F.A.Q.
What do I do if I am unable to care for a pet I currently have or have come across a lost animal?
We do not take animals directly from the public.
Please look at the links and suggestions below for more help, resources and contact information for other shelters.
1. Placing posters: Lost, Found or Free to Good Home posters can be very effective if placed in the right places. Some suggestions include streets where you found the animal or on boards at grocery stores, vet offices, pet stores (Petsway, PetSmart, All Pet Supply), public libraries, coffee shops, pet grooming businesses and all local shelters. Be sure to include a photo, gender, approximate age, breed, size and if the animal is neutered.
2. Go online: Try posting ads online, where many people can see them and share them with others. Your local newspaper is also a good option, as many do not charge for free or lost/found pet ads. Try to include a photo in these ads, as well as basic information. Be sure to say something positive about the animal.
3. Screen New Homes: Whether you find a new home online, through posters or other means, screening a new home is essential. You can learn a lot by asking a potential adopter about their pet history and what pets they have now. How many animals have they had in the past year? Where are they now? Are the other pets fixed and vaccinated? Ask for vet information and use that as a reference. Vet history is a great way to screen a home. Use your best judgment to determine if they are a good home for the animal. Remember, your judgement will determine if this animal has a great life or ends up in a bad home.
4. Consider vaccinating and neutering the animal: You can then ask for reimbursement of the vet costs. Many responsible adopters will be glad to pay for a healthy, vaccinated and neutered animal. If the animal seems to be purebred, this is especially important. This helps to eliminate the possibility of the animal spending the rest of its life in a breeder’s cage.
5. Deliver the animal: If at all possible, try to deliver the animal to the new adopter. That way you can see where the animal will be living.
No-Kill Rescues
These rescues operate as no-kill. However, there may be a waiting list or a waiting period for an animal to be accepted into the rescue. Please be patient during this time and provide as much information about the animal as possible. A donation to the shelter or rescue that is taking your animal is always appreciated.
Humane Society of Southwest Missouri - Springfield, MO (Dogs and Cats)
3161 W. Norton Rd 65803
(417) 833-2526
Rescue One - Springfield, MO (Dogs)
rescueonespringfield@gmail.com
www.rescueonespringfield.com/
Watching Over Whiskers - Springfield, MO (Cats)
(417) 324-4486 www.watchingoverwhiskers.org
Havahart Rescue - Springfield, MO (Dogs)
Route 66 Rescue - Nixa, MO (Dogs)
(417) 581-6666 www.route66rescueinc.com
Eden Animal Haven - Brighton, MO (Cats)
(417) 756-7061 www.edenanimalhaven.org/
HFLCS- Canine and Feline Adoptions - Buffalo, MO
(417) 733-5068 www.hflcsanctuary.org/
Haven of the Ozarks - Washburn, MO
(417) 835-3647 www.havenoftheozarks.org/
Polk County Humane Society - Bolivar, MO
(417) 777-3647 www.polkcountyhumanesociety.org
Tri-Lakes Humane Society - Reeds Spring, MO
(417) 272-8113 www.tri-lakeshumanesoc.org
Springfield Animal Control
(417) 833-3592 (phone answered from 8am-5pm), 4002 N. Farmer Rd.
This shelter is funded by the City of Springfield and therefore only accepts animals from inside city limits. They are open to the public Mon-Tues from 1pm-4:30pm Thurs-Fri from 1pm-4:30pm. For emergencies, call 9-1-1 and ask to be transferred to Animal Control.
Dogs currently at Animal Control:
https://www.springfieldmo.gov/2889/Animal-Control#dogs
Cats currently at Animal Control:
https://www.springfieldmo.gov/gallery.aspx?AID=72
Animal Control Lost & Found Form:
https://www.springfieldmo.gov/2889/Animal-Control#lostfound
Monetary Aid Resources
S.A.A.F. Spay Neuter Clinic
(417) 831-7223 spayneuterspringfield.org
Spay/Neuter Assistance Program
(417) 823-7627 www.snap123.org
Killumanati Foundation
Help! I lost my pet!
1. Contact local animal shelters and animal control agencies. File a lost pet report with every shelter within a 60-mile radius of your home and visit the nearest shelters daily, if possible. Provide these agencies with an accurate description and a recent photograph of your pet. There are links to found dogs and cats in Springfield Animal Control and Ozark Animal Control below. Be sure to check the shelters regularly, the hold time for some shelters is only 5 days.
2. Search the neighborhood. Walk or drive through your neighborhood several times each day. Ask neighbors, letter carriers, and delivery people if they have seen your pet. Make a poster with a recent photograph of your pet and information on how you can be reached if your pet is found. Be sure to include details such as description of collar, male or female, breed, when/where pet was lost ect. If you have lost a cat, place its dirty litterbox outside your house. This has been able to steer more than a few kitties back home after they have lost their way!
3. Advertise. Post flyers at grocery stores, community centers, veterinary offices, traffic intersections, at pet supply stores, and other locations. Include your pet's sex, age, weight, breed, color, and any special markings. Also when/where the pet was lost. When describing your pet, leave out one identifying characteristic and ask the person who finds your pet to describe it. Make your contact info large and easy to read. A photo of the pet is always helpful as well. Keep a digital copy of the flyer or use your computer to put your contact info on a photo of your pet. Share that via social media and lost/found websites. There are links to a few of those at the bottom of the page.
5. Be wary of pet-recovery scams. When talking to a stranger who claims to have found your pet, ask him to describe the pet thoroughly before you offer any information. If he does not include the identifying characteristic you left out of the advertisements, he may not really have your pet. Be particularly wary of people who insist that you give or wire them money for the return of your pet.
6. Don't give up your search. Animals who have been lost for months have been reunited with their owners.
A pet—even an indoor pet—has a better chance of being returned if she always wears a collar and an ID tag with your name, address, and telephone number. Ask your local animal shelter or veterinarian if permanent methods of identification (such as microchips) are available in your area.
Online Links
KTTS Lost Pet Finder
www.facebook.com/kttslostpetfinder
Leigh's Lost and Found
www.facebook.com/LeighsLostandFound
Craigslist
"Pets" & "Lost + Found" under Community
www.springfield.craigslist.org/
PawBoost
What does the adoption process for a Pit Bull look like?
C.A.R.E. pit bulls go through a special process on their way to a new home. They are temperament tested at Animal Control before being eligible for rescue. This test includes a variety of things, including their response to being handled, indications of food aggression, reaction to being corrected and dog to dog issues. They are also microchipped and vaccinated at Animal Control before being transported to our clinic
Once ready for adoption, our pit bull dogs are placed on the adoption floor at our adoption center or online. Those interested in adopting a bully breed fill out an adoption application online or in person. Our pit bull adoption manager goes through all applications and interviews potential families for compatibility with the pit bull of their choice. A home visit is also completed before adoption to make sure it is a safe, well-suited environment for the dog and that the family is adopting a new friend that will be a great match for their needs. We work hard to create a good relationship with adopters of pit bulls and have a lifetime return policy for our pit bulls. We want to make sure that they will never be in another shelter or placed into an ill-suited home. Our pit bull adoption manager gives all her contact information to adopters, and they can always contact her with problems, concerns, if they need advice, or if they just want to give C.A.R.E. an update on the adopted dog (which we love)!