Racine & Me: WHS tips for finding stray pets

 

RACINE, WI (CBS 58) -- What do you do if you find a stray dog? Jenna Crawford with the Wisconsin Humane Society tells us the proper protocol. 

Let’s talk about stray animals. What should people do if they find one?

A lot of people aren’t quite sure how to navigate finding a stray pet. First and foremost, if the animal has ID tags you’ll want to reach out to that contact and try to get them reunited as soon as possible. Otherwise, Wisconsin law requires you to bring strays to the city or town’s contracted shelter. In most of Racine County, the Wisconsin Humane Society is responsible for handling stray animals. That’s also the case in Ozaukee and Kenosha counties. In Milwaukee, it’s the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission, or MADACC. · Can’t you just keep an animal that you find? It’s actually illegal in Wisconsin to keep a stray animal you’ve found in your home. They should be taken to a shelter to give owners the best chance to locate and claim their lost pet. WHS posts all stray animals that come into our shelters on our website – and we do everything we can to get that animal back home. · How long does WHS keep stray animals? WHS holds stray animals for 5 days. After the hold has lapsed, ownership of the animal is transferred to the Wisconsin Humane Society and the animal can begin its journey to adoption. In most cases at WHS, finders are given the option to place an adoption hold on the animal at the time of intake, allowing you to be first in line for adoption if the animal is not claimed. Exceptions may be made due to severe medical or behavioral conditions.

If you’re still not quite sure what to do, or if you find a stray animal and you’ve forgotten how to help – what’s the best course of action? If you find a stray and you’re not sure what to do, contact your nearest humane society or non-emergency police line. For more information you can head to our website www.wihumane.org and click on the tab that says “Strays.”