FAQs • Hutchinson Animal Shelter, KS • CivicEngage

What happens if I come in to reclaim my impounded pet after the holding period has expired?: By law, we are required to hold all stray animals for a set amount of time, called their holding period before they become the City's property. Once the animal becomes the City's property, in order to get the animal back, you would have to apply to adopt said animal. You would have to go through the normal adoption process and it is subject to approval.

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Animal Shelter

1. What do I do if I want to surrender or relinquish my pet to the shelter?: You can relinquish your pet to the shelter Monday through Friday, Noon to 6 p.m., or Saturday through Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m. There is a $30 surrender fee per animal. If you live outside Hutchinson, but still in Reno County, please call ahead; we may not have space to accept your animal. We cannot accept animals from outside of Reno County. If you have any records (i.e. veterinarian records) those would be helpful for us also.

2. What do I do if I have lost my pet?: The first step is to contact Animal Control at 620-694-2636 and ask if they have picked up your pet. Fill out a lost report online. Provide a picture and check the shelter every few days.

You can also advertise by flyers in your neighborhood and run a lost pet ad on KWBW radio (it's free by calling 620-662-4486). Check back with the Animal Shelter periodically to see if your pet is there.

3. What happens if I come in to reclaim my impounded pet after the holding period has expired?: By law, we are required to hold all stray animals for a set amount of time, called their holding period before they become the City's property. Once the animal becomes the City's property, in order to get the animal back, you would have to apply to adopt said animal. You would have to go through the normal adoption process and it is subject to approval.

4. What is the "holding period" of an impounded animal?: According to Kansas state statute, the Kansas Pet Animal Act, 47-1710, we are required to hold all stray animals for three full days of normal business hours, excluding the day the animal arrives at the shelter, to give the owners a chance to reclaim their pet. After the holding period has expired the animal becomes the City's property and may either be offered up for adoption, transferred to another agency, or humanely euthanized.

5. What happens to animals surrendered at the Hutchinson Animal Shelter?: As long as the animals are healthy and adoptable, we will offer them up for adoption. However, we are not a no-kill facility and we frequently run out of space for animals and do end up euthanizing animals solely for space reasons some times.

6. How long do you keep animals at the shelter?: We do not have a set time period that we hold animals at the shelter, once they are adoptable. As long as they are healthy, adoptable and we have space we will give them as long as possible to find a home. However, we do occasionally end up having to destroy perfectly healthy, adoptable kitties and puppies because we run out of room to house them.