Lost & Found Pets

As the only shelter in our community, the Lincoln County Animal Shelter (LCAS) strives to help all lost dogs and cats and will do our best to accommodate all other domestic animals such as potbellied pigs, rats, ferrets, iguanas, rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds.

Please make sure your pets have ID including a license, microchips with up-to-date registration, and collars with tags to ensure we can reunite you with your furry friend. Proactive steps to help in case your pet gets lost include registering your pet with Finding Rover and Nextdoor Pet Directory.

Lost Animals

Call the Lincoln County Animal Shelter at 541-265-0720.
Make a Facebook page for your lost pet.
Ask family, friends, and neighbors to help search for your pet as soon as you realize your pet is missing. Be sure to do an exhaustive physical search around your house and in your neighborhood. Visit Missing Animal Response Network and Mission Reunite for ideas about how to find your lost pet to make sure you are searching based upon your pet's personality.
Post a found report on PawBoost.com - this free resource also connects with Facebook. Add your pet's photo and description, including the date and area where they were lost, on the LCAS page.
If your pet is microchipped, contact the microchip company to report your pet as lost and to make sure all of your contact information is up-to-date.
Add your pet to Petco's Love Lost site.
Post on 24 PetConnect and you may utilize their lost pet postcard service.
Place a "lost pet" ad in Craigslist (under 'lost + found' and 'pets').
Put signs around the neighborhood or area where your pet was last seen, at veterinary offices, and at pet supply stores. Make a large sign for your yard. Include a photo and description of your pet, your phone number, and when your pet was last seen.
You may also use companies such as Lost My Doggie, Pet Amber Alert, Find Toto, or Sherlock Bones that will call your neighbors and send alerts to veterinarians and animal shelters.
Hire pet detectives such as K9 Search and Rescue.
For additional information call the Lincoln County Animal Shelter at 541-265-0720.

Found Dogs

LCAS is able to accept lost dogs. Please call the Animal Shelter at 541-265-0720 and/or Dispatch to reach an Animal Services Deputy at 541-265-0777. You may also help find the dog's family by taking the following steps:

Have the animal scanned for a microchip at a veterinarian's office, at the animal shelter, or by calling an Animal Services Deputy.
Post signs around the area you found the animal, at your local veterinarian hospitals, and nearby pet supply stores. Make a large sign for your own yard-most pets are found very close to home.
Post a found report on PawBoost.com - this free resource also connects with Facebook.
Post directly on the LCAS page
Place a "found pet" ad in Craigslist (under 'lost + found' and 'pets').
Post on 24 PetConnect.

Found Cats

There is no leash law for cats in Lincoln County, and they are able to roam free. Each situation and every cat is unique, so please feel free to call the Animal Shelter for guidance.

Sick or Injured Cats

The Animal Shelter immediately accepts all seriously sick or injured cats who need immediate care. Please call the Animal Shelter at 541-265-0720 or an Animal Services Deputy at 541-265-0777.

Healthy, Friendly Cats

Through our experience, we have discovered that what many people consider to be stray/lost cats are simply someone's outdoor or indoor/outdoor cat.

Have the animal scanned for a microchip at a veterinarian's office, or at the animal shelter.
Post signs around the area you found the animal, at your local veterinarian hospitals, and nearby pet supply stores. Make a large sign for your own yard-most lost pets are not far from home.
Post a found report on PawBoost.com - this free resource also connects with Facebook.
Post directly on the LCAS page
Place a "found pet" ad in Craigslist (under 'lost + found' and 'pets').
Post on PetHarbor.com.
Post on Nextdoor.

If you have attempted to locate the owner, and would like to keep the cat, the Central Coast Humane Society will assist with spay/neuter by calling them at 541-265-3719.

Known to be Abandoned

If you witnessed someone abandon a cat or know that a cat was left behind when someone moved, please call an Animal Services Deputy at 541-265-0777. You will be asked to provide the name, address, physical description of the person, and/or vehicle description. If a Deputy determines there is enough evidence to charge someone with the crime of animal abandonment, they will intake the cat.

Not Friendly, but Appears Healthy & Uninjured, not a Nuisance

These cats are normally considered "feral". If you are willing to help care for them, it is best to support their continued care in the community. The Central Coast Humane Society will assist with them being spayed/neutered. Alley Cat Allies has helpful information. Providing medical care is still important-please call the Animal Shelter if the cat becomes seriously ill or seriously injured.

Not Friendly, is a Nuisance

If a feral cat is causing a disturbance, cat deterrents are helpful to encourage the cat leave your property. Someone is very likely feeding the cat nearby if he or she is staying in the area. It is best to speak with the person feeding the cat to try to determine the best course of action to keep the cat off your property.

Friendly Mom & Kittens / Orphaned Kittens

It is best for kittens to stay with their moms for a minimum of nine weeks. If you find a litter of kittens, mom is most likely close by. You may sprinkle flour around the litter to see if footprints appear.

Each year, our shelter brings in 400-500 kittens. We rely heavily on our community to help! The Kitten Lady a very helpful resource.

If you are unable to care for the kittens, please call the Animal Shelter at 541-265-0720 to speak with an Animal Care Specialist.

Kittens with Feral Mom

It is best for kittens to stay with mom to nurse for a minimum of 8 weeks. If mom is feral, please provide mom with shelter, food and water until the kittens are at least two months (two pounds). If the kittens are friendly and handleable, we may be able to bring the kittens into the shelter, or you can find them new homes privately. If the kittens are not friendly and handleable, Central Coast Humane Society can assist with having them and mom spayed. Alley Cat Allies has useful information if you are hoping to care for community cats.

See a helpful chart on how to age a kitten.

Lost Animals Brought to the Animal Shelter

Holding Period

If an animal comes to us with no identification, they are held as stray for 72 hours. If an animal comes to us with identification, they are held as stray for 120 hours. If an owner does not claim a lost pet, we will evaluate their health, behavior, and quality of life. Animals with untreatable or unmanageable medical or behavioral issues may be humanely euthanized. In an effort to find owners, we search our lost/found database, call all numbers on tags, search for a microchip, search internet postings, post on social media, and call nearby shelters if we suspect animals may have traveled. All stray animals who do not have identification are posted on the Lincoln County Lost and Found Pets Facebook page.

Unless we have up to date vaccination information, all animals entering the shelter may receive flea treatment, dewormer, and vaccinations on intake in order to protect their own health and the health of the animals already in our care.

Fee to Reclaim Your Dog

If your dog is licensed, we will waive the first impound fee. The fee for reclaiming your lost dog is $30 for altered and $50 for unaltered. The boarding fee is $25 per night. Payment plans are available.

Fee to Reclaim Your Cat

The fee for reclaiming your lost cat is $15, and the boarding fee is $10 per night.

Licensing upon Redemption

All dogs in Lincoln County must be licensed-it is the law, but it also helps us reunite you with your animals. If your dog is not currently licensed, please bring your proof of rabies vaccination at the time of redemption. If your dog is not currently vaccinated, there may be a $25 late license fee, you will need to pre-pay for the license ($5 if altered, $35 if not altered), and have 15 days to provide proof of rabies vaccination.