City of Hamilton - Planning & Economic Development

Lost & Found Animal Services

Animal Services Lost and Found Program
Animal overpopulation is the most readily identifiable reason for unwanted and stray animals. It represents a significant and preventable financial burden to the community. More importantly, unwanted and stray animals are, as a rule, neglected, suffer needlessly and eventually succumb to fatal illnesses or accidents. Spaying or neutering your pet is an important and responsible means of managing pet overpopulation.

Licensing your dog, having your pet implanted with a microchip, attaching owner information to your pet's collar, and registering with PetLynx greatly improves the chance of recovering your lost pet.

Unwanted, uncontrolled, and stray animals may:

attack people and other animals;
spread diseases such as rabies and distemper;
damage or destroy private property; and
contribute to motor vehicle collisions.

PetLynx AnimalTRACS™ Recovery SystemThe City of Hamilton Animal Services uses the PetLynx Automated Global Identification and Recovery System to help increase pet recovery in our facilities and across the community by providing a public lost and found service for pets.

What is PetLynx?
PetLynx is a pet recovery system that can return a lost pet back home with a microchip, tag or tattoo. When identification is not available, a simple physical description of the animal using the DataSketch™ technology will still allow for an automatic match in the system. The system searches lost and found reports posted within the community and North America.

How can PetLynx help find my lost pet?
The City of Hamilton cares about your pet. This is why we are using this technology as an effort to increase the recovery rate in our community. All pets that are found as a stray by Animal Services will be posted on this system through the Found Report features. This provides our community a unique advantage over traditional Municipal Lost & Found Departments. It will give everyone one place to look for lost or found pets, regardless where they are housed or what type of identification is used. All residents and businesses in the community can use this system to post a lost or found report. All owners are recommended and encouraged to visit the City's shelter at least every 3 days to search for their missing pet and regularly check any potential matches on PetLynx.

If you post a Lost Report on the system for your pet, it is YOUR responsibility to follow up with every potential match.

PetLynx provides you a better chance to recover your pet and allows you to:

automatically search stray animals in our shelter and in the community;
post FREE Lost & Found reports;
print FREE Lost & Found posters;
automatically receive e-mails of potential pet matches; and
easily update your profile and provide care instructions for your pet.

Why should I register with PetLynx, I just bought a licence?
A licence is a by-law requirement and will assist our staff to return your pet if the tag is still on your pet's collar when it is found. A Lifetime Subscription to PetLynx is another tool to assist you in the recovery of your pet. Your information will already be in the PetLynx system prior to your pet becoming lost, thus the recovery process is fast-tracked. If your pet is lost and he loses his tag, he can still be recovered with a description of his physical appearance by you at anytime. PLUS you will receive automatic notification of potential matches once you report on the website that your pet is lost. Remember, we post ALL stray animals in our care on the system as found animals.

The following procedures are in place to help re-unite owners with their animals in a timely manner and to ensure the safety of the animals, staff and visitors at the shelter.

You as the animal owner will:

show government identifcation with your current address prior to entering the kennel area to search for your missing pet;
not touch any of the animals when searching the kennels. It is recommended that when possible young children stay in the lobby area for their safety;
pay for any impound and boarding fees for each day your pet is in the shelter. All fees must be paid at the time you claim your pet;
purchase a City of Hamilton Dog Licence before your dog is released from the shelter if it is not already licensed;
have a leash or carrier at the time you claim your pet; and
understand that it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to search for your missing pet.

If you lost your pet we recommend that you:

visit our shelter at least every 3 days (you may visit more often if you choose);
post a FREE Lost Report on the PetLynx website;
file a Lost Report with all Animal Shelters in the area where your animal was lost;
check with the microchip company to ensure they have your current contact information if your pet has been implanted with a mircrochip;
print FREE Lost Posters from PetLynx and post them with permission in area stores, veterinarian clinics and schools;
place Lost Posters in neighbours mailboxes asking them to check garages, sheds and under porches;
check the local newspapers for Found Animal ads;
post a Lost Animal ad in the local newspapers; and
update your Lost Report if you locate your pet outside the shelter.

Animal Services Staff Will:

make every effort to contact you if your pet is found and has a microchip and/or a licence;
provide you with information to file a Lost Report on the PetLynx website;
not conduct searches for your lost pet over the phone;
scan and check all stray animals (alive or deceased) for a microchip, tattoo and or identification tag; and
follow-up on all identification found on an animal and contact the registered owner.

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Lost & Found Animal Services

The following procedures are in place to help re-unite owners with their animals in a timely manner and to ensure the safety of the animals, staff and visitors at the shelter.