--- title: "Lost and Found Stray Intake Steps for Shelters" description: "Step-by-step stray intake for shelters and rescues: greet the finder, scan and photograph, record where found, check lost reports, and keep the reunification path open." canonical: https://www.whiskermatch.com/resources/stray-intake-steps-for-found-animals markdown_url: https://www.whiskermatch.com/resources/stray-intake-steps-for-found-animals.md generated_from: "canonical page server-rendered HTML; the HTML page is authoritative" last_modified: 2026-10-03 last_updated: 2026-10-03 publisher: "Veldarium Technology Systems LLC" --- 1. [Home](https://www.whiskermatch.com/) 2. [Resources](https://www.whiskermatch.com/resources) 3. Stray intake steps for found animals Shelter operations resource # Stray intake steps for found animals Follow the same sequence each time a found animal comes in, so the owner who is searching has the best chance of being matched to the animal. Local rules decide holding periods, notice requirements, and what a finder may keep. This page puts the practical steps in order and leaves those rules to you. For the photo and context side of intake, see the stray intake photo and context checklist. [Bring one workflow](https://www.whiskermatch.com/contact#bring-one-workflow) 01 ## Step 1: Talk to the finder - Thank the finder, and ask when and where they found the animal. Write down the cross streets or landmark in their words. - Ask what happened between finding and arrival: where the animal was kept, what it was fed, and whether it was seen by anyone else. - Ask if the finder wants to be contacted if an owner comes forward, and record the best number. - Ask whether the finder wants to be considered as an adopter if the animal is not claimed, and record the answer without promising anything. - **Found location and time** - **Finder contact** 02 ## Step 2: Scan, photograph, and describe - Scan for a microchip, and record the result and the scanner used. - Take clear photos from the front, side, and of any distinctive marks or items on the animal. - Write a plain description: species, size, coat, and anything that would help an owner recognize the animal. - Leave out one identifying detail from the public description so you can ask a claimant to supply it. - **Microchip result** - **Detail kept back** 03 ## Step 3: Record and house - Create the intake record with a stray status and the date. - Record the holding period that applies where you work, who confirmed it, and the date it ends. - Make sure the animal is housed and checked, and that someone owns the first welfare check. - Hand anything medical to the people qualified to assess it, and record that you did. - **Status and date** - **Hold ends** 04 ## Step 4: Open the search path for the owner - Check your own lost reports and any local lost-and-found pages or groups you use. - Publish the found report with the photo and general location, and not the full address. - Tell the front desk and phones team that the animal is here, with the photo. - Decide who reviews new lost reports and how often. - **Lost reports checked** - **Found report published** 05 ## Step 5: Handle a claim - Ask the claimant to describe the animal and supply the detail you kept back, before showing any photo. - Ask for the kind of proof your organization accepts, such as records, photos, or a chip registration. - Have a second staff member review before the animal is released. - Record who claimed the animal, what was shown, and who approved the release. - **Proof accepted** - **Release approved by** 06 ## Step 6: If no one claims the animal - Record the date the hold ended and what happens next under your policy. - Move the animal into your normal intake and adoption review, and bring the full record along. - Keep the finder informed according to what you agreed with them. - **Next path** - **Finder updated on** ## Common questions - **How long do we hold a stray?** That depends on where you work. This page does not state a holding period. Check your local rules and write the date in the record. - **Why keep one detail out of the public description?** It lets you confirm that a person claiming the animal knows something only the owner would. It is one simple way to reduce mistaken or false claims. ## Keep reading - [Stray intake photo and context checklist](https://www.whiskermatch.com/resources/stray-intake-photo-context-checklist) - [Shelter intake record template](https://www.whiskermatch.com/resources/shelter-intake-record-template) - [WhiskerMatch lost and found](https://www.whiskermatch.com/lost-found) - [animal intake software](https://www.whiskermatch.com/animal-intake-software) - [All shelter workflow resources](https://www.whiskermatch.com/resources) - [Free printable tools](https://www.whiskermatch.com/tools) Early access, founder-led ## Keep this with the animal record. WhiskerMatch is one record per animal that intake, foster, adoption review, and public profiles share. It starts with one workflow, beside the tools you already use, and a person at your organization makes every decision. $20/month per organization, no seat limits. This is a founder-led early access invitation with no deadline. Writing to ask a question costs nothing and commits you to nothing. [Bring one workflow](https://www.whiskermatch.com/contact#bring-one-workflow) [See pricing](https://www.whiskermatch.com/pricing) Want to look first? [Walk through the guided demo](https://www.whiskermatch.com/demo). --- About WhiskerMatch: WhiskerMatch is workflow software for animal shelters and rescues that keeps one reviewed record per animal across intake, foster care, adoption review and public profiles, with people making every placement and publishing decision. ## Sitemap See the full [WhiskerMatch sitemap](https://www.whiskermatch.com/sitemap.md) for every public page, or [llms.txt](https://www.whiskermatch.com/llms.txt) for a short summary.