I FOUND A PET

Thank you for caring about the animals in our community! The Humane Society of Mason County is a foster-based nonprofit. We do not have the capacity to take in every stray animal.

If you believe an animal to be lost/stray and wish to help, here are some tips to keep in mind.

Lost pets are usually no more than one mile from their homes, and most are more likely to return home and be reunited with their families when they are not removed from their neighborhood. Is the pet actually lost? Many people allow their indoor cats to go outdoors, and some cats live entirely outdoors. If you see a wandering cat, it most likely lives within walking/roaming distance. 

Unless a pet is in immediate danger, sick or injured, it is best to leave them alone. You can still help reunite them with their family by following the tips below.

TIPS FOR REUINITING PETS & PEOPLE

Stay Safe: Be mindful of your safety and the safety of others. Do not chase after an animal in/around traffic. Be wary of unknown animals as frightened animals might scratch or even bite.
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Check Identification: Is the pet wearing a collar with a tag? If so, contact the number on their tag to help reunite them with their owner. If the pet only has a rabies tag, please contact the veterinary clinic that administered the vaccine. Please don't assume that a wet, dirty animal has no loving home. An animal can start looking rough very quickly in our climate, and a loving owner might be desperately looking for them.

Talk to Neighbors: If they don't have a tag, please contact the people in the general area to see if they are aware who the animal belongs to. If you've found a dog, try walking them around the neighborhood to see if anyone recognizes them. Typically, an animal does not stray too far from home. 

Check for a Microchip: Take the pet to any vet office or animal shelter to check for a microchip. A microchip is a rice-sized implant that has a number on it that can be tracked to the owner, provided the owner has the chip registered with current contact information.

Spread the Word: Take a photo and share it and a description of the pet and where you found them.
  • Word of Mouth - Remember that not all neighbors will utilize social media or be on community email lists. When possible, go door to door in the area where the pet was found to help locate the owner.

  • Neighborhood Communications - Share that you have found a pet using your community Facebook or email list, You may also want to post on Nextdoor.
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  • Petco Love Lost - HSMC partners with Petco Love to help reunite pets and their people. Petco Love Lost is a free, easy-to-use lost-and-found tool that unifies lost and found pet listings from across the country—including posts from thousands of animal welfare organizations, Nextdoor, and Neighbors by Ring—into one searchable database. The platform uses photo-matching AI to help reunite pets by comparing images of lost pets with those of found pets. 

  • Facebook - Post to the lost and found Facebook groups in your area. In Mason County, you may wish to report to Lost & Found Pets of Mason County. and Mason County Washington Lost & Found Pets. These groups have helped reunite many lost pets with their owners. 
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  • Post flyers - You can also print flyers to post in the area. Canva offers a Lost Pet Template that you can modify to be suitable for a found pet.
Kitten Care: It is common for mother cats to leave their kittens unattended for a period of time. A kitten's best chance of surviving and thriving is to stay with their mom who provides vital nutrients and critical antibodies through her milk and necessary anogenital grooming, which stimulates elimination.

​When at all possible, we want to keep the mom and kittens together until the babies are weaned. If you find kittens, please assess the situation. Determine if the kittens are ill or injured and in need of immediate care or if the mother cat has not returned within several hours. If the mom is still taking care of the kittens and everyone appears in good health, it's best to allow the mom to continue caring for her babies.

Please reach out to our office for guidance on next steps.
If you believe the animal to be in an unsafe situation, is ill or injured, are unable to locate their owner, and/or have the animal in your possession and need assistance, please consider seeking assistance from us or your local veterinarian.

If you have the pet in your possession, cannot locate their owner and cannot provide care, please complete a Stray Surrender form and we'll respond as quickly as we're able. The Humane Society of Mason County is a foster-based nonprofit. We do not have the capacity to take in every stray animal.

If the pet was found within the Shelton city limits, please contact the Shelton Animal Shelter. ​