Strays

All lost and found animals are required by law to be reported to Animal Services immediately.

Once reported, the pet should be posted within the community in which it was found to allow the owner to contact the finder and reclaim the pet. Pets may also be posted on social media, at local businesses (if allowed), and any public area that the owner may reasonably see. (See Lost & Found page for popular social media sites & websites)

Stray animals found in Person County can be brought to Animal Services if the finder is unable to care for them until an owner is found.  All strays are held for a state mandated period of 3 business days before becoming available for adoption or rescue. 

Persons bringing strays to the shelter must be 18 years of age or older and have a current ID (Driver's license, military ID or passport).

Animals must be brought in no later than 4:00pm Tuesday-Friday and 1:00pm on open Saturdays.

Whenever possible, do not pick up strays or relocate them to a different area, as this makes it much more difficult to reunite lost pets with their owners. 

Strays found outside of Person County must be taken to the shelter within the county in which it was found. 

A found pet can NOT be rehomed or considered adopted by the finder or anyone else if it has not been reported AND kept according to the state mandated hold period. Once reported, Animal Services will instruct finders on what to do next and when the mandated hold period ends. 

   Reclaim Procedures

Owners are welcome and encouraged to visit the shelter and reclaim lost pets.  Proof of ownership and current Rabies vaccine is required for reclaim. If proof of current vaccine cannot be furnished, the pet will receive a Rabies vaccine upon reclaim at a cost of $10.00.  Other reclaim fees may be due upon reclaim as well (See listing of shelter fees under Services tab).

Pets at the shelter can ONLY be reclaimed by their actual owner. Friends and other family members are not allowed to pick up or reclaim on another person's behalf.  Persons reclaiming must be 18 years of age or older and are required to have a current ID (Driver's license, military ID or passport) per state law.

What is "Proof of Ownership"?  The state considers proof of ownership to be any of the following: Records documenting the purchase or adoption of an animal, with description and if possible, photo of the animal; Veterinary records with description and if possible, photo of the animal; Multiple photos of the animal WITH members of the family over a course of time (photos cannot all be from the same day); A sworn statement or document from Animal Control or other government agency or representative stating that they know the animal to be owned by the person claiming ownership. 

 Owner Surrenders

Owner Surrenders are taken in by appointment only.

PCAS currently has a wait-list for all owner surrenders due to the overwhelming number of strays and surrender requests coming in daily. You can only be added to the wait list once all required documentation has been received. Documentation includes a current Government issued ID and a completed Lifestyle and Behavior Questionnaire.

If you have a pet that you need to surrender, you will need to contact the shelter to speak with a staff member.  Staff will provide resources for re-homing and rescues to try before making an appointment. 

Surrender to the shelter should be the last option, only after you have made attempts to re-home or go to a rescue. 

Owners must be over the age of 18, provide proof of ownership (I.e. Veterinary Records, Rabies Certificate) and a current ID (Driver's License, Military ID or Passport)

A lifestyle and behavior questionnaire will be provided and must be submitted prior to scheduling an appointment for surrender.

Please use our List of Rescues to contact if you need to find another home or placement for your pet. 

 Below are some websites for rehoming your pet:

The following Facebook pages can also be utilized to post your pet for re-homing:

Person County, NC - Rehoming and Free Animals
North Carolina Animals for Rehoming
Rehoming Pets of North Carolina & Surrounding States
Kittens & Cats for Rehoming and Adoption