Lost Pets

If you realize your pet is lost, don’t panic. There are many things you can do.

Police from surrounding villages bring stray pets to our shelter. Hinsdale Humane Society has stray holding contracts with several area villages: Brookfield, Burr Ridge, La Grange, La Grange Park, Oak Brook, and Western Springs. Strays from these villages are brought to the shelter until they can be reunited with their owners. If they are unclaimed after five days, they may be placed in our adoption program.

Call us at 630-323-5630 to see if your pet has been brought to HHS.

Strays at HHS

We make every effort to reunite stray animals with their owners, including:

  • Tracking down microchip information
  • Investigating local and out-of-state tag information

What to Do If Your Pet Goes Missing

  • Immediately call local and neighboring shelters and animal care and control facilities to see if your pet has been brought there (see list below). Many of these facilities also post information about strays on their websites, so check there too. Some facilities require you to visit in person. Bring a photo of your pet. Be aware that sometimes pets are held in non-public parts of the facility. Continue contacting shelters every 2 to 3 days until your pet is found. Contact animal care and control facilities daily.
  • Immediately contact local and neighboring police departments (see list below). Continue contacting every 2 to 3 days until your pet is found.
  • Immediately start looking for your pet. The sooner you start, the better your chances of success. Begin looking at the point where the animal was last seen.
  • Check backyards, streets, and garages. Search during the day, and also at night. Cats often hide during the day in small sheltered places such as under porches, behind garbage cans, under cars, in sheds, in boxes, and in window wells. Cats climb so also look up in trees or on house tops. Dogs are often drawn to parks, woods, or school yards.
  • Notify neighbors, deliverymen, newspaper carriers, and sanitation workers.
  • Check local fast food restaurants, ice cream parlors, and other places where people might congregate.
  • Check the local grooming shops for breeds that require grooming.
  • Leave food and water outside your door to attract your pet.
  • Put out a box containing an unwashed item of your clothing in a protected area of the yard to attract the pet to your scent.
  • Create a poster using a clear photograph and post it at neighborhood places such as grocery stores, schools, laundromats, pet stores, and veterinarian offices. Use ink that won’t run if it rains.
  • Post a free ad for your pet on the following Lost Pet websites:

Paw Boost

Petco Love Lost

Find Toto

Lost Dogs Illinois

  • Place notices in any and all social meda accounts, including your local NextDoor.
  • Ask your neighbors if they can see anything on their Ring cameras.
  • When you find your pet, remove any posters and website postings. Also contact shelters, police stations, and neighbors to let them know your pet has been found.

Safeguard Your Pet

  • Make sure your dog wears a collar with a license and ID tag.
  • Keep your dog on a leash unless it is in a fenced yard.
  • Make your cat an “inside” cat.
  • Get your cat a collar with an ID tag and license (if required) since no house is escape-proof.
  • Have your vet implant a microchip. This helps ensure the return of your pet even if its collar has become lost.
  • Neuter your pet to reduce its urge to roam.

Important Contacts

Facility

Phone

Address

Anderson Animal Shelter (Kane County)

630-697-2880

1000 S. La Fox Road,
South Elgin, IL 60177

Animal Welfare League Chicago

773-667-0088

6224 S. Wabash,
Chicago, IL 60637

Animal Welfare League Chicago Ridge

708-636-8586

10305 Southwest Highway,
Chicago Ridge, IL 60415

Bolingbrook Animal Control

630-759-0332

145 Royce Road,
Bolingbrook, IL 60440

City of Chicago Animal Care & Control

312-747-1406

2741 S. Western Ave,
Chicago, IL 60608

Cook County Animal Control

708-974-6140

10220 S. 76th Ave #251
Bridgeview, IL 60455

DuPage Animal Control

630-407-2800

120 N. County Farm Road,
Wheaton, IL 60187

Hinsdale Humane Society

630-323-5630

21 Salt Creek Lane,
Hinsdale, IL 60521

Joliet Animal Control

815-726-4781

175 W. Jefferson Street,
Joliet, IL 60432

Naperville Area Humane Society

630-420-8989

1620 W Diehl Road,
Naperville, IL 60563

Burr Ridge Police Department

630-323-8181

7660 South County Line Road #1,
Burr Ridge, IL 60527

Clarendon Hills Police Department

630-323-2151

448 Park Avenue,
Clarendon Hills 60514

Hinsdale Police Department

630-789-7070

121 Symonds Drive,
Hinsdale 60521

Western Springs Police Department

708-246-8540

740 Hillgrove,
Western Springs 60558

Indian Head Park Police Department

708-246-4534

201 Acacia Drive,
Indian Head Park 60525

LaGrange Police Department

708-579-2334

304 W. Burlington,
LaGrange 60525

LaGrange Park Police Department

708-352-2151

447 N. Catherine,
LaGrange Park 60526

Oak Brook Police Department

630-990-3030

1200 Oak Brook Road,
Oak Brook 60523

Willowbrook Police Department

630-325-2808

7760 Quincy Street,
Willowbrook 60527