Lost & Found Animals

When You’ve Lost Your Companion Animal

When a beloved companion animal strays from home it can be a traumatic experience for both you and your missing friend. Each day the Whatcom Humane Society receives many lost cats, dogs and other animals and we try our best to match them with reports of animals who are missing. We want to reunite as many strays as possible with their guardians.

PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO THE LARGE VOLUME OF ANIMALS THE WHATCOM HUMANE SOCIETY RECEIVES EACH DAY, WE CANNOT IDENTIFIY LOST PETS OVER THE PHONE OR VIA EMAIL COMMUNICATION.

YOU MUST VISIT OUR SHELTER FACILITIES AND LOOK FOR YOUR LOST PET.

If you hae lost your pet in the city limits of Bellingham, Blaine, Sumas, Ferndale or Everson, please visit our shelter at 3710 Williamson Way.
CLICK HERE FOR A MAP AND DIRECTIONS TO THE WILLIAMSON WAY FACILITY.

If you have lost your pet outside the above mentioned areas in Whatcom County, please visit our shelter at 1661 Baker Creek Place.
CLICK HERE FOR A MAP AND DIRECTIONS TO THE BAKER CREEK PLACE FACILITY

Tips for Finding Your Lost Animal

• Come in to WHS immediately to look for your animal. Attach a current color photo of your companion to the Lost Pet Report and be sure to note any distinctive markings.
  
  
• You are the only person who can identify your animal. It is critical that you come by WHS at least every other day. We hold stray animals for a minimum of five and a maximum of ten days. After that time they may be adopted to a new home or euthanized.
  
  
• Post flyers with your animal’s photo, description, your name and all phone numbers where you can be reached. Consider offering a reward as an incentive for people (especially children) to look for you animal. It’s not important to cite an amount; give what you feel is fair.
  
  
• Post flyers in supermarkets, schools, veterinary hospitals and local stores. If your town permits, tack them up on street corners and bus stops. Leave them with your neighbors. If you live in an apartment complex, post them by the mailboxes.
  
  
• Inform your mail carrier, neighborhood children, garbage collectors and newspaper carriers of your lost companion. Go door-to-door soliciting help and asking about your animal.
  
  
• Visit all other animal shelters in the area. Contact area veterinarians and leave information with local emergency veterinary clinics.
  
  
• Enlist the aid of family and friends. Look in parks, playgrounds, schools and homes where other animals live. Early morning hours and sunset are prime times for finding lost animals. After dark is an especially good time for looking for cats.
  
  
• If you’ve recently moved, conduct a search in your old neighborhood. Be sure to check in with animal agencies in that area too.
  
  
• Check “Found Animal” ads in newspapers. Place a “lost animal” ad in your local newspaper. Ask local radio stations if they air lost animal announcements.
  
  
• If you’ve lost a purebred dog or cat, contact the rescue club for your breed. If possible, WHS will be happy to give you the phone numbers.
  
  
• Make sure current information is on file for license tags, rabies tags and any other traceable identification.
  
  
• When you find your companion, examine them for illness or injuries. Feed him/her only small amounts of food in case their digestive system is upset - you don’t know what they might have eaten while away.
  
  
• Be sure to notify WHS and other agencies with which you filed lost pet reports once you have found your companion animal.
  
  
• Don’t give up hope! It’s not uncommon for people to be reunited with their companions weeks, or even months after they are lost.
  
  

Additional Tips for Finding a Missing Cat

• Place an item that will smell familiar to your cat (favorite toy, food bowl, bedding, unwashed article of your clothing) in a cardboard box. Place the box in an out-of-the-way spot in your yard. Check it regularly, especially during the early morning hours.
  
  
• Thoroughly search your basement, attic, garage and shed and any other places a cat could hide in. If you live in an apartment, check stairwells, hallways and any vacant apartments.
  
  
• Most cats don’t leave their immediate area. Talk to your neighbors, as well as the building staff in apartments. As them to check their attics, garages, etc. Ask neighborhood children to notify you if they see your cat rather than trying to catch him/her themselves.
  
  
• The best time to search for your cat is late at night when everything is quiet. Walk through alleys and streets calling your cat’s name allowing enough time for him/her to recognize and respond to your voice. Chances are he/she will respond with a cry, rather than coming out to look for you. Pay particular attention under and around cars and near garbage cans.
  
