Found Pets (Bermuda Dunes)

No, it is not legal to simply keep an animal you find in California, as they are considered property. You are legally required to make reasonable efforts to find the owner by checking for tags and microchips and then reporting the animal to your local animal control agency. Only after a mandated holding period and if the owner does not claim the animal can you legally adopt it from the agency. Keeping a found animal without following these steps can result in criminal charges or civil penalties, according to Nolo. Steps to Take When Finding a Lost Animal 1. Check for identification: Look for a collar with a tag, which may have the owner's phone number. 2. Scan for a microchip: Take the animal to a veterinarian or animal shelter to scan for a microchip, which can identify the owner. 3. Report the animal: Contact your local animal control agency or an animal shelter to report finding the animal. 4. Notify authorities: Inform the local authorities, such as the police or town clerk, about the lost animal. 5. Follow the holding period: The animal shelter or agency will hold the animal for a mandated period, usually 30 days or more, to allow the owner time to come forward. 6. Adopt if no owner claims the animal: If no owner claims the animal after the holding period, you may then be able to adopt the animal from the animal control agency or shelter. Why You Cannot Keep a Found Animal Pet owners can press charges: Distraught pet owners can press criminal charges, or sue you for damages, if you keep their lost animal. It could be theft: In California, keeping a found pet without following legal procedures is a form of theft, according to the Central California SPCA. Legal adoption process: The only legal way to take ownership of a stray animal is to adopt it through an animal control agency or rescue organization after the legal holding period has passed, says the Central California SPCA.