Animal Services

Lost Pets & Strays

The Wilkes County Animal Shelter is receives animals Monday through Friday 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday 10:30 a.m. until noon.

Lost pets that are picked up by the Animal Control and are wearing a rabies tag or some form of identification tag receive additional time to trace the ownership of the animal
Animal Shleter building and parking lot, with trees and shrubs surrounding building

In most cases the animal will receive extended time, receive medical treatment sooner if needed, and most importantly, have the owner arrive to claim the animal.


We are required to hold a stray animal for a minimum of 72 hours. Many lost pets picked up without a tag and that cannot be adopted are euthanized. The Animal Shelter receives over 6,000 impounds a year. It is impossible to place all of them in a loving and caring home.


Identification


The primary identification for dogs and cats is their rabies tag worn on their collar. County Ordinance (PDF) requires that all dogs display this form of identification. All cats are required to be vaccinated but not required to wear the tag.


Statistics

  • 95% of the lost pets found without a tag, do not get home
  • 95% of the lost pets found with a tag, do get home

A lost pet's best ticket home is a tag on it's collar.