You may have read several articles in the paper lately regarding the rising problem of stray animals in Parker County. Since I volunteer at the Weatherford/Parker County Animal Shelter, just so you know, I thought the time would be appropriate to inform you about what happens to your pet if it’s brought to the shelter.

Here are the answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions of the shelter:

1. If my pet is brought in as a stray, how long do you keep him?

Stray animals are kept a minimum of 72 hours (3 business days) to allow owners to reclaim them (excluding day of impoundment). If the stray has a rabies tag or microchip, they are kept a minimum of 5 business days (excluding day of impoundment) while the shelter staff tries to make contact with the owner. An exception may be made if the animal is severely injured and must be humanely euthanized to end suffering. If your pet is missing, please come in personally to check daily as the staff is not able to check for you. We receive 150 – 200 animals per week.

2. How much does it cost to reclaim my dog/cat?

If your animal has been altered (spayed/neutered), there is a $25 impound fee plus $5 a day for boarding. If your animal is over 3 months of age, it must have a current rabies vaccination before it can be reclaimed. Likewise, if it has not been altered, and you do not want it altered at the shelter, the fee is $100. If you want to have your pet altered the fee is $55 for cats, $75 for male dogs and $85 for female dogs.

3. If I can’t take care of my animal anymore can I bring it to the shelter?

Yes, you can bring it in for a charge of $5 per animal.

4. If I bring in my dog or cat, can you guarantee to find it a home?

Owner released pets become the property of the shelter when they are signed over. There is no minimum length of time they must be kept. Please know that it is difficult to find homes for older dogs; and puppies, though more desirable, get sick quickly in this environment. It is much better to find homes for them yourself.

5. Can anyone in Parker Country bring animals, stray or owner release to the shelter?

No. The shelter can only accommodate citizens residing in the city of Weatherford and in unincorporated parts of Parker County. Therefore, the cities of Millsap, Sanctuary, Willow Park, Hudson Oaks, Aledo, Annetta, Azle, Springtown and Reno must either take the animal to their local shelter if available, or to the Human Society in Fort Worth. The same applies to calls from citizens asking for strays to be picked up.

6. How much does it cost to adopt a dog or cat?

The adoption fee for cats is $55, for dogs is $75 for males and $85 for females. This includes the spay/neuter surgery, a microchip for identification, rabies vaccination, and deworming for all dogs.

7. What can I do about all the wild cats on my property?

You can pick up a trap at the shelter for no cost. Once trapped, bring them into the shelter.

How You Can Help

Also, just so you know, the shelter is always in need of towels, bleach, kitty liter, flea and tick medicine (Advantage, Frontline, Capstar), large crates, large trash bags and paper towels.

We can also always use volunteers. Parker Paws is a non-profit group recently created to recruit volunteers and raise money to aid the animal shelter. For more details about Parker Paws see my contact information below.

The very best thing you can do that will help you locate your lost pet is to have proper identification. Make sure the tags on his collar can be read and consider getting your pet a microchip. And, just so you know, the shelter will microchip your pet, no matter what part of Parker County you live in for only $20.

Animal control is a needed service here, so please be kind to the Animal Control Officers and shelter workers, it’s a stressful and sometimes dangerous job. Just as somebody’s got to pick up the trash and clean the streets, somebody’s got to pick up these unwanted and stray animals. It’s up to us to make sure the animals we love do not go astray. The problem of lost abandoned and feral animals is one that we should all be concerned with.