Found a stray animal?

Here's how to help them find their way home. Be careful! The animal could be very scared and attempt to bite if it feels threatened. Move slowly and do not chase.

If the animal is friendly, check for identification

• If there's an ID tag, contact the owner immediately.

• If there is no ID tag, consider taking the animal to a local veterinary office to be scanned for a microchip.

• Ask people around the area you found the animal in case the owners live nearby.

• If you would like us to check our lost pet reports OR share the found pet on our Facebook page, please complete our Found Pet Report.

Tell your community about the pet you've found

• Enlist family, friends, and neighbors to help spread the word on social media. Include a picture of the found pet, date and location it was found and your contact info so the owner can contact you.

• Contact your local animal control representative and area shelters to see if a report filed matches the description of the animal in your care.

Post and search reports on other online resources:

• Lost Dogs of Wisconsin on Facebook

• Lost Cats of Wisconsin on Facebook

• Craigslist

• Nextdoor Lost & Found

• Petco Love Lost — a free, online tool that utilizes facial recognition technology to scan lost and found pet listings nationwide.

If you are unable to keep the animal until the owner is located then please contact your local animal control representative to find out about stray animal policies in your area.

Currently, MAPS has stray animal housing contracts with the following municipalities. If you find a dog or cat in any of these municipalities, you can contact the number listed below and the animal will be brought to MAPS.

• City of Marshfield - call Wood County Dispatch, 715-387-4394‬

• Village of Spencer - call Spencer Police, 715-659-5453

• Town of McMillan - call Gus Wenzel, 715-305-6471

• Town of Richfield - call Dave Steinmetz, 715-701-2395 (DOGS ONLY)

• Town of Lincoln - call Andy Gingerich, 715-305-3356 (DOGS ONLY)

• Town of Rock - call Bob Reed, 715-383-9141

If the municipality you live in is not listed above OR you would like to speak with your representative to learn more about animal policies and procedures, click the link for contact information.

NOTE: Contracted municipalities with MAPS have priority when it comes to space at our facility. We need to ensure that we always have space available for incoming animals from our contracted areas. Non-contracted areas requesting help with stray animals will be placed on a waiting list until room becomes available. We proudly follow the Shelter Medicine’s guidance for Capacity for Care.