Stray Animals
Stray Animal Process and Information
Welcome to West Valley Humane Society's Stray Animal Services
At West Valley Humane Society, we are committed to providing shelter and care for stray animals in Canyon County, Idaho. If you’ve found a stray pet, we’re here to help you through the process of ensuring they receive the care and attention they need.
Stray Animal Admission Hours
Stray animals are accepted at our shelter during the following hours:
- Days: Monday to Saturday
- Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Please review the information below and fill out the appropriate form linked for your convenience.
Stray Animal Fees
At West Valley Humane Society, we assess fees for the intake and care of stray animals. These fees help support the shelter’s efforts to provide shelter, medical care, and other necessary services to these animals. Please note that stray cats participating in the Community Cat Program may have different fee structures.
- Stray Dogs: For stray dogs found within our service areas (Canyon County, Nampa, Caldwell, Middleton, Notus, and Marsing), please refer to our Pricing page for detailed information on fees.
- Stray Cats: Stray cats are assessed fees in alignment with our programs. Please see our Pricing page for more details on fees associated with stray cats.
- Other Strays: We accept other domestic pets on a case-by-case basis, considering space and available resources. Fees for other stray animals vary, and details can be found on our Pricing page.
Stray Animal Surrender Process
Our goal is to ensure that all animals arriving at our shelter receive both medical and behavioral evaluations to determine their eligibility for adoption. To maintain the health and well-being of each pet, we require the following steps:
Filling Out the Stray Animal Form:
- Before your arrival at our shelter, please fill out the appropriate form linked below.
- If you have a stray to surrender, we will set up a time for you to drop them off.
- Once you arrive at the shelter, please call 208-455-5920 to inform our staff that you have arrived with a stray animal.
- We may request that you complete the stray animal form below to initiate the surrender process.
- To ensure a smooth procedure and adhere to the current guidelines, we may ask you to remain in your vehicle and follow the staff’s instructions.
Service Areas
We primarily serve the following areas under contract with West Valley Humane Society:
- Canyon County (outside of city limits)
- City Limits of: Nampa, Caldwell, Middleton, Notus, and Marsing
If you’re unsure whether your city is under contract with West Valley Humane Society or if you have questions about the next steps to take, don’t hesitate to reach out to us on our Contact page.
Stray cats have unique considerations
Before surrendering a stray cat, please make sure you are checking out our resources on what cats should and shouldn’t come into the shelter. Our research has shown that the majority of friendly cats brought in as strays have owners within a 1/4 mile of the location they were picked up from. Click here to see which cats should and shouldn’t come into the shelter.
Some additional ways to help a stray cat include:
- Register the cat as found: To increase the chances of reuniting the cat with its owner, please register it as “Found” on Lost.PetColove.org.
- Use social media: Share the cat’s details on local Facebook lost and found pet groups (e.g., Nampa Lost & Found Pets) and on the NextDoor app.
- Talk to your neighbors: Knock on your neighbors’ doors and inquire if they are missing a cat.
- Create and display signs: Design and post “Found Cat” signs in your neighborhood to alert residents about the found cat.
Cat Evaluation and Programs
Upon intake, all stray cats will be evaluated to determine whether they can remain at the shelter for adoption services or if they qualify for our Community Cat Program. Click to learn more about our Community Cat Program.
In cases where a kitten or cat tests positive for Ringworm, we are unable to house them at the shelter during treatment. We actively seek Ringworm Fosters, but if none are available, we may request the finder to foster the affected kitten(s)/cat during treatment. Learn more about Ringworm.
Due to the high cat population and their breeding rates, we often have more kittens than available foster homes. If no foster homes are available, the finder may be asked to foster the kittens, which is referred to as the Kitten Intake Prevention Program.
All cats must have their intake forms completed before arrival. As we frequently operate on a waiting list, you can expect us to reach out to you after you’ve submitted your form to coordinate an intake plan.
Once you are approved to bring in your stray, you’ll be able to come to the shelter at your designated time. It’s advisable to call our front desk at 208-455-5920 to gain access to the building. We also recommend monitoring your email to ensure seamless communication.
