Southern Pines Animal Shelter

THE SHELTER IS ONLY REQUIRED TO HOLD PETS FOR 5 DAYS -- YOUR PET COULD BE ADOPTED OUT OR EVEN EUTHANIZED IF YOU DON'T COME FOR HIM/HER!

The Shelter received 8,794 lost and unwanted pets in 2009. We are already operating at double-capacity, with one dog on the inside and one on the outside of each run (designed to be inside/outside runs). Each day at the Shelter, animals are continuously being brought in by animal wardens, citizens who have found animals, and pet owners who have decided that they don't want to keep their pet. In a 4-week period this spring we received over 1,000 animals!

• Walk and drive your neighborhood looking for your pet. Put up signs in your neighborhood and within a several mile radius.
• Contact the Southern Pines Animal Shelter and file a Lost Report. Be prepared to provide our staff with a detailed description of your animal, including where the animal was last seen, color of collar, and type of tags.

• Visit the Southern Pines Animal Shelter and look for your pet (bring a photo if possible) We urge you to visit the shelter in person to identify your pet; our staff may not recognize your pet by your telephone description.
• Make a "lost" poster with your pet's photo on it and post it at the Shelter
• Expand your "lost" signs through the community. Post "lost" notices at all area veterinarian clinics (FAX description or make poster with pet's photo)
• Send out the information on Facebook and to all of your email friends

• Call the local newspaper and run a free "lost" ad

• Continue to visit the Animal Shelter every 2 - 3 days to see if your pet has been picked up or turned in. Your pet could end up at the Shelter the very day he's lost, or he may wander for weeks before being picked up and brought to the shelter. The Shelter's policy is to hold lost and stray pets for at least 5 working days, after which they may be adopted to a new owner or euthanized. The Shelter usually has a full house, with over 200 animals --- therefore kennel space is limited.
• Check the PetFinder Web site to see if your pet is listed. We take photos on Wednesdays of many, but not all, animals at the Shelter and post them on the PetFinder site. Contact the Shelter immediately if you see your pet's picture on the PetFinder site.

• Collar and ID Tag: Provide your pet with a collar and a current identification tag (expandable safety collar for cats) including your name, address, and telephone number. A collar and tag is an easy way for anyone in the community to return your pet to you. People are more likely to pick up a pet with a collar.
• Microchip: Because collars can come off, you should also have your pet microchipped as a form of permanent identification. The Animal Shelter and veterinarian offices have the device to "read" the microchip and identify the owner of the animal.
• Keep current photos of your pet.