Report a found animal and have it placed
Short text
- Notification and accommodation of a found animal
- Found animals must be reported to the lost property office
- Animals must be housed and cared for in a manner appropriate to their species and behaviour
- Lost and found authorities have regularly commissioned an animal shelter