FAQ
From what sources does the Humane Society receive funding for its operations?
How long do you keep pets at the shelter?
How do animals end up at the shelter?
How many pets does the Humane Society handle each year?
How many of those were adopted?
How are lost pets reunited with their owners?
What should I do if my pet becomes lost?
What should I do if I find a lost pet?
What should I do if I suspect someone is being cruel to, or neglecting, a pet?
Is the Humane Society a government agency?
No, the Humane Society is a nonprofit organization which contracts with some local municipalities to provide shelter and care for stray pets. The Humane Society does not enforce animal laws and is not a department of any city or county government.
From what sources does the Humane Society receive funding for its operations?
The Humane Society’s funding comes primarily from donations from individuals and from animal sheltering contracts. Some funding also comes from corporate grants, and from services such as pet adoptions, private pet cremation, and our retail store.
Where is the shelter located?
The William Gazecki Animal Shelter is located at 2608 Center Street in Tacoma, about a mile north of the Tacoma Mall in the Nalley Valley. Get directions.
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How long do you keep pets at the shelter?
Pets are kept at the shelter as long as possible in order to find them a home. They may be adopted after only a few minutes, or they may stay for weeks.
Stray pets are kept on view for a minimum of three days to give their owners a chance to claim them. Then, they are made available for adoption.
Pets surrendered by owners are immediately available for adoption. n be here for anywhere from a few minutes to ten days or more. Many underage pets are taken into volunteer foster care until old enough to be adopted.
How do animals end up at the shelter?
Animals come to the shelter for a variety of reasons. Some have been separated from their owners, who are desperately searching for them. Some have been deliberately abandoned on the streets by their owners. Some have been rescued from neglect and abuse by animal control officers. Some are brought in by the police because of a family tragedy - death, a house fire, or car accident. About 60% of the animals brought to the shelter are strays, and about 40% are brought in by their owners.
How many pets does the Humane Society handle each year?
In 2007, the Society received and cared for 17,441 dogs and cats, more than all of the King County animal shelters combined. Back To Top
How many of those were adopted?
Of the 17,000 received, 3,109 dogs and puppies and 4,052 cats and kittens were adopted. 2,027 were reunited with their owners. Tragically, more than 6,000 were euthanized. For many of these, euthanasia was necessary to end their suffering or for public safety. However, more than 2,000 of these animals were healthy, friendly, adoptable dogs and cats who simply did not have a home.
How are lost pets reunited with their owners?
If a pet is found wearing a license and identification tags, that pet can be reunited with its owner without ever coming to the shelter. All incoming lost pets are scanned for microchip identification and checked for licenses and other ID. Pets with any ID will be housed until their owners are contacted and given ample time to reclaim them. Owners of stray pets with no identification have three days to reclaim them before they are made available for adoption. All pets that enter the shelter or who are reported found by the public are listed on the Found Pet Recording. For dogs, call (253) 596-8561; for cats and other animals, call (253) 596-8989. Call daily as they are only listed once, and a new recording is made each day. During the year 2007, 1,861 dogs and 166 cats were returned to their owners. Countless more were reunited through license and ID tag information without ever entering the shelter.
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What should I do if my pet becomes lost?
Alert your neighbors and ask them to be on the lookout for your pet. Post signs in the neighborhood with a photo if possible. Visit the animal shelter, every other day if possible, to check for your pet. Advertise with a “lost pet” ad in the newspaper. And call The Humane Society’s Found Pet Recording every day; each found pet is only listed once. For dogs, call (253) 596-8561; for cats and other animals, call (253) 596-8989. Read more on Finding Your Lost Pet.
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What should I do if I find a lost pet?
If you can safely confine the animal, you may either bring it to the Humane Society, or call the animal control authority where you live to request that it be picked up. If the pet has a license, write down the license number and contact information before you make the call. If you cannot confine it, alert others to its presence, bring your own pet indoors and attempt to determine whom the stray pet belongs to.
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What should I do if I suspect someone is being cruel to, or neglecting, a pet?
If you suspect neglect of a pet that is causing suffering, collect pertinent information such as the person’s name, address, phone, description of the animal (or animals), a brief history of the situation and any other specifics such as the exact location where the animal (or animals) can be found. Then call your local animal control authority to report it. If you are witnessing deliberate cruelty causing severe injury or death to an animal, call 911 and request police intervention. Follow-up your emergency call with a call to animal control.
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