Fayetteville Animal Shelter
and Animal Services
There are some other things to keep in mind as well.
It is astonishing how many people don't think about contacting the local animal shelter when they lose or find an animal. By all means, always report a lost or found animal to the local shelter!
The Fayetteville Animal Shelter keeps lists of lost and found dogs and cats, and can frequently match a lost pet to an owner. This service is not limited to Fayetteville City residents. In fact, on one occasion, a pet found in Fayetteville was reunited with its owner in Connecticut! Also, shelters frequently work together to get animals home again.
A lost or found animal who has not been reported does not have a good chance of getting home again. It has often happened that a well cared-for animal ends up in the Shelter--probably a lost pet that someone is looking for but there is no report of a lost pet on file so there is no way to return the animal to its owner. Or someone may find an animal, take it in, care for it, even work to find it a good home and all the time the animal already has a home and an owner looking for it.
An animal with identification, of course, always has a better chance of getting home again.
First of all, try to leave the animal where you find it. There have been people who found a dog, for example, in Huntsville and brought it to the Fayetteville shelter. Although the people had good intentions, they made it unlikely that the dog would be reunited with its owner. The dog's owner was probably in Huntsville and looking for his dog there, never dreaming that the dog was in Fayetteville. (Also, the dog or cat may not be lost at all. Unless it is in danger, it's often best to leave an animal where it is, and where it will probably find its way home.)
If you must pick up an animal, notify the proper authorities where you are. Springdale has its own shelter and animal control officers. Johnson, Lincoln, Prairie Grove, and West Fork all have their own animal control officers, though none has a shelter. Contact the animal control officers of Johnson, Lincoln, Prairie Grove, and West Fork through the police departments of those communities. Many other places have shelters or animal control officers. Check locally before bringing the animal to Fayetteville.
If you remove the animal from an area, be sure to make it possible for the owner to find out where the animal is. Report the animal, post notices in places where people go (gas stations, grocery stores, etc.), and let as many people as possible know that you have the animal and where it will be. Often in the course of asking around, someone will recognize the animal and it will be reunited with its owner immediately.
It's a good thing to try to help animals you might find when you are out of town. Just be sure you are doing the best thing for the animal: leave it where it is if you can, contact the local animal control officer, talk to local people about the animal, and leave notices in local businesses if you remove the animal from the area.