If you found the pet in the cities of san Jose, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Milpitas, or Saratoga, you can surrender the animal to the San José Animal Care Center at no charge.  We will make them available for immediate viewing. If you are unable to transport the animal or feel that to do so may endanger your safety you can call us to pick-up the animal from you.

Instead of dropping off the animal at the shelter, you can elect to house the animal at your home while the animal is waiting to be reunited with its owner. If you opt to shelter the animal in your home, please do the following:

• If the animal is wearing a Rabies or license tag, call the phone number on the tag to identify the owners.
• Bring the animal to the Surrender Desk 7am - 9pm every day at the San Jose Animal Care Center to file a "Found Pet Report". This will allow us to scan for a microchip, take a picture and display the animal online and in our shelter binders for potential owners to find.
• Scan the animal for a microchip. Veterinarians, shelters, and many pet stores have microchip scanners.
• Place a "Pet Found" advertisement in the newspaper or online.
• Post flyers around your neighborhood and/or in the area you found the animal.
• Look under the "Lost Pet" ads and see if there are any matches.

After 30 days, you must license the animal yourself to continue to house it. Please note that even in this case, if the original owner resurfaces at any time and wishes to reclaim the animal, they may legally do so by reimbursing all costs incurred during the time you housed the animal.