PawAlarm

Lost dog in Philadelphia?Emergency help to bring your dog home fast.

Every hour counts – we get going right away and alert thousands of neighbors around the spot where your dog went missing. Every sighting comes straight to you.

Start an alert

How it works

Within 60 minutes, thousands of neighbors see your pet: we put your alert on Facebook and Instagram, right around the spot where it went missing.

Every sighting reaches you instantly – by email and in your personal dashboard.

Start your alert now

Start for free · live on in 60 min

4.8· 247 reviews1200+ pets back home
Map of PawAlarm's search radius around Philadelphia

How PawAlarm helps in Philadelphia

This circle is who sees the alert: people who live, walk and drive around the last-seen spot in Philadelphia — not your friends list. A neighbour two streets over, or someone passing through from the next town, is the person most likely to notice your dog.

≈ 1,300,000 neighbours within 6.2 mi
  • MaxReunited

    Max

    Found after 4 days

  • LillyReunited

    Lilly

    Found after 6 days and 6 hours

  • WillowReunited

    Willow

    Found after 1 month and 1 week

  • MatsReunited

    Mats

    Found after 1 day

  • CashewReunited

    Cashew

    Found after 2 months and 2 weeks

OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors

Local help in Philadelphia

These local services can help you search for a missing pet in Philadelphia.

Animal control & found pets

24h emergency vets3

Animal shelters3

Local search groups3

National lost & found registries5

Sources:[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

What your PawAlarm alert does in Philadelphia

The moment you start, we run your pet as a Facebook, Instagram & TikTok ad the whole neighbourhood sees — here is exactly what you get.

What you get

  • Free poster template (PDF)Print-ready PDF – ready to put up right away.Free
  • Personal dashboard – manage sightings & contact findersOne link, no password: every sighting, message and finder's phone number in one place.Free
  • Professionally optimised social-media campaignWe design, run & optimise the ads – no ad account needed.Professional
  • Private detective: shelters, vets & lost-pet registries alerted nearbyWe report your pet to shelters, vets, registries and Facebook groups nearby.Professional
Start an alert
VISAPayPayKlarna

First steps if you lose your dog in Philadelphia

  1. 1

    Search outward along roads, paths and fields — a dog can cover several kilometres in the first few hours.

    Tip from locals

    Search outward through West Fairmount Park, about 1.4 miles away, then along the Delaware River, roughly 1.5 miles off, since a dog can cover a lot of ground in the first hours.

  2. 2

    Call the shelter, the local police and nearby vets straight away: a loose dog is usually picked up and handed in quickly.

    Tip from locals

    Call the 15 vet practices within about 3 miles, nearest first, and the local police straight away.

  3. 3

    Ask people not to chase or shout — a frightened dog runs. Crouch down, avoid eye contact and call calmly.

    Tip from locals

    Ask people in East Fairmount Park and Cramer Hill Waterfront Park not to chase or shout, but to watch and call.

  4. 4

    Leave something carrying your scent, plus water, where he went missing, and check back regularly.

    Tip from locals

    Put the scent item on the quieter side, away from I 76, a busy road about 0.9 miles away.

  5. 5

    Report him to the microchip registry and start a targeted alert that reaches the whole neighbourhood at once.

    Tip from locals

    Tell people in Logan Square (north-west, about 0.4 miles), Rittenhouse (south-west, about 0.5 miles) and Poplar (north-east, about 1.1 miles) so your dog is included.

Frequently asked questions

How does PawAlarm help if my dog goes missing in Philadelphia?

PawAlarm turns your missing-pet report into a search alert on Facebook and Instagram. It is shown to the people who live and get around near the spot where your dog was last seen – within 1 mi of Philadelphia, that's about 78,000 people. The alert goes live within 60 minutes. Anyone who spots your dog reports the sighting on your search page, and you get it by email straight away.

What should I do first when my dog goes missing?

Note the last-seen place and time, prepare a clear photo, and contact local animal services, shelters and vets. Ask people to report sightings with a location and time, so you can follow up on useful information.

