If you have lost a pet:
- Call the shelter at (406) 388-9399, ext. 201 right away to report your pet missing. Please don’t wait. If you reach the shelter outside of business hours 12 pm – 5:30 pm Tuesday through Sunday, leave a message at (406) 388-9399 ext. 201 with a detailed description of your pet (make sure to include any easily identifiable features), your name, contact information, and the area your pet went missing. We will start a lost report for you. Email color photos of your pet to [email protected]. The photos help us identify your pet and facilitate a faster reunion.
- We want to see you reunited with your pet! After 4 days in the shelter, pets become property of Heart of the Valley and will begin moving through our adoption process. We are unable to call adopters of unclaimed strays if an owner comes forward after the adoption has been completed.
- Visit the shelter to look for your pet. Our staff will be happy to tell you if we have a pet matching yours. Multiple visits may be necessary.
- Check the stray cat page on our website daily here.
- Post a photo that clearly shows your pet on Bozeman Lost Pet Facebook page. Make sure to include the area where your pet was last seen and your contact information.
- Post a flyer with a picture of your pet around the area where the pet went missing.
- Please notify us when your pet is found. We like to hear the good news!
Helpful Hints
- Microchip your pet and make sure to keep your contact information current. Microchips are a great way to identify your pet and get them back home quickly.
- Get an I.D. tag for your pet’s collar and keep the information current.
View our stray cats here.
If you have found a dog:
- If possible, provide a safe, secure place for the animal to be contained while you contact police, animal control or the shelter.
- Please call City or County Animal Control for assistance.
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- Bozeman Animal Control: (406) 582-2000 ext. 2.
- Gallatin County Animal Control: (406) 582-2000 ext. 2.
- Belgrade Animal Control: (406) 388-4262.
- Madison County Sheriff’s Office: (406) 843-5301
- West Yellowstone Animal Control: (406) 646-7600
- Call the shelter: (406) 388-9399 ext. 201. If you have a way to contain the dog and want to keep it at your house, we will take a “found” report and have the owner call you directly to pick up the dog.
- Bring the dog to shelter to be scanned for a microchip. If you are unable to keep the dog until the owner can be located, we will gladly hold them at the shelter.
- Check the Bozeman Lost Pet Facebook page (or the lost pet Facebook page for your area) to see if the dog has been posted as missing.
- Post “found pet” flyers near where the dog was found.
- If you find the pet’s owner, please let us know. We always like to hear the good news!!
If you have found a healthy cat:
- Many owned cats have outdoor access. If the cat looks clean, well fed and healthy, it is most likely a cat who has an owner and is just making his rounds in his territory. When well-intentioned citizens bring these cats to a shelter, they have a less than 5% chance of being reunited with their owner. Before bringing a healthy “stray” cat to the shelter:
- Check the Bozeman Lost Pet Facebook page (or the lost pet Facebook page for your area) to see if the cat has been posted as missing.
- Call the shelter to see if anyone in your area has filed a report for a missing cat that matches the description of the one you found.
- Post a picture of the cat on your local lost pet Facebook page to see if anyone claims the cat.
- Most often these cats will return to their homes if given the chance.
- If you have questions, feel free to give us a call at (406) 388-9399.
If you found an injured/unhealthy cat:
- There are times when cats need our help. If you find a cat that is sick or injured, contact animal control for assistance. If possible, provide a safe, secure place for the cat to be contained while you contact the appropriate agency. Note, that some municipalities do not handle cats and will refer you to the shelter.
- Bozeman Animal Control: (406) 582-2000 ext. 2.
- Gallatin County Animal Control: (406) 582-2000 ext. 2.
- Belgrade Animal Control: (406) 388-4262.
- Madison County Sheriff’s Office: (406) 843-5301
- West Yellowstone Animal Control: (406) 646-7600
- Call the shelter (406) 388-9399 ext. 201. We have humane traps available for trapping sick or injured cats, if necessary.
- Check your local lost pets Facebook page to see if the cat has been posted as missing.
- If not, post a photo of the cat and make sure to include the area found.
- Bring the cat to HOV.
If you have found a litter of kittens:
- If the kittens are old enough to eat on their own, bring them to HOV.
- If the kittens are too young to be weaned and look healthy:
- Watch for mom from a distance for 8 – 10 hours for mom to return. If the kittens are sleeping and clean, mom has been caring for them and their best chance of survival is with her.
- Put out food and water for her so she doesn’t have to expend energy searching for food each day.
- When the kittens are 4 weeks old, they are old enough to be removed from mom. We can help you with foster to surrender or you can bring them to the shelter.
- Mom can be trapped and spayed, then returned to where you found her.
- If the kittens are dirty, crying or don’t appear healthy:
- Something may have happened to mom that has prevented her from returning to care for the kittens.
- If you decide to remove them, be prepared to care for them until you can get them to the shelter or another rescue. Newborn kittens require feeding every 2 hours around the clock.
- Make sure to keep the kittens warm. Cold kittens won’t eat and their health quickly declines.
- Call the shelter at (406) 388-9399 for more information.
To learn about Heart of the Valley’s TNR Program, click here.