  
• If your cat comes running when you use the can opener at feeding time, try taping this sound and playing it when you are out at night looking for him/her. You might also try shaking a can or box of his/her favorite treats.
  
  

Reunited...And It feels So Good

Each year in the United States, millions of companion animals enter shelters as strays. There are many ways to prevent your four-footed friend from disappearing. These tips can help you beat the odds:

• Be a responsible pet guardian. Keep you dog or cat safely confined or closely supervised at all times.
  
  
• Identification is a lost animal’s ticket home. Always keep a collar and ID tag on your dog or cat. Consider having your animal microchipped, a permanent means of identification. Ask WHS about getting your animal microchipped.
  
  
• Spay or neuter your animal. The most effective way to prevent your companion animal from disappearing is to have them spayed or neutered. This will curb their desire to roam.
  
  
• Safe travel. If you must travel with your dog, cat or other animal, use a leash or carrier to keep him/her safe.
  
  
• An accurate description of your animal is vital. Keep a record of your animal’s size, with and any distinguishing characteristics, along with a current photograph.

Other Animal Shelters in the Area

Humane Society of Skagit Valley
1641 Kelher Road Burlington, WA 98233 (360) 757-0445

Abbottsford SPCA (British Columbia)
34312 Industrial Way Abbottsford, B.C. Canada V2S7M6 (604) 850-1584

Animal Emergency Care (After-Hours Emergency Care Facility)
317 Telegraph Road, Bellingham, WA 98226 (Across from the Home Depot)
(360) 758-2200

If you have found an animal, please contact WHS at (360) 733-2080 x3017 for assistance.

STRAY ANIMALS RECEIVED

If you have found a stray animal that needs to be picked up, please contact us for assistance at (360)733-2080. You may also bring the animal to one of our facilities Tuesday thru Saturday from 10am — 6pm.

We would like to thank you for the concern and effort you have given this animal. We hope to reunite him/her with his/her rightful owner. Your responsible and caring actions are greatly appreciated by the Whatcom Humane Society (WHS). The following information is to advise you of WHS procedures regarding incoming stray animals.

It is important to understand that the Whatcom Humane Society is an “open door/admission” humane society. This means that we accept into our care any animal that comes to us, regardless of breed, age, temperament, physical or medical condition.

Last year we received over 4,800 homeless, unwanted and abused domestic animals. Unfortunately there are not enough homes for all of these animals. Whatcom County and our country as a whole are suffering a tragic pet overpopulation problem, with 10 million animals being euthanized annually, nationwide.

By law we are required to hold all impounded stray animals at our shelter for either a 72 hour (3-day) or 120 hour (5-day) holding period depending upon the jurisdiction the animal was found in, to give their owners an opportunity to find them.

This holding period does not include the day the animal arrives or Sundays, Mondays
and holidays. At the end of the stray holding period, our staff will examine and evaluate the animal to decide whether he/she can be placed into our adoption program. Unfortunately, at this time we cannot guarantee that we will be able to make him/her available for adoption. Much will depend on the animal’s physical condition, medical condition, temperament, age and the availability of space in our adoption cages/kennels. Even if the animal is made available for adoption, we cannot guarantee someone will choose to adopt him/her.

Animals That Are Not Placed Into Our Adoption Program:

The following is a list of conditions under which an animal may not be placed for adoption:

• If they are under 8 weeks of age.
  
  
• If their advanced age is causing extreme medical or physical problems.
  
  
• If they are in poor general health or physical condition.
  
  
• If their temperament or behavior is such that they would not adapt well to a new home.
  
  
• If they are showing extreme signs of stress due to being placed in a kennel environment.
  
  
• If they show signs of a communicable disease that could infect other animals.
  
  
• If there is no space available in the adoption kennels.
  

Depending on the specifics of the animal’s condition and availability of space, some animals with these conditions may be placed in foster care, held for treatment, observation or until they are old enough to be made available for adoption.

Animals That Are Placed Into Our Adoption Program:

At WHS every effort is made to find permanent, responsible and loving homes for animals in our adoption program. Once an animal is placed into our adoption program there is no set holding period. Animals may remain for a day, a week, a month or longer. Animals available for adoption may be euthanized if there is a decline in their health, temperament or physical condition. They may also be euthanized if our adoption areas become overcrowded and we need to make room for new incoming animals. Any animal who must be euthanized (humanely put to death) will be administered a painless injection of sodium pentobarbital.