Lost Dog: What to Do in the First 24 Hours
How much does an alert cost in Philadelphia?

Alerts in Philadelphia start from $49. The price follows how far your alert reaches around the last-seen spot in Philadelphia: 1 mi reaches about 78,000 people for $88, 1.8 mi reaches about 200,000 people for $300, and 3 mi reaches about 460,000 people for $790. You see the exact price before you pay, and there is no subscription.

Can I use PawAlarm in Philadelphia for free?

Yes. A printable search poster with a QR code, your own search page where finders report sightings, sightings straight to your inbox and a personal dashboard with search tips are all free. You only pay for reach: the alert on Facebook and Instagram around Philadelphia – a one-off payment, no subscription.

Where is the nearest animal shelter to Philadelphia?

For Philadelphia, we list Pennsylvania SPCA. Address: 350 E. Erie Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19134. Phone: (215) 426-6300. Call before you go and ask about animals brought in recently.

How long does ACCT Philly hold stray dogs and cats in Philadelphia?

Dogs are held for 48 hours, or 5 days if microchipped, before they can potentially go to an adopter or rescue. There is no legally required stray hold for cats, although ACCT Philly tries to reach the owner if the cat is microchipped or has tags.

Source · checked Oct 6, 2026

What does it cost to reclaim a pet from ACCT Philly in Philadelphia?

The reclaim fee is $20 per day, plus $15 for each vaccine and $20 for a microchip if needed. A dog license can be bought at reclaim for $16 (spayed/neutered) or $40 (not spayed/neutered). Fees for urgent medical care or frequent strays may be added.

Source · checked Oct 6, 2026

I found a dog in Philadelphia — who takes it in?

Found animals in Philadelphia are handled by Animal Care & Control Team of Philadelphia (ACCT Philly). Address: 111 W. Hunting Park Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19140. Phone: (267) 385-3800. You can also report the find for free on PawAlarm.

More questions about lost dogs →

Pricing

Searching in Philadelphia: start for free or alert everyone nearby

The search poster and search page for your dog are free. With Professional, we show your alert to about 78,000 people within 1 mi of Philadelphia – on Facebook and Instagram, live in 60 minutes.

Free

Everything for searching on the ground

$0

  • Printable search poster with QR code
  • Your own search page where finders report sightings
  • Sightings straight to your inbox
  • Personal dashboard and search tips
Start for free
Recommended

Professional

Put the whole area on the lookout

from $49one-time

Philadelphia: ≈ 78,000 neighbours within 1 mi

  • Everything in Free
  • Your alert in front of thousands of neighbors on Facebook and Instagram
  • Live in 60 minutes – stop anytime
  • Private detective: we alert shelters, vets and Facebook groups nearby
Start an alert
VISAPayPayKlarna

One-time payment – no subscription.

Helpful guides

Close-up of a frightened dog — a lost dog can slip into panicked survival mode

Lost Dog: What to Do in the First 24 Hours

A calm, step-by-step action plan for the first 24 hours after your dog goes missing.

7 min read

A small dog sitting alone at the edge of a field, looking into the distance

How to Find a Lost Dog: A Step-by-Step Search Plan

The complete search plan for a lost dog, from setting your search radius and searching without chasing to posters, alerts, feeding stations and the weeks after.

9 min read

An anxious dog hiding under a blanket — typical during fireworks and thunderstorms

Dog Ran Away Scared: What to Do When Your Dog Bolts in Panic

Why panicked dogs run blind and far — and how to bring a scared dog home instead of accidentally driving it further away.

8 min read

Close-up of a dog's face — a clear photo makes the best lost-pet poster

How to Make a Lost-Pet Poster That Actually Works

A poster that works needs one big photo, one huge word, and only the essentials. Here is exactly how to build and place it.

7 min read

A hand holding a phone with social media apps

How to Use Facebook and Nextdoor to Find a Lost Pet

How to post on Facebook and Nextdoor so your appeal actually reaches the right people — and where free organic posts run out of reach.

8 min read

Shown on to ~1,300,000 neighbours in Philadelphia.

Start an alert