How long with the animal shelter hold a dog before they put them down?

Question

If a healthy dog with tags is found, how long before the animal shelter will put the dog down? Are there any legal restristions?

Answer 1

If the dog has identification...they will contact the info on the tag. They can even cross reference the Rabies tag number with the owner. They dont put down dogs they dont have to. It will also depend on the shelter for the exact time frame. Some animal control divisions will hold an animal for 2 weeks and others only 72 hours. If you lost your pet the best thing to do is file a missing animal report at every shelter in the area. Most local papers are a good way to go too.

Answer 2

It does vary by location and shelter, but many places I have been will hold them on a “stray period” for a few days. Ask your local shelters what the laws and shelter policies in your area are if you are curious for personal reasons- where I live currently the stray period is only 3 days. The last state I lived in had a 7 day hold on strays. If the dog is found with tags they will likely try to use them to attempt to contact the owner. If the owner doesn’t claim the dog within the stray period the shelter may euthanize the dog- no matter how friendly- at their discretion.

Friendly dogs are euthanized at shelters everyday if the shelter does not have the space or resources to care for them. Also remember that some otherwise friendly dogs that people bring to the shelter as strays or surrenders might not do well in a shelter environment and might show signs of aggression if they are fearful or stressed.

Answer 3

It's a state by state choice. I know the one here, tries NOT to put them down UNLESS they are rabid, or dangerous and cannot be adopted out. That is why we have over 300 dogs needing homes in this area!!! (cats are about at 400 too)

If the dog has tags, the shelter is supposed to call the numbers on the tags, whether it is the pwners information or the vet clinics in order to track the owners. Generally they will try and get the humane shelter involved too...if the pet goes unclaimed for 10 days, then the animal becomes property of the state, and as long as they pass little tests, it will be considered adoptable. Check with your local shelter on what their allowances are.

Answer 4

If a healthy dog is found with tags, animal care & control
should be able to contact the owner, because those tags are on record with the owners phone number and address. If they cannot contact the owner within two weeks, they give the dog any current shots that may be due, and then put the dog up for adoption. Usually the only reason a dog will be "put to rest," is either the dog is obviously dieing, or something equally tragic.

Answer 5

There are no simple answers to that question. If every attempt has been made to find the owner and the owner still can't be found, there are other factors that go into consideration....the dog's temperament, age, health and adoptability, how crowded the shelter is at the time of intake...time can range from 7 days to indefinitely, depending on the particular animal and shelter.

Answer 6

Depends on the shelter and the circumstances. My local shelter has the right to put a dog down immediately if it is an owner turn in. They wait a week on strays to give owners time to find them.

Answer 7

If a dog is found at the SPCA with tags they contact the owner and the owner has 2 weeks to come and claim the dog. If they do not claim it then, if adoptable it gets out up for adoption. I have heard alot of horror stories about the SPCA putting down dogs bc they don't have room, but at my local SPCA they only put down dogs that are very sick ar too agressive to be adopted.

Answer 8

As with anything else in this world it depends a lot on how much money they have and if it is a type of dog that they think they can get rid of easily. If someone is not going to make money off the animal then chances are it will not last very long at all.

Answer 9

They have to notify you by certified mail or document the phone call. The longer you let the pets sit there the higher the fines. Where I am you will be given a court date first.

However if you take an animal to the shelter they can euthanize right then and there

Answer 10

If it has tags then they do every thing possible to find the owner. If after two weeks they have not been found then they think about putting the animal down.