PETS CURRENTLY ON STRAY HOLD
​Stray hold is 5 days. Animals held for more than 24 hours are subject to fines/fees.

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To claim your lost pet, please call our office 360-275-9310. An HSMC volunteer will return your call the next business day. 

Business hours:  Monday - Friday, 9am - 1pm

The Humane Society of Mason County does not have a shelter facility. All stray pets are in foster homes with qualified volunteers. HSMC can only help with stray pets​ on a case by case basis. 

​After a 5 day stray hold, unclaimed pets will be spayed/neutered and then available for adoption. Available pets are listed on our Adopt page.

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. Unfortunately, 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.

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.

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.
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. If you are on Facebook, there are many lost/found pet groups you can post to, including Lost & Found Pets of Mason County. and Mason County Washington Lost & Found Pets. These groups have helped reunite many lost pets with their owners. You can also print flyers to post in the area. Canva offers a Lost Pet Template.

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

MY PET IS LOST

We're sorry your pet is missing! We know you want to do everything you can to be reunited. All stray pets with HSMC will be listed above. The Humane Society of Mason County is a foster-based organization; we do not have a physical shelter building to house stray pets.

Check Inside the Home: Cats, in particular, can hide easily within the home. If you didn't see them run off and there is a possibility they might still be inside, check every possible hiding spot, including the dryer, cabinets and under the beds.

Search the Area Repeatedly: Search the vicinity as often as you can. Check all possible hiding places. Most pets don't initially wander far from home, especially cats. Talk in a calm, natural voice. Refrain from calling out their name as this could force them further into hiding. Once dark, use a flashlight to look for light reflecting in the animal's eyes. Don't forget to look up, as cats could be in a tree or on top of a structure.

Reach out to Neighbors: If your pet went missing from home, contact your neighbors, asking them to keep an eye out. If you lost your pet while out hiking in a park or elsewhere, speak with people who live in the area. Make sure they have your contact information so they can contact you if they find your pet. Post to your neighborhood Facebook group or email listserv, if you have it, or onto NextDoor, 

Check Security Cameras: Ask neighbors to check for sightings on their home cameras and any trail cameras they may have. Make a record of any sightings, the date and time to see if there is a pattern of movement. This will be helpful in determining where a trap should be placed, if one is needed. 

Update Microchip Information: Call to ensure your microchip contact information is current and to report your pet as missing.

Additional Suggestions: Place your dirty/worn clothing outside your home where your pet might travel. Leave the gate open and raise the garage door. You might want to leave your pet's bedding in the garage along with water. Setting out your cat's dirty litter box is NOT recommended. Please seek professional advice prior to attempting to trap your pet.
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Spread the Word: Share a photo and a description of your pet and the general area where you think they might be. You can also print flyers to post in the area. Canva offers a Lost Pet Template. Consider placing your flyer on large neon poster board for greater visibility.

Facebook: 
Lost & Found Pets of Mason County
Mason County Washington Lost & Found Pets

Petco Love Lost

Check other Local Organizations:
City of Shelton Animal Shelter  (360) 427-7503
Kitsap Humane Society (360) ​692-6977

Loss Prevention for Dogs: This article by Lost Dogs of King County provides helpful information for loss prevention and recovery.