Reclaiming an Animal
Reclaim policy and stray hold periods.
It is our goal to return your animal to you. If your pet has come into our care, please don't hesitate to reach out — we want to help reunite you as quickly as possible.
Reclaiming an Animal
Requirements to Reclaim
- •Proof of ownership through pictures and/or medical records before the end of the stray hold or 14 days, whichever is less.
- •Providing all requested personal information to the HSMC.
- •Anyone reclaiming an animal and all people in the household will be run through our database, the County's "Animal Abuser Registry", and the County's "Residents Prohibited from adopting/owning pets list".
- •If it has been past the stray hold or 14 days (whichever is less), the HSMC is now the owner, and the previous owner must go through our adoption process unless approved by management.
- •Valid government-issued photo ID (the person reclaiming must be the owner on record).
- •If your pet is microchipped, the registered owner must be present to process the reclaim.
- •All animals must be microchipped prior to leaving the HSMC unless deemed medically unfit by management. (4-10. – Mandatory microchipping.)
Stray Hold Periods
Turned in by owner hold3 days
Un-microchipped stray hold5 days
Microchipped stray hold10 days
Puppy hold14 days
Microchipped stray hold: the number registered to the chip is called for 10 consecutive days.
Prices are always subject to change with market prices. These are not public service fees or clinic fees — these are only for the cost of reclaiming an animal from the HSMC. Please call us for current fee information.
Have Questions?
Call us or stop by the shelter during business hours.
Call (352) 873-7387