Lost Pets

We ask that you call our Intake Center at 269-639-2242 to report a stray animal you have found or to report if your pet is lost.

I found a stray pet. What do I do now?

If you are instructed to bring the animal to our Intake Center, please leave the animal in your vehicle and check in with our Intake Coordinator at the front desk. We will scan the animal for a microchip to see if it is an owned pet. If so, we will contact the owner to reclaim the pet. If not, we will collect information on the animal and where it was found, take photos and share via social media and Animal Control, in an effort to locate lost pets. If an owner does not come forward, the animal will become available for adoption. If the Intake Center is full, you will be instructed to contact Animal Control.

A stray cat who is healthy and friendly likely belongs to someone in your neighborhood. Cats have a far better chance of reuniting with their owner when they're left in the area in which they're found. Less than five percent of stray cats that are brought into shelters are reclaimed by their owners. For this reason, we encourage you to leave healthy and friendly cats where you discovered them.

If you find a stray animal outside of open shelter hours, please contact Animal Control at 269-621-4624 or South Haven Police Department at 269-637-5151. We do not pick up stray animals. If you have a feral animal that needs help, please call your county's Animal Control. We do not accept feral animals.

If you have found an injured animal, please take them to a veterinary clinic, as we do not have medical staff onsite.

It is illegal and cruel to abandon an animal. Please do not leave animals outside our building. We will prosecute anyone caught dumping an animal.

How do I reclaim a lost pet?

All owners must provide proof of ownership and a current rabies vaccination for their pet. If proof of vaccination cannot be provided at the time of service, a $30 deposit will be required. This deposit will be refunded if proof of vaccination is submitted within 30 days. If proof is not provided, the deposit will be retained by AVHS.

Reclaim Fee Breakdown

First incident/animal "impound" and boarding: $0 reclaim fee/donation suggested (so long as an animal is picked up within the stray hold period of either 4 days without collar, or 7 days with collar, the fees will be waived)

Second incident/animal "impound" and boarding: $0 reclaim fee/donation suggested (so long as an animal is picked up within the stray hold period the fees will be waived)

Third (or more) incident/animal "impound" and boarding: $10/day reclaim fee.

Reclaims past hold periods:

If an animal is held for mandated "stray hold" time period (4-7 days, dependent on collar or no collar at time of intake), and made available for adoption but still in the shelter's care - owner will be charged reclaim fee for each additional day past mandated hold period, of $10/day plus any fees incurred for vaccines, spay/neuter surgeries, microchipping and any additional veterinary care that the animal required.