I’ve lost or found an animal

1. Fill out our lost pet form as quickly as possible so we can contact you if your pet arrives at the shelter.
2. Check out our found pets directory. If you think you recognize your pet, call us at 819-243-2004, ext. 27, or e-mail us at refuge@spcaoutaouais.ca.
3. Check out social networks, including the Facebook groups Lost and Found Pets in the Outaouais and Ottawa and Valley Lost Pet Network.
4. Check out the Ottawa Humane Society’s lost and found directories : cats or dogs.

The best way to make sure you’ll find your pet quickly if it ever gets lost is to make sure your furry companion is registered with his municipal licence and wearing his tag!

1. Take a quick look around the area where you found him, as his family may already be looking for him.
2. If the dog has a tag that allows you to contact the owner, please do so. If the tag doesn’t have a phone number, we can take care of that for you.
3. If the dog has no identification or the tag does not include contact information, contact us as soon as possible at 819-243-2004, ext. 23, or licences4@spcaoutaouais.ca.
4. If you are unable to approach the dog, call 311 (in Gatineau) or 819 243-2004.

Outside our opening hours, contact your local police department.

If the cat appears injured, contact us at 819-243-2004, ext. 32.

If the cat has a collar, is easy to approach, and appears to be in good physical condition (nice coat, healthy weight, clean, etc.), there is a good chance it has a family.

1. If the cat has a collar and the tag displays its family’s contact information, try to contact them.
2. Otherwise, you can take the cat to a veterinarian to check if it has a microchip that would allow you to reunite it with its family.
3. If you have seen the cat wandering around for several days, post its photo on social media and check Facebook groups for lost and found animals.

⚠️ This form is intended for stray cats that have been observed regularly and over a significant period of time. Do not fill out this form if you have only seen the cat once or briefly.

If none of these steps work, fill out our stray cat form.

Important: filling out this form does not automatically mean that an appointment will be scheduled. Our team will assess the situation and contact you within a few days. Stray cats are accepted by appointment only.

In case of an emergency outside of our business hours, please contact your local police department.

• A kitten’s best chance of survival is to stay with its mother for at least 8 weeks.
• You must avoid moving the kittens to avoid disturbing the mother, who may then stop caring for them.
• If you’re pretty sure that the mother no longer cares for the kittens, then only the best thing to do will be for your local shelter to take them in.
• In all cases, it’s a good idea to contact us in advance so that we can support you in this situation and plan to welcome the kittens and mother at the shelter when they are 8 weeks old.
• Fill out our stray cat form and indicate if it’s one or more kittens.
• If the kittens appear injured, contact us at 819-243-2004, ext. 32.

How to care for an orphaned kitten?

Have you decided to take care of orphaned kittens? Here’s a little guide to help you.

Unfortunately, the shelter is not equipped to take in wildlife animals.

The Quebec government recommends that you do not intervene if you find an injured, sick, or orphaned wildlife animal. To better understand why, check out:

• The brochure Wild animals don’t need your help!
• The webpage Living with Wildlife

Many baby wildlife animals are left alone during the day and are only fed in the evening or at night, so they are not necessarily abandoned, and moving them could separate them from their mothers at a critical time.

Contact SOS Braconnage – Urgence faune sauvage (1-800-463-2191, centralesos@mffp.gouv.qc.ca) if:

• A wild animal has attacked you.
• It represents a safety risk to you or others.
• You have found an injured or dead bird of prey.
• You are in the presence of an injured or confined (e.g., in a fenced-off area or pool) white-tailed deer, moose or black bear.

You can also check out the list of captive permit holders (region 07) (in French only) if you wish to contact an organization that can take in certain wildlife animals. This list is provided by the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs, and does not constitute an official recommendation by the SPCA de l’Outaouais.