my neighbors dogs bark too much? ›

How You Can Solve a Barking Dog Problem
  1. Ask your neighbor to keep the dog quiet.
  2. Try mediation, especially if you and the neighbor have other issues.
  3. Contact animal control authorities and request that they enforce local laws restricting noise.
  4. Call the police.
  5. Bring a nuisance lawsuit in small claims court.

What proves ownership of a dog in Texas? ›

Veterinary records, registration, license and microchip records can all be considered proof of ownership.

What is the outdoor dog law in Texas? ›

Governor Greg Abbott signed the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act in October 2021. The bill bans the use of chains for tethering dogs. Dog owners can only use humane materials such as trolley systems or ziplines on their animals outdoors. You will also need to provide shelter, shade and clean water for your tied up pup.

What is considered abandonment of a dog in Texas? ›

(1) “Abandon” includes abandoning an animal in the person's custody without making reasonable arrangements for assumption of custody by another person. (2) “Animal” means a domesticated living creature, including any stray or feral cat or dog, and a wild living creature previously captured.

Is there a no chain dog law in Texas? ›

Texans may not use a restraint that is a chain, has weights attached to it or is shorter in length than the greater of 10 feet or five times the length of the dog as measured from the tip of the dog's nose to the base of the dog's tail. Dogs may not be attached to a collar or harness if it's not properly fitted.

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