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I FOUND

A STRAY PET

Taking the stray animal to a shelter

 The Idaho Humane Society (IHS) is authorized to accept stray animals from the public that are found within the following communities only: Boise, Meridian, Kuna, Eagle, Cats from Garden City, Star, and the unincorporated areas of Ada County. Garden City provides its own animal control services (stray dogs must be taken directly to Garden City police). 

These are the communities that have vested the Idaho Humane Society with the legal authority to accept stray animals from their jurisdictions and have also provided the IHS with funding to provide this resource for its citizens.

Please bring the stray animal(s) to our Dorman Campus located at 4775 W Dorman Street, Boise, Idaho 83705-or- call 208-475-0854 to speak with our Lost/Found staff. 

**Exception, if you found a kitten, please check out our guide of what to do.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND KITTENS OUTDOORS
Similarly, no stray animals found outside of Ada County are accepted at IHS. It is a basic responsibility of every community to provide sufficient funding and facilities for the care and keeping of stray animals. Since owners search for their lost pet in their local area, individuals should take strays to their local animal control services as it offers owners the best chance of finding their pet. The Idaho Humane Society does routinely transfer to its facilities animals that have been legally relinquished to shelters in other communities and animals from such communities that have been held the legally required hold period and have not been reclaimed by owners. These animals are accepted on a case by case basis from communities throughout Idaho and make up an increasing percentage of all the pets the IHS saves each year.

We hold stray dogs for 5 days while we attempt to locate an owner. On the sixth day, the dog becomes the property of the Idaho Humane Society. Because of the high volume of cats we receive, there is no holding period for cats. When a cat arrives with identification or a microchip, we will hold the cat for 3 days while we attempt to locate an owner.

If you found the stray in another city, you will need to contact that county’s animal control municipality or shelter for your area:
Cities in or near Ada County:

Garden City:
Animal Control and Shelter
301 E 50th Street, Garden City, ID 83714
208-472-2950

City of Middleton:
Conrad Strays (Cat rescue)
208-585-9665

Counties near Ada County:

Boise County:
Boise County Sheriff
Animal Control
208-392-4411

Canyon County:
Animal Control and Shelter
West Valley Humane Society
5801 Graye Ln, Caldwell, ID 83607
208-455-5920

Elmore County:
Animal Control and Shelter
Mountain Home Animal Shelter
295 NW Elmcrest St.
Mountain Home, ID 83647
208-587-2111

Gem County:
Animal Shelter
Pet Adoption League of Gem County Idaho
1526 North Washington Avenue, Emmett, ID 83617
208-365-1359

Animal Control
For information regarding Animal Control such as loose livestock, animal abuse concerns, etc. occurring within the City of Emmett and Gem County, please contact Gem County Sheriff’s Dispatch at 208-365-3521.

Valley County:
Animal Shelter
MCPAWS Regional Animal Shelter
208-634-3647

Individuals who take in stray pets automatically shoulder full responsibility for any potential incidents involving the animal and may be subject to future civil lawsuits, irrespective of factors such as the duration of stay or reporting to the Idaho Humane Society.

All animals must be legally turned over for sheltering at the Idaho Humane Society in Ada County for redemption or legal adoption.*

*Stray dogs found in Garden City must be turned over to the city police.

Animal Care and Control is located:

4775 W Dorman Street, Boise, Idaho 83705. We’re open daily between 8am and 6pm, closed major holidays.

Any time a lost pet is found, local city ordinances must be followed in Ada County (except Garden City stray cats), and all stray pets immediately turned over to the Idaho Humane Society.

BOISE (5-1-20)

All animals seized must be immediately relinquished to a Humane Officer or delivered to the Animal Shelter for impoundment. 

MERIDIAN (6-2-4)

Impoundment. A police officer, animal control officer, or any other person may seize and impound all dogs or other animals at large. Any and all animals seized shall be immediately delivered to the city animal shelter for impoundment.

ADA COUNTY UNINCORP (5-7-9)

It shall be unlawful for any person to take into their possession a stray animal without immediately notifying the Animal Control Agency. The animal shall be released to the Animal Control Agency or an Animal Control Officer upon demand by that Agency’s representative without charge. 

KUNA (10-3-11)

It shall be unlawful for any person to take into their possession a stray animal without notifying the animal control agency at once. The animal shall be released to the animal control agency or an animal control officer upon demand by that agency’s representative without charge. 

STAR (4-4-9)

It shall be unlawful for any person to take into his possession any stray animal, not owned by him/her or not placed into his/her possession by the person having the lawful custody and control thereof without notifying the animal control agency at once. The animal shall be released to the animal control shelter or animal control officer upon demand without any charge.