This page explains what to do if you find a stray or injured animal, what situations we can take in, and how our process works. If you’re unsure, call us—our goal is to help you do the right thing as quickly and safely as possible.
Quick Table of Contents
When to Call Immediately (Urgent Situations)
If an animal is injured, found on a roadway, or is in immediate danger of being hit, please contact us right away. Even if our facility is at capacity, we will work to find a safe option as quickly as possible.
📞 Floyd County Animal Shelter: (606) 886-3189
What the Shelter Accepts:
Floyd County Animal Shelter accepts the following types of cases (depending on capacity and urgency):
- Injured animals
- Animals found on roadways or in danger of being hit
- Strays (non-medical)
- Abandoned animals
- Owner surrenders (non-emergency)
Please note: We may not always have immediate kennel space for non-emergency cases, but we will guide you through next steps and use a wait list when appropriate.
Stray Hold Policy (Non-Medical)
For strays that are not medical emergencies, we follow a 5-day stray hold to allow owners time to locate and reclaim their pet.
During this time, we encourage the public to help reunite pets with families by:
- Checking for tags/collar information
- Posting a photo (location-general, not exact address) on local community pages
- Reporting the found pet to the shelter
Medical Cases & Rescue Placement
If a stray or abandoned animal is injured or medically urgent:
- If the animal can be saved, we work to find a rescue partner who can take the case and provide ongoing care.
- If a veterinarian determines that euthanasia is the most humane option, we will act to prevent suffering.
Our priority is always the animal’s welfare and preventing prolonged pain or distress.
Owner Surrenders
We do accept owner surrenders. Because our space is limited, owner surrenders are generally handled as non-emergency intake and may require placement on a wait list.
If you are considering surrender, please contact us as early as possible so we can help you explore options (including rescue referrals when available).
Wait List & Capacity Limits
For non-emergency situations, we may use a wait list due to limited kennel space. Examples include:
- Healthy strays (not in immediate danger)
- Owner surrenders
- Animals abandoned at a home where someone is currently feeding them
If an animal is abandoned at or in a home, and someone is feeding it, we may ask that it remain there temporarily until we can safely make room.
What You Should Do if You See a Stray Animal:
Step-by-step
- Stay safe first. Use caution around frightened or injured animals.
- If the animal is in traffic danger or visibly injured, contact us immediately.
- If safe, secure the animal in a contained area (porch, garage, bathroom) with water.
- Check for ID (tags/collar). If the animal is friendly and you can do so safely, consider a local vet scan for a microchip.
- Report the animal to the shelter so it can be documented properly.
Please seek immediate medical attention if you are bitten or scratched by a stray animal.
For your safety and the animal’s wellbeing, it is always best to allow trained animal professionals to handle frightened, injured, or aggressive animals whenever possible. Even well-intentioned attempts to help can result in bites, scratches, or serious injury when an animal is scared or in pain.
If you encounter an animal that appears aggressive, severely injured, or unsafe to approach, do not attempt to intervene yourself. Please contact Animal Control or local authorities so the situation can be handled safely and humanely.
Liability Disclaimer
While we provide guidance to help keep the public informed, the Floyd County Animal Shelter is not responsible for injuries, accidents, or outcomes resulting from members of the public attempting to handle animals on their own. Every situation is different, and animal behavior can be unpredictable.
When in doubt, step back and call for professional assistance. Your safety matters.
How to Reach Animal Control (ACO)
If you need to reach Animal Control, you can contact the County Judge’s Office at:
📞 County Judge’s Office (ACO): (606) 886-9193