Yes, a finder or interested person can call at anytime during the dogs stay to inquire if they have been redeemed. Please understand that we cannot release any personal information about owners when claimed.

You can contact us by calling 3-1-1 inside Vancouver or outside Vancouver by calling 604.873.7000.

We are a pro-adoption facility, which means that we do not euthanize for space, length of impound, age or appearance reasons. There are times when unclaimed dogs must be humanely euthanized, for health and temperament reasons.

No. Animal Control does not send unclaimed dogs for research.

Animal Control makes every attempt to reunite dogs with their owners. When a dog is brought into the Animal Control shelter at 1280 Raymur Avenue, they are checked for any type of identification such as dog license, tattoo, microchip.

Dogs are held for three (3) full days. After that time, the dog becomes the property of the City of Vancouver. If their temperament and health are good, they are placed up for adoption. Typically dogs are held for a minimum of seven (7) days before being placed in a new home. This gives us time to get to know the dog to find the best home as well as giving owners a better opportunity to find their lost dog.

Yes. You can drop a dog off at Animal Control at 1280 Raymur Ave, during regular business hours.

Our adoption process is not a first come, first serve basis. As we get to know the dog we will be able to determine which kind of home will best suit that particular dog. This could mean not kids, not other pets, or special behaviour or medical concerns. Your application, along with any other applications, are reviewed to determine which home will best suit the dog.

You should contact Animal Control at 3-1-1 or outside Vancouver at 604.873.7000. The dog can be picked up by an Animal Control Officer. Veterinary clinics are under no obligation to accept stray dogs.

An Animal Control Officer will come to your location to pick-up the stray dog. We will pick up dogs within city limits, please call us by dialing 3-1-1.

Animal Control does not provide for stray pick-up outside of regular business hours. If the dog is injured or you are unable to hold the dog overnight you can drop the dog off at Vancouver Animal Emergency Clinic at 1590 West 4th Avenue. Otherwise please contact Animal Control at 3-1-1 or outside Vancouver at 604.873.7000 and report the found dog. We will respond the next business day. Please keep in mind that we only have services within the City of Vancouver.

No. That information is confidential and cannot be released. Call Animal Control at 3-1-1 or outside Vancouver at 604.873.7000 and we will arrange for the dog to be picked up while an Animal Control Officer attempts to make contact with the dog owner.

Because the information is confidential, we cannot release the owner's name and address.

Animal Control will come to pick up the dog and attempt to take it home right away. Depending on the circumstances, an Animal Control Officer may be required to conduct a further investigation and issue a warning or violation ticket to the dog's owner. In dealing directly with owners, Animal Control can educate them about their responsibilities as dog owners.

Whether or not the dogs are wearing identification, they have a much better chance of making it back home if Animal Control is involved.

Yes, Animal Control can trace a tattoo.

Animal Control is able to scan a dog for a microchip.

Dogs have a much better chance of being reunited with their owners if Animal Control is involved. Dog owners are advised when they file a lost report to come into the Animal Control facility at 1280 Raymur Avenue often to check for their lost dog.

For the protection of both the dog owner and the finder, Animal Control procedure is not to pass names or numbers between finders and owners.

Call Animal Control at 3-1-1 or outside Vancouver at 604.873.7000 to report you have found a dog. We will make arrangements to have an Animal Control Officer dispatched to pick up the dog.

Please note: The City of Vancouver Animal Control accepts only stray dogs that are found within the City of Vancouver. If you have found a dog outside of the City of Vancouver you should contact the municipality where the dog was found.

Every attempt is made to reunite stray dogs with their owners. When a dog is not claimed, and it is deemed adoptable by the Animal Control staff, it will enter the dog adoption program.

Officers will attempt to take the dog directly home if it is wearing identification. The officer will not be able to take the dog directly home if it is not currently licensed, if the owner information on our system is not up-to-date, if there is no one home at the time, or if there is no one over 18yrs at home to accept the dog.

