Lost and Found Pets
One of the most rewarding services provided by the Humane Society of Central Washington is the successful reunion of lost pets with their owners.
Looking for Your Missing Pet?
- Come to the Shelter immediately! Save time by filling out a Lost Pet Report on-line, but please know that you need to physically come to the Shelter and search for your lost pet! Posting your lost report online is not a substitute for coming into the shelter to look for your pet! Our online database is provided to the public as a courtesy - we do not guarantee the accuracy of the listings. While at the Shelter your report will be compared with the found reports taken over the phone.
"In 2006 the staff cared for more than 7,000 animals. You know the identifying marks on your pets much better than we do. By coming to the shelter you will help find your pet more quickly. We thank you for your understanding."
- Check with neighbors, especially area children.
- You can also download a Lost Pet Flyer (powered by FidoFinder.com - which is also an excellent place to post your lost pet) to post around your neighborhood. Please be as detailed and descriptive as possible, every detail can help!
- Place ads in local newspapers and watch for any found ads that might match the description of your animal.
- Visit HSCW at least every 2 days. We will check our in-house logs each time you visit. Please do not call, come to the shelter and physically look for your Pet. On average, we have more than 100 animals in our facility on any given day. You know the identifying marks on your pets much better than we do.
- Don't give up. It may take months to locate a missing pet.
- Call HSCW if your pet is found.
When you have found your missing pet - take steps to ensure your beloved companion never gets lost again, or if they do that they can be quickly and safely returned to you!
- Have your animal microchipped! A microchip acts as an added insurance policy and will help reunite lost animals with their owners, even if the animal somehow slips their collar. HSCW can currently only microchip animals that come through our facility - the cost is only $30.00 and national registration is free. If your animal was not found at our facility, please contact one of the many Local Veterinarians to get your animal microchipped.
- Put a collar with ID and a license on the animal so that it can be traced back and returned to you.
- Spay or Neuter your pet to reduce roaming and not add to the overpopulation problem.
- Make sure your cat stays inside unless on a leash or in a supervised area.
- Make sure when your dog is outside it is in a fenced yard or on a leash.
Did You Find Someone's Lost Pet?
- Bring the animal into the Shelter or to a Local Veterinary Clinic and have it scanned for a microchip. Microchips are usually located between the shoulder blades, and you wouldn't ever know that it was there!
- Call the Shelter immediately to place a found report over the telephone, (509) 457-6854. Even better, bring the animal to the shelter and we will gladly photograph the animal to include in the found report.
- After contacting the Shelter, you can keep the animal at your home while still looking for the owner, for up to 30 days from the date that you found it. You may at anytime during the 30 days bring the animal to the Shelter as a found animal/stray. If after 30 days the original owner still is not found, the animal must be licensed, neutered and vaccinated, as a newly acquired pet.
- Call the Yakima Herald Republic to place a free ad in the classified section, (509) 452-7355.
- Call the Shelter if the animal is returned to their owner.
