you’ve found an animal

now what?

You’ve found an animal, now what?

  • Check the animal for a collar and tags

  • Ask your neighbors to see if anyone recognizes the animal.

  • Post a photo and description of the animal on social media.

  • Walk or drive around the neighborhood to see if an owner is out looking for their animal.

  • Call the non-emergency county sheriff to report the animal found, maybe the owner has reported it lost already

    • Ramsey Co., MN

    • Washington Co., MN 651-439-9381

    • Pierce Co., WI 715-273-5051

    • St. Croix Co., WI 715-386-4701

  • Call Companion Animal Control

    715-220-1332

How can I help find the owner of the animal I found?

Call Companion Animal Control, once we pick up the animal it will be scanned for a chip, examined for illness, disease or injuries & posted online. You can help by sharing the animal’s impound post from our website or Facebook page. Sharing the post on social media, email, text, etc. will help to spread the word that an animal has been found, thus increasing the chances of finding an owner.

I found an animal, can I keep it or give to someone to hold onto?

No, it’s not that simple. Animals are legally defined as ‘property’, so finding an animal does not mean you become the ‘owner’ or ‘keeper’. Additionally, both Minnesota & Wisconsin have statutes (see below) and local ordinances requiring an animal to wait out a stray holding period at the contracted impound facility to allow the owner a chance to find and claim their animal. Animals waiting out a stray hold at one central impound ensures animals are safe and provides the owner with the best opportunity to reclaim. Waiting out a stray hold in your home does not result in ownership when the city/town the animal was found in contracts for animal control services.

WI 951.03 Dognapping and Catnapping: No person may take the dog or cat of another from one place to another without the owner’s consent or cause such a dog or cat to be confined or carried out of this state or held for any purpose without the owner’s consent. This section does not apply to law enforcement officers or humane officers engaged in the exercise of their official duties. Violation is a Class C Forfeiture.

How long is the stray hold and what happens when the stray hold is done?

The stray hold in Wisconsin is 4-7 days & in Minnesota is 5 business days. At all impound locations animals are evaluated for adoption placement, we get acquainted with the animal during the stray hold so that we can help the rescue find the best foster home fit for each animal. Animals sleep on a warm bed, in a quiet area, with fresh food, water and lots of play time outside. They also receive any essential veterinary care. After the stray hold animals go into foster homes to search for a new adoptive home. You can even apply to foster the animal with the rescue!

After the stray hold, can I adopt the animal?

Yes, through a partner rescue. At the end of their stray hold, unclaimed animals are sent to local 501c3 partner rescues. Contact us and we can let you know what rescue the animal went to so you can submit an adoption application. That way, the animal will be up-do-date on vet work and your adoption will become legal ownership.