The Lewis County Animal Shelter is urging residents who need to surrender an animal to first call the county or the shelter to find the best place for a dog after two dogs were abandoned outside the facility earlier this week.
According to a Lewis County news release, two dogs were abandoned outside the county shelter on Tuesday outside of the shelter's operating hours. Shelter staff warn that leaving a dog near the county shelter facility is not the same as surrendering an animal and is considered illegal abandonment of an animal. The two dogs are now in the care of the shelter and their abandonment is “under review.”
“Abandoning a dog at the shelter is not the same as legally surrendering it,” the release stated. “Leaving an animal tied up outside, loose in the parking lot, or dropped on shelter grounds when the facility is closed puts the animal at serious risk and violates state and local laws.”
Lewis County Public Health and Social Service Director Meja Handlen urged those looking to surrender an animal to contact the local shelter ahead of time to find the best way to surrender animals they can no longer care for.
“We understand that people may feel overwhelmed or think they have no other options,” Handlen said. “But abandoning an animal is never acceptable. There are legal, safe ways to surrender a pet, and we are here to help connect owners with those options.”
Shelter staff cited concerns that animals left in the shelter parking lot may run away, not be found or be harmed in other ways. Shelter staff also worry animals will wander onto the road as the facility and its parking lot are located directly off of Centralia Alpha Road. Leaving an animal near the facility without a legal surrender may lead to fines or criminal charges for abandonment.
Residents looking to surrender an animal should contact the Lewis County Animal Shelter during operating hours — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, Tuesday through Saturday. Residents can contact the shelter by calling 360-740-1290. Staff will provide legal options for surrender or connect callers with other resources.
