Suffolk County Sheriff Launches 'Lost Pet Network' Database

ISLIP, NY — Local officials are taking action to protect our four-legged friends.

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr., Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter and Suffolk County SPCA Chief Roy Gross announced on Tuesday the creation of Suffolk County’s first ever Lost Pet Network.

Through the program, pet owners will be added to a county-wide, pet database. Each pet is assigned a unique number that will link to the database, so the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office can quickly share identifying information.

Suffolk pet owners will also receive a free physical identification card.

“As Suffolk County Sheriff my priority is keeping residents safe, and that extends to the four-legged members of our communities," said Sheriff Toulon.

If a registered pet is reported missing, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office will send an alert and share identifying information with Deputy Sheriffs and local municipalities. Any enrolled pets that go missing will also be posted on a designated website and on the Sheriff’s social media pages.

In order to participate, residents will need to fill out a brief form and provide a clear picture of the pet. The information collected will include breed, address, contact information and any medical needs.

The American Humane Society estimates that each year, about 10 million pets are lost in the United States. Tragically, only 15 percent of dogs and 2 percent of cats in shelters without microchips are reunited with their owners.

“This is another valuable tool that can assist pet owners when locating a lost pet. We commend Sheriff Toulon for creating this worthwhile program, and look forward to its success,” said Islip Supervisor, Angie Carpenter.

For more information on how to enroll or to view missing pets, click here.