AniMall does not take in animals, please read on for what to do if you find a homeless pet.

The first step to take after you find a stray pet is to try to locate its owner. You should take the pet to a vet to have it scanned for a microchip. It is FREE to get the animal scanned, it is quick and you don't need an appointment. Next you can place a Found ad in the paper or on the internet for FREE. Putting up flyers around where you found the animal is also recommended and calling local shelters to see if anyone is looking for a pet matching the one you found.

If after trying to find the pet's owner nothing turns up then it is time to try to find a new home for the animal.

There is unfortunately no easy solution as there are simply far more pets that need homes than there are homes for them. 

The only organizations that will be able to instantly take in your found pet with an "open door policy" are county-run or privately-run shelters that euthanize. Euthanization is how they are able to have space to take in any animal, any time. A list of local shelters can be found here: http://www.animall.org/adopt-a-pet.html (scroll down to bottom).

You can also try to contact the pet rescue groups on our website http://www.9animall.org/adopt-a-pet.html or through Petfinder.com. Most rescue groups are "no-kill" i.e. they do not euthanize); however, this means that they fill up quickly and are often already at full capacity.

A rescue group is more likely to take an animal into its program if you can either foster the pet in your home until it is adopted or sponsor the pet through a cash donation to help cover the medical, food, and housing costs of taking in the animal. Another option is to try to place an ad for the pet in the paper or on the internet, or putting up flyers in your community.

Asking for an adoption fee, even a small one, helps to ensure that someone is serious about taking an animal into their home.

Adoption fees should be equal to what they are getting with the animal. Is it already spayed/neutered? Did you provide any medical care like vaccinations or flea/tick treatments while it was with you? Pictures plus any information you can give on its temperment helps too (good with kids, other animals, etc.)

We wish you the best of luck in finding a home for this stray pet.

Thanks again for helping homeless animals,

AniMall