Lost a Pet?

Losing an animal can be distressing and cause worry. If your pet is microchipped and registered with Council, you can be easily reunited. The main collection point for lost animals is Shoalhaven Animal Shelter. 

There are some things you can do and should know about if you have lost your pet.  

Lost and found animals 

If your dog or cat is lost: 

  1. Contact Ranger Services and let us know (notification must be given within 72 hours after the animal is lost)
  2. Update the status of your lost pet on petregistry.nsw.gov.au if the pet has an online profile and marked as 'claimed'

You can also:

  1. Check Shoalhaven Animal Shelter Facebook page to see if your animal is at the shelter
  2. Check with your local veterinary clinics 
  3. Report your missing pet to Lost and Found Pets Nowra and Shoalhaven NSW

Once you find your pet after having been reported missing: 

  1. Contact Ranger Services and let us know (notification must be given within 72 hours after the animal is marked as missing and is then found)
  2. Update the status of your found pet on petregistry.nsw.gov.au if the pet has an online profile and marked as 'claimed'

If your animal has been taken to Shoalhaven Animal Shelter:

  • There will be a cost when you collect your animal and this amount increases the longer the animal is in care
  • Before a lost pet is returned to you, your pet must be microchipped, and lifetime registered even if the animal would normally be exempt from registration

Microchipped and not microchipped:

  • Microchipped animals will be held for 14 days. After that time the animal will be considered for re-homing 
  • Animals that are not microchipped will be held by Shoalhaven Animal Shelter for seven days

If you find an unattended dog, or a lost cat:

  • Take the animal to a vet or
  • Take the animal to Shoalhaven Animal Shelter where it will be scanned for a microchip to get the owner's contact details or
  • Contact Council and a Ranger will attend to scan the animal and find out the owner’s details 

Deceased animals

If you find a deceased pet: 

  • If you find a deceased dog or cat contact Ranger Services
  • Council does not collect deceased animals from private residences or properties

If you find a deceased native animal:

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