Found a Pet?

When a pet is found in Truth or Consequences, quick action helps reunite it with its family and reduces the number of animals entering the shelter. The City encourages residents to follow the steps below to ensure the animal’s safety and give its owner the best chance of locating it.

What To Do If You’ve Found a Pet
If you’ve found a stray dog or cat within city limits, please take the following steps:

• Check for identification — Look for a collar, tag, or phone number. Many pets are reunited within minutes when a finder makes direct contact with the owner.
• Contact Animal Services — Call to report the found pet so staff can log it in the citywide system. This helps match your report with any active lost‑pet cases.
• Have the pet scanned for a microchip — Code Enforcement, the local veterinarian, and the shelter can scan for a chip at no cost.
• Provide temporary care if safe to do so — If the animal is friendly and you’re able, keeping it temporarily often reduces stress and increases the chance of a quick reunion.
• Share the pet’s photo — Post on local community pages, neighborhood groups, and lost‑and‑found pet networks. Clear photos and the location found are especially helpful.

• Injured or sick animals
• Aggressive or unsafe behavior
• Animals found in dangerous locations
• Animals without shelter, water, or in distress

Animal Services will dispatch an officer to ensure the animal’s safety and determine next steps.

Bringing a Found Pet to the Shelter
If you cannot keep the animal temporarily or the owner cannot be located quickly, you may bring the pet to the City of Truth or Consequences Animal Shelter during operating hours. Staff will:

• Check for a microchip
• Log the animal as “found”
• Hold the pet for the required stray‑hold period
• Work to reunite it with its owner

The shelter’s goal is always to return pets home whenever possible.

Why Reporting a Found Pet Matters
Reporting a found pet helps:

• Match the animal with existing lost‑pet reports
• Reduce unnecessary shelter intake
• Ensure the pet receives proper care
• Reunite families faster

Even if you plan to hold the pet temporarily, letting the City know is an important step in the process.