Municipal Holding for Stray Dogs

When a Dog Control Officer or resident brings a stray dog to our shelter, the staff tries to reach the owner of the dog if it is licensed or, for an unlicensed dog, checks the Shelter’s Lost Dog Reports to determine whether the owner reported the dog as lost.

If the owner does not claim the dog within six days, CGHS/SPCA becomes the custodial owner of the dog, and it will be made available for adoption.

Local towns contract with our Shelter to provide this municipal holding function as regulated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.