Lost/Found Pets
If you've lost your pet
NOTE: If you have lost an animal YOU MUST COME TO THE SHELTER TO LOOK FOR YOUR ANIMAL IN THE KENNELS. The shelter staff is not able to identify your animal over the phone. Once you arrive at the shelter, you will be directed to fill out a lost report. It is helpful to attach pictures.
Tips
- Look all over your property, including new places where a cat might try to hide.
- Search your neighborhood. Talk to neighbors and pass out flyers with your name, phone number, and pet photo.
- Contact local shelters to file lost reports.
- Place a Lost Pet classified ad in the Idaho Statesman and Idaho Press Tribune.
- Visit www.missingpets.com to file a free lost pet report online.
REMEMBER! Your pet is most likely to be found if they have a collar and ID tag!
If you've found an animal you have several options:
Tips
- You can contact Animal Control to pick up stray dogs. Canyon County Animal Control dispatch is 455-5925. Nampa City Animal Control is 465-2257.
- You can bring the animal to the shelter during business hours.
- You can call the shelter and file a found report, then hold the dog at your home. If you choose to hold the dog, we encourage you to bring the dog to the shelter or your veterinarian to be scanned for a microchip.
- Contact local shelters to file found reports.
- Place a Found Pet classified ad in the Idaho Statesman and Idaho Press Tribune. The newspapers will often place this ad for free as a community service.
- Visit www.missingpets.com to file a free found report online.
Questions & Answers
Q: Why are so many animals turned into the Canyon County Animal Shelter?
A: The simple answer is lack of identification. Every dog in the city of Nampa, Caldwell, Parma, Middleton, and Melba as well as rural Canyon County must obtain and display a Canyon County canine license once they are over the age of 3 months. Residents of Greenleaf, Notus, and Wilder should contact their city hall for licensing requirements. Failure to provide a license for your canine, and keep it current, may result in a misdemeanor fine up to $350.00. The BEST way to get your lost dog home is to have an ID tag with your current phone number and address on his/her collar at all times.
Q: What is the foster program?
A: The foster program allows us to care for underage puppies and kittens out of the shelter until they are big enough to spay/neuter and make available for adoption. Foster families help care for the animals and help find them the best possible adoptive homes. Applications to become a foster family can be obtained online or at the shelter. The foster program is a great way for parents to see if their family is ready for a pet. It is a short-term commitment that makes a world for difference to the homeless animals in our community.
Q: Do you euthanize after a certain timeframe?
A: No. We hold all stray dogs for five business days and all domesticated and healthy cats for two business days. Then the animals go through temperament testing and a medical evaluation. If the animal passes, they are made available for adoption. Once an animal is available for adoption, there is not a timeframe in place before they are euthanized. We strive to find placement for all of the animals. We work closely with many rescue organizations to lower the percentage of animals euthanized. However, there is not placement for them all. It is very important to spay/neuter all animals to eliminate unwanted litters. There are many more animals born each year than homes in which to place them.
Q: Do you microchip or provide other veterinary services to the public?
A: No. We can only provide veterinary services to animals that belong to Canyon County or animals that are impounded. All vaccinations, surgical procedures, emergency veterinary work, and microchips need to be done through your family veterinarian. The only exception is the new "Fix Momma" program. This program is designed to help eliminate unwanted kitten litters in the future. The shelter will spay/neuter and return to the owner the parents of any litter of kittens turned in to the shelter as part of the $25 turn in fee. The kittens will be evaluated and, when possible, altered and made available for adoption.
Q: What is a pre-adoption screening?
A: A pre-adoption screening is required prior to adoption for some of the dogs available at the shelter. A pre-adoption screening does not mean that it is a "bad" dog. Screenings are done to ensure the animal is going to its forever home. We try to give the owner as much information as possible prior to placing the animal, as well as ensuring that the home is suitable for the animal. Interviews include information such as breed info, medical conditions, temperament and/or behavior issues, etc. We strive to find owners that will make a lifetime commitment to their pet. We do not adopt dogs as "backyard ornaments" or as gifts. All puppies go through their "teenage years" between the ages of 6 months and 1 ½ years old. This is the hardest time to own a dog, but with hard work, training and perseverance any dog will become a wonderful companion.