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Cat Walking

Claiming Your Pet

Dogs and cats do like to get outside and romp. If your dog or cat decides to go exploring and is found and turned in to North Beach PAWS, here is how to reclaim your pet.

Is your pet at our shelter?  Let us know right away by contacting:

            Cats:  (360) 660-4659

            Dogs: (360) 660 4661

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  • We hold lost pets that don’t have identification (such as a microchip, name tag, or license tag) for three business days.

  • We hold lost pets that come in with identification for seven business days.

  • After the hold period is complete, the animal is considered abandoned and becomes the property of North Beach PAWS.

 

Bring a photo ID for yourself and any proof of ownership you have. We need to return the pet to the right person.

 

Be prepared to pay fees. Contact us to learn how much it may cost to claim your pet.  These fees might include the cost of boarding, vaccinations, parasite treatment, and veterinary fees incurred due to illness or injury at the time of intake. 

 

Spay or neuter and vaccinations. Vaccinations and/or parasite treatment may be administered upon intake as appropriate for the health of the pet. After the hold period is complete, unclaimed cats and dogs become the property of North Beach PAWS and normal shelter protocols concerning vaccinations and spay/neuter surgery will be scheduled.

 

Establish your ownership rights through the following:

 

  • Registration with local animal authorities. This is not always mandatory with local authorities, but even if it isn’t, it could help you prove ownership.

  • Veterinary records. Keep your pet’s veterinary and vaccination records up to date and keep those updated records ready.

  • Microchipping. If your pet is not microchipped, consider having this done.

  • Tags. Keep an appropriate collar with ownership or rabies tags on your pet.

  • Recent photos of your pet. Print a photo, which is also useful for distributing to local shelters and posting elsewhere to help locate your pet.

  • Adoption or purchase records. You may view your pet as a member of the family, but animal law views them as personal property. This means you need proof of legal ownership.  If your pets are shared with someone else – relatives, unmarried individuals, or roommates – make sure the law is on your side.  Have something in writing that states who the owner or owners are.

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