What to do if you have lost a pet

Shelter Hours

Tues - Fri, 9:30-5:30
Sat, 9:30-4:00
Adoptions stop 1/2 hour prior to closing.

Animal Services will be closed:

May 29-31
July 3-5
Sep 4-6
Nov 11
Nov 25-26
Dec 25-27

What to do if you:
Lost a pet	Need to reclaim your pet
Found a pet	Can no longer keep your pet

How do I find my lost pet?

Come to the shelter's Lost and Found Center so you can:

Look at photos of stray pets that are in the shelter.

Check the Found reports filed by the public who have found a stray pet and are keeping it at home.

File a Lost report so the public can contact you if they think they've found your pet.

From home you can:

Check the shelter's Lost Pet Hotline. The hotline is a brief description of all the stray animals that have come into the shelter over the previous four days. It is updated every morning.
Place an ad on Craig's List.
Place a lost ad in The Olympian classifieds.

Put up posters, including a photo, in the area where the pet was lost.

We recommend you check shelter listings at least every two days! By law, stray animals that are not claimed by their owners may be made available for adoption after being held in the shelter for 48 hours.

Also, please note that shelter staff are not able to check Lost and Found reports, or to identify animals over the phone. It is the owner's responsibility to identify their own pet in person.

Lost Pet Hotline: (360) 352-2510, option 5

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I found a pet...now what do I do?

If you have found a stray animal, he/she should be taken to the shelter closest to the location where the animal was found. This will increase the likelihood that the animal will be reunited with his/her family and safely returned home.

We provide service for Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and unincorporated Thurston County. If the pet was found somewhere else, please contact the animal shelter in the city/county it was found. If the animal is from our service area, you have several options:

If you wish to keep the pet while you are looking for the owner, please call the shelter at (360)352-2510 to leave a Found Pet Report. Staff will ask you a few questions, such as the breed of the animal, when and where you found it, and your contact information.
- Please consider bringing the pet to the Shelter to be scanned for an identification microchip and to be photographed. You do not have to leave the pet when you do so.
- Place an ad on Craig's List.
- Call The Olympian at (360)754-5454 to run a Found Pet ad.
- Place posters near the location you found the pet.
- Talk with your neighbors or people in the area you found the pet. They may have information about the pet's home.
If you do not wish to keep the pet, and the pet was found in our service area, you may bring it to our Shelter at 3120 Martin Way, Olympia. Directions and Hours If the pet was found outside our service area, please contact the shelter in the city/county it was found. Click here for a list of some nearby shelters.
If you have found a dog or any injured animal, you may call us at (360)352-2510 and ask that an Animal Control Officer pick it up.

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I think my pet is at the shelter. What do I need to do?

Please call or come to the Shelter immediately--pets can be reclaimed even when we're closed! By law, unclaimed pets may be made available for adoption 48 hours after arriving at the Shelter.

We cannot identify pets over the phone, so it is important that you or a family member or friend come to the Shelter to see if your pet is here. Directions and Hours
While at the Shelter, you will also need to look at the Found Pet report that lists animals that people have found in the community but not brought to the shelter.
If your pet is here, you can reclaim your pet by paying the appropriate reclaim, kenneling and license fees. When the shelter is closed, you may reclaim your pet by calling (360)352-2510 and following the instructions for an animal emergency.
If your pet is not here, please see How do I find my lost pet?

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I can't keep my pet anymore. What are my options?

There are so many homeless pets in our community--we encourage you to try and work through issues with your pet by by getting help from your veterinarian, a pet behaviorist or even friends. Many times, alternative solutions can be found other than surrendering your pet. Can We Help You Keep Your Pet? offers solutions to some of the issues you might be experiencing.

If you decide you cannot keep your pet, please try the following before surrendering your pet to the shelter:

List your pet in The Olympian's pet section of the classified ads, by calling (360)754-5454.
Place an ad on Craig's List.
Make a poster using your pet's information and picture and place it in our notebook of "Pets Looking for a New Home." Also place the poster at local pet stores and feed stores.
Call the Shelter to see if anyone on our Wish List is looking for your particular type of pet. People on our Wish List are mainly looking for small breed dogs and purebred dogs and cats.
If you have a purebred dog (no papers necessary), contact Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue at (206) 654-1117 or www.spdrdogs.org, or look up other breed rescue groups on the internet.
Check with your vet, friends, family and neighbors to see if they know of anyone who might take your pet.
Rebecca's Rainbow is a resource for terminally or critically ill pet owners to find safe placement for their beloved pets.

The Shelter will accept your pet but we cannot guarantee we will be able to find it a home. We receive 165 animals each week, and often do not have space to keep animals. There is a fee to leave your pet, and you will be asked to complete and sign a release form. Please call for more information prior to bringing your pet to the shelter. Directions and Hours

What to do if you: