Services >> Lost and Found


If you have lost your pet, call your local shelter right away and file a report. Make sure to give an accurate description and mention any identifying features. A clear, recent photo of your cat or dog is very helpful. Our shelters get hundreds of animals and dozens of lost reports every month, so photographs can be crucial in trying to match missing pets with their owners. Even after you have filed a report, we suggest that you come into your local shelter every few days to see if your pet appears.

We encourage pet owners to use photos to make posters of missing pets and post them in the area where the pet was last seen. Also, log onto the Animal Rescue Coalition website at www.archawaii.org to look at photos posted on their "Found" page. You can also send them a photo of your pet to post on their "Lost" page. Try placing an ad in the classified section of the paper describing your pet and the area where he was lost.

If you find a pet, your first stop should be to a shelter, veterinarian's office, or local animal welfare group to have the animal scanned for a microchip. Thousands of pets on the Big Island have been implanted with chips and HIHS can help find the owner quickly. County law requires that all found dogs be turned in to an HIHS shelter within 48 hours, so that owners searching for their pets may have an opportunity to reclaim them. (There currently is no requirement for cats.) Don¹t assume because an animal looks malnourished or unkempt that it is unwanted or mistreated! On the Big Island, many animals who get lost in wilderness areas emerge weeks later and need to get back home.

Do look locally for an owner. Look at the website mentioned above, and check the newspaper to see if anyone has placed an ad looking for the pet you have found.

Identification is crucial to helping lost pets find their way home. In Hawaii County, all dogs are required to wear a license at all times. The Hawaii Island Humane Society also offers cat ID tags for just $2.50. A collar and ID tag can be absolutely crucial in helping your pet be quickly and easily returned to you. Consider purchasing a personalized tag with your address and phone number, so that you can be contacted directly if your pet becomes lost. Applications are available at all shelters for personalized tags.

HIHS recommends that all pets be implanted with a microchip. A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is placed between the shoulder blades, just under the skin. Each chip displays a unique 9-digit number which can be used to look up that pet in our database. Ask your veterinarian about microchipping, or call your local shelter and inquire about upcoming low-cost microchip clinics being offered in your area.

"Every dog must have his day."
Jonathan Swift 1667-1745