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Reclaiming Your Pet


To report a lost pet please click here 

Have you lost a pet? We may have him or her here at the shelter. It is our sincere wish that you and your pet are reunited as soon as possible. Therefore, we will do all we can to make that happen.

We encourage you to call us at (262) 694-4047 before visiting the shelter so all questions can be answered in advance. Pets can be reclaimed between 1pm and 5pm, 7 days a week, except major holidays. We suggest that you call and visit the shelter daily until your pet is found as animals can be brought to our facility 24 hours a day and pets (especially cats) can be lost for several days before being brought into the shelter. 

In order for you to reclaim your pet, you will be required to comply with Wisconsin State Statute #173.046(7)(B). The following is a list of what is required to reclaim a dog or cat:
  • Your pet must have a current rabies vaccination certificate. If your pet does not have this vaccination you must pay the rabies deposit and obtain the vaccination from a licensed veterinarian within two weeks.
  • A current dog/cat license in the municipality that you reside in. (City of Kenosha License can be prepaid or purchased from Safe Harbor Humane Society at the time of reclaim)
  • Proof of legal ownership or, in the event an authorized representative is reclaiming the animal,the name and address of the legal owner must be provided. Proof of authorization of any person other than the legal owner is required.
  • A driver’s license or legally accepted form of identification.
  • Full payment of the reclaim fee (please see below). Payment must be made in cash or with a Debit/Credit card.
Reclaim Fees:
  • $39 processing fee
  • $19 per day boarding fee is charged after the first day.
  • $30 rabies vaccine deposit is required by state law if your animal is not up to date on their rabies vaccine (You are able to get this back if proof of a rabies vaccine in brought within 2 weeks of reclaim)
  • The $39 fee doubles the second time an animal comes in ($78) and triples the third time ($117) your animal comes into our facility within a year.
 
When your animal arrives at Safe Harbor, you can rest assured that he or she has received the necessary care and attention. Procedures have been set in place for the safety, health and well-being of the lost animal and all other animals at the shelter. As a service to our community, we are required to complete necessary paperwork and charge fees as stated in municipality contracts. SHHS contracts with most Kenosha County municipalities, as well as Union Grove, as the intake and holding facility for lost pets.
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Microchipping is strongly encouraged; it is a quick and efficient way to permanently identify your pet. When a pet is impounded we scan for the presence of a microchip. If we find a chip, we will call the microchip company and obtain the owner information. It is important to remember to update your contact information with your pet’s microchip company whenever the information changes. If no chip is found, we will look for a rabies tag or other identification tag on their collar for owner information, but these can easily be torn off or lost when a pet is running loose. We offer discounted microchipping at the time of reclaim for only $15.
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Per Wisconsin State Law, stray animals are held for 4 days before becoming property of the holding facility, after which the animal can be placed for adoption. In the event that you are unable to reclaim your animal, we request that you complete an owner surrender form so your pet spends as little time at the shelter as possible.  We use this information to find the best possible placement for your pet. There will be a $100.00 fee to surrender your animal. If you choose to neither reclaim or surrender your animal in that time frame, you will receive a bill for the kenneling fees via mail.

​Thank you in advance for your cooperation!