Animal Surrenders: Stray Pets

These are animals, (dog and cat) that are running at large (lost) and are not in one of the contracted impound areas. You can call HART at 218-829-4141 or your local law enforcement office to find out if you are in a contracted impound area. If you find a dog or cat and it is not eligible to come in through the impound this is what you need to do.

•  If you cannot find an owner, and it is a dog bring it to HART. If it is a cat call to schedule an
  appointment to bring it in.
• Any animal held longer than fourteen (14) days by the person surrendering it will be considered
  their animal and it will need to be surrendered as a personal animal with a surrender fee
  assessed.
• Feral cats or cats that are not able to be handled will not be accepted.
• There is no charge to bring a stray in, but of course, donations are always welcome to help care
  for this pet.
• ALL STRAY ANIMALS MUST BE HELD FOR SEVEN (7) DAYS FOR AN OWNER TO CLAIM. THE ONLY
  EXCEPTION IS IF THE PET IS VERY AGGRESSIVE, INJURED OR SICK.. HART does not give out
  information on a stray animal to anyone other than a perspective owner with proper
  identification. If the animal is not claimed within the seven (7) day period, it becomes the
  property of HART Once a pet is surrendered to HART it becomes the property of HART. HART does
  not give out information on this pet.
• Any owner picking up their pet that has come as a stray will be charged a pickup and boarding
  fee.

Additional cat information:

The community cat over population has escalated to an all-time high and HART needs to change the stray intake policy. In the past all stray cats were taken without an appointment, meaning if you found a cat you just brought it to HART. There is literally no more room to house these cats.

In striving to remain a “Low-Kill” shelter HART does not take animals in just to euthanize them. So that is not an option.
All stray cats will be put on a surrender list. The person that has found the cat will be asked to care for it until then. HART realizes that the person calling does not own the cat but we are at a loss of what else to do. This is a community problem and everyone needs to work together.