The San Francisco Department of Animal Care & Control operates the city’s main animal shelter, handling everything from lost dog reports to emergency animal rescue. If your dog goes missing in San Francisco, this is the first place to check and report. The shelter has been operating since 1989 and takes in stray, lost, abandoned, sick, injured, and surrendered dogs from across the city and surrounding areas.

The facility provides housing, medical care, and treatment for the animals in their custody. Their staff works to care for dogs while attempting to identify owners and find adoptive homes when reunification isn’t possible. They handle a mix of domestic dogs alongside wildlife and exotic animals that need assistance.

For San Francisco residents dealing with a lost dog, you can search their available animals online through their website, which is updated regularly. The website also provides information about how the intake process works and what to expect if you’re looking for a missing dog. You can call ahead with details about your lost dog to see if anyone matching that description has been brought in.

The shelter’s open-admission policy means they take in animals regardless of space or resources, so if your dog ends up in their care, they’ll be documented in the system. Getting in touch as soon as possible after your dog goes missing gives you the best chance of a quick reunion—animals can be picked up by owners or transferred to rescue organizations within a fairly short timeframe. The shelter is located in San Francisco proper, making it accessible if you need to visit in person to search or retrieve your dog.