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Grand Island, NE
308.385.5305
I Found a Stray

What To Do

I Found a Stray

What To Do

I Found a Lost Animal!

What should I do next?

If you have found a lost or stray animal, there are a few things you can do to help reunite them with their owner:

Please note that CNHS can only accept strays found within Hall County, NE with the exception of animals found in Doniphan NE. CNHS is not currently contracted to house animals found within Donipahn Village limits. We do not have capacity at this time to house strays found from other jurisdictions. If you find an animal within Doniphan village limits please contact the village office. If you find an animal outside of Hall County, please contact the law enforcement office in the area the animal was found for guidance on how to proceed. CNHS only accepts feral cats only when sick or injured from Hall County. Healthy feral cats will not be accepted from any jurisdiction.

  • Check the animal for a collar and identification tags. Many owners list their phone number on their pet’s tags in case they go missing. 
  • Take the animal to an animal shelter or vet clinic to be scanned for a microchip. Microchips are becoming more and more common and are one of the best ways to reunite lost pets with their owners. Microchips cannot be found without a scanner. 
  • Check the corresponding Missing Pet page of our website from the list below. The pages list animals that have been reported missing by their owner:

IF YOU WISH TO CARE FOR THE ANIMAL TEMPORARILY 

  • If you choose to keep the animal at your home while attempting to locate the owner, you can file a Found Pet Report with CNHS.
  • Please note that under local animal control procedures, stray animals should be reported promptly. Animals that have been privately cared for beyone 72 hours may not be eligable to enter the official stray hold process at CNHS through the Grand Island Police Department/Hall County Sherrif

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO OR DO NOT WISH TO KEEP THE ANIMAL

Stray aniaml intake and enforcement are managed by the Grand Island Police Department and Hall County Sheriffs. CNHS serves as the housing and care facility for animals accepted through those agencies

  • If you are unable to or do not wish to keep the animal at your home, you may bring the pet to CNHS as a stray. You will be asked to provide a valid form of identification and to fill out our Stray Form to give us some additional information about the animal. In accordance with the updated Animal Control policies you will also be asked to wait a small amount of time for an officer to arrive at CNHS to receive the stray into CNHS' care
  • You may also contact the Grand Island Emergency Center at 308-385-5400 to have an officer dispatched to your location to pick up the stray animal. If the animal was found within Hall County, the officer will transport the animal to CNHS to be held as a stray.

CNHS accepts stray animals from within Grand Island as direcetd by the City in accordance with local ordinances and intake procedures

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A STRAY ANIMAL IS ACCEPTED

  • Once a stray animal has been accepted through the GIPD or Hall County Sheriff and brought to CNHS, the animal will be held for the required 72-hour stray hold period while efforts are made to locate the owner.
  • After the hold period expires, and if no owner is located, the animal will be assessed and potentially move forward to become adoptable. Finders are not given first pick for animals they bring into the shelter but may call CNHS for updates on the animal's status.
two boys adopting a black cat
a black & white puppy getting out of a pool
a man adopting a small white dog
a brown dog sitting in the grass
a girl adopting a tabby cat
a woman adopting a small brown dog
a woman adopting a black & white cat
a white husky
a woman adopting a white cat
a man and woman adopting a white kitten
a father and son adopting a husky
a black rabbit with a bow on its ear
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a dog wearing a jester costume
a dog wearing a Halloween costume
an adoptable dog
an adoptable cattle dog
a dog getting adopted by a couple
a cat getting adopted by a mother and son
girl holding a gray and white dog
dog wearing a bandana that says "Adopt Me"
a pet mouse
brown dog in the memorial garden
goat at CNHS
gray long-haired kitten
dog getting adopted
mother cat with her kittens
cat sitting in her bed
cat stretching
kitten licking his lips
white dog laying in the grass
black puppy
chicken eating
calico cat
man adopting a white dog
dog with curly fur waiting to get adopted
white and brown dog laying in the grass
woman adopting a yellow tabby cat
dog getting an ice cream treat
senior dog playing outside
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