Once the dog(s) are brought back to the Animal Control Shelter they are checked for tattoos, microchips, examined for obvious health problems and placed in the kennels by our Kennel Attendants. Dogs are held for three days business days, while every effort is made to find and contact the owner. Dogs that are not picked up by their owners are made available for adoption by the public on the fourth day, although typically the dog is held for another 4 days to find the best new home for that dog and to give owners ample opportunity to look for their dog.

Every animal that enters our Control Shelter is searched for tags, a tattoo or a microchip.

When an animal has a valid pet licence and is wearing tags, we can immediately contact the owner. A tattoo or microchip with up to date information on file also helps us to contact the owner.

Every animal that enters our facility is also posted on PetLynx, an automated recovery network that matches lost pet and found pet reports.

If you have found a lost or stray animal, there are a few ways to return the animal to its owner:

• If the dog has a City of Vancouver licence tag, call 3-1-1.
• Bring the pet to the Animal Control Shelter during business hours and the City will look for the owner.
• If it is a dog, an Animal Control Officer can come and pick it up. If the dog is aggressive, it is best to call 3-1-1 and wait for an officer instead of trying to capture the animal yourself.
• If the animal is injured after hours, take it to the Vancouver Animal Emergency Clinic at 1590 West 4th Avenue. An Animal Control Officer will pick it up the next day.
• Place an ad on Craigslist saying where and what kind of animal you found and that it is now being sheltered at Vancouver Animal Control.

If you have lost a pet, follow these steps:

• Immediately look around your neighbourhood.
• Log onto Craigslist and create a lost report for your dog and place a picture in your ad. Our shelter and many citizens check these lost reports in order to contact owners to notify them of a found pet.
• Log in to PetLynx and create a lost pet report. This program will match your lost pet report with found pet reports from all over the province. All pets in the Animal Control Shelter are entered in to PetLynx, so be sure to check it daily for new found pet reports.
• Visit Animal Control to see if your pet has been turned in.
• After hours, call the Vancouver Animal Emergency Clinic at 604.734.5104 to see if they have your pet.
• Call your veterinarian and microchip company to ensure that all of your information is up to date and accurate. If your dog is wearing its licence tag, with all contact information current, Animal Control will contact you if your pet is found.

The Animal Control holds all dogs for a minimum of 3 business days, so be sure to check back regularly.

If your dog is wearing its valid license, and it has not been brought into Animal Control during the same year, your dog will be released to you free of charge, if picked up by end of business the following day.

If your dog has been impounded during the current year, or does not have a valid license, impounding fees will apply. You will also be required to purchase a dog licence prior to your dog being released from Animal Control.

The City of Vancouver Animal Control accepts only stray dogs that are found within the City of Vancouver. If you have found a dog outside of the City of Vancouver you should contact the municipality where the dog was found. Owners are not likely to search outside the municipality where their pet went missing so it is important to bring the dog to the proper facility.

Yes. Animal Control has a bulletin board in their front lobby and you are welcome to post your lost pet poster on it. Posters will remain up for a one month period and will then be removed.

You should check the local vet clinics, especially the emergency clinics that are open 24 hours. Check Animal Control for dogs, the BC SPCA for cats, as well as checking Craigslist for found reports. You should also check with Deceased Animal Pick up through Animal Control at 3-1-1 or outside Vancouver at 604.873.7000.

You must inquire with the veterinary clinic where you are taking the animal if they will charge you for treating a stray dog or you can contact the Vancouver Animal Emergency Clinic at 604.734.5104 for instructions on where an injured dog can be taken.

Contact the BC SPCA Vancouver office at 604.879.7721.

No. Animal Control has no kenneling facilities for cats. Contact the BC SPCA and other rescue shelters in the City of Vancouver to check for your lost cat. Do not forget to check Craigslist and place a lost report on Pet Lynx.

Animal Control will impound a variety of animals including exotic animals. Our most frequent animals are dogs but we do receive rabbits, budgies, parakeets, snakes, lizards and many more. Call Animal Control at 3-1-1 or outside Vancouver at 604.873.7000 to see what other animals we have available for adoption.