Keep Pets Close to Home with Our Pet Reunification Program
At Cincinnati Animal CARE, we believe pets belong with their families. That’s why we launched the CARE Close to Home Program, a proactive pet reunification program designed to reduce shelter crowding and reunite pets with their owners faster. Through a combination of community collaboration and lifesaving strategies, our pet reunification program helps lost pets find their way back home without ever entering a shelter kennel.
1. Triage: Assess and Reunite
Our Triage process is the first step in the pet reunification program. When a lost or stray pet comes to us, our team immediately checks for ID tags, microchips, and local lost pet reports. We also use neighborhood-based tools like Nextdoor, Facebook, and local lost pet groups to help quickly identify the pet’s family.
Whenever possible, we work directly with finders to help pets avoid unnecessary shelter stays, getting them back home quickly through our pet reunification program.
2. First 48: Critical Window for Reunions
The First 48 program is a key component of our pet reunification program. We know that most lost pets are found within a short distance of their home. That’s why we focus on keeping found pets in their neighborhood for at least 48 hours before shelter intake.
During this crucial time, finders are encouraged to hold onto the pet temporarily while we provide tools, flyers, and online listings to help locate the owner. This approach reduces stress for the animal, increases the likelihood of a reunion, and keeps space open in the shelter for animals truly in need. The pet reunification program supports finders every step of the way.
3. Finder to Foster: Temporary Care That Saves Lives
When immediate reunification isn’t possible, our Finder to Foster option gives caring community members the chance to temporarily foster found pets through the pet reunification program. We provide all the supplies and guidance needed for short-term fostering while we continue searching for the pet’s owner.
Through Finder to Foster, neighbors play an essential role in our pet reunification program, keeping pets safe and out of the shelter system until they can return home.
How You Can Help
If you find a lost dog in Hamilton County, here's how you can help.
