We hold stray pets for the legal hold period of three working days (not including the day that the animal is picked up, days the shelter is closed, or the day of disposition) after which time they are evaluated for potential adoption. Working days at Osceola County Animal Services are Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays.
Please be advised that not every animal is deemed appropriate for adoption. We do not knowingly adopt pets into the community that we believe present a threat to public safety. There may also be medical conditions that are serious enough to make adoption inappropriate or impractical and in these cases, animals may be euthanized.
If a stray animal is put up for adoption, the owner still has three full working days to claim it. If an animal was adopted out then claimed by the original owner, the potential adopter is contacted and given the option of choosing another animal or obtaining a refund.
Pets that are wearing valid ID are held five working days. Valid ID must track to a current telephone number where the owner can be easily reached.
Community cats, feral or free roaming felines, are not considered owned and therefore do not have to be held any required time frame. Instead, those cats are spayed/neutered, vaccinated against rabies and other disease, ear tipped and released to the location from which they came.