Local municipalities contract with our shelter to take in the strays picked up in their territory. It is important to call or email us a lost animal report as soon as you find your pet is missing. You must also report any animal you have found running at large so that it may be returned to its legal owner. Our office staff maintains a record of every lost or found pet reported to our shelter. Animals brought in to our shelter as strays are checked for I.D. and scanned for microchips in order to reunite them with their owners as soon as possible. Pets can be microchipped at our facility without appointment (more info about microchips here).
If you have LOST a pet
Please contact your local Animal Control Office, Police Department and other local shelters (see list below) as well as filling out a Lost & Found Report so that we will have the information on record if a call is received about the animal. While our staff makes every attempt to match up missing animals with those animals in our facility, you will know your dog better than we will. We advise you to VISIT the shelter to walk the building to make sure that your animal is NOT here. If possible, please bring a photo of the animal with you so that the office staff may attach the photo to your lost report. Visit the shelter as often as possible, but AT LEAST every 6 days.
If you have Found a pet
Please contact your local Animal Control Office, Police Department and other local shelters (see list below) as well as filling out a Lost & Found Report so that we will have the information on record if a call is received about the animal. Bring the animal to our shelter as soon as you have the chance so that the animal can be scanned for a microchip. You will also be asked to leave the pet in our custody so that it’s rightful owner has every chance to claim the animal. While we understand that you may want to keep the animal & try to find it’s owner, by law any stray animal must be surrendered to the local shelter so that all laws regarding making every attempt to find the rightful owner can be followed. You can be charged with pet theft, which is a felony in NJ, if you are found with an animal that you have found & failed to comply with the many requirements set forth to make sure that every attempt is made to reunite the animal with it’s rightful owners. If you are interested in adopting the animal once it has been determined that no owner can be found, you will need to complete our adoption questionnaire & the animal will be cleared medically so that you are not putting your family or other pets in danger of bringing in a contagious disease.
If you fail to surrender the animal to your local shelter – while the animal is in your care, you are responsible for keeping the animal safe & contained. If any medical conditions arise you are required to seek treatment for the animal. You are also required to advertise in all reasonable forms (online, in newspapers & via fliers where the animal was found) that the animal was found & who the pet’s owner can contact to get their pet back. (please note: this in NJ law, not our rule. We do not enforce the law & show up at your door to take the animal, but it IS enforced by your local police department.)
| City/Township | County | Animal Control Name | Animal Control Phone | Contracting Shelter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Twp | Cumberland County | Shore Animal Control | 1-800-351-1822 | SJRAS |
| Downe Twp | Cumberland County | Shore Animal Control | 1-800-351-1822 | SJRAS |
| Lawrence Twp (Cedarville) | Cumberland County | Steve Serwatka | 609-861-2886 | SJRAS |
| Maurice River Twp | Cumberland County | Shore Animal Control | 1-800-351-1822 | SJRAS |
| Carney’s Point | Salem County | Ned Shimp | 856-769-3481 | SJRAS |
| Atlantic County Cities/Twps | Atlantic County | Atlantic County Animal Shelter | 609-485-2345 | SJRAS |
| Gloucester County | Gloucester County Animal Shelter | Atlantic County Animal Shelter | 856-881-2828 | Gloucester County Animal Shelter |
| Camden County Cities/Twps | Camden County | Camden County Animal Shelter | 856-401-1300 | Camden County Animal Shelter |
If your county, city, or township is not listed above, please contact your local municipal building or local police department to obtain information about animal control in your area.
This chart is kept as up to date as possible and yet things change sometimes without our knowledge. This information is not guaranteed to be accurate – please contact the facility or ACO directly to determine if the information is current & correct.