Have You Found a Pet?

Please keep in mind that the State of Idaho considers animals as property. There is a 30-day waiting period for property to be claimed before it can become the finders. Even after 30 days there is no guarantee, and the owner could file a civil claim against you for the animal. While the animal is in your care, you are responsible to ensure it receives any medical attention it may need and you can be held responsible for the actions of the animal.

Contact City/County Resources

• Contact both local animal shelters:
  • Pocatello Animal Shelter - 208-234-6156
  • Chubbuck Animal Shelter - 208-237-7172
• If you live in the county, contact the Sheriff’s Department at 208-236-7114
• If you live in a rural city, contact your City Hall
• Contact the Bannock Humane Society at 208-232-0371
• Contact the Portneuf Animal Welfare Society at 208-339-4183

Locate the Pet Owner

• Take the animal to a local animal shelter or veterinary clinic and have it scanned for a microchip. Please note that there are more than one brand of chips and not all scanners will pick up all chips. Ask the clinic you go to what scanners they have The Pocatello Animal Shelter has two types of scanners that will pick up all types of chips.
• Give the shelters pictures of the found pet. This will help greatly in identifying the pet with its owner. You can contact the Pocatello Animal Shelter by email. Please make sure to include your contact information so we can match the picture with the correct report.
• Advertise in local papers, including those that go to the county areas. Post signs in your neighborhood. Leave flyers in local public establishments. Please remember where you post your flyers so you can go take them down when you find the owner.
• If you choose to leave the animal at the Pocatello Animal Shelter, we will hold it for 3 working days to see if an owner comes to claim it. After the holding period, if the owner does not claim the animal, it will become the property of the City of Pocatello. At that time we will put the animal up for adoption if we can. There is no guarantee about adoption or how long we can hold the animal—the staff will do the best they can. You can work with them on ensuring the best possible outcome. You of course can chose to adopt the animal back after the holding period. The adoption fee will include first vaccinations, microchipping, collar and tag and spay or neuter surgery.

If after the 30-day period you can’t find an owner and you decide to keep the animal, please remember Pocatello and Chubbuck city ordinance require all dogs and cats to be vaccinated for rabies and dogs licensed. We also encourage you to get the animal current on needed vaccinations, spayed or neutered and microchipped. Please call your veterinarian to start this care or call the shelter for programs in our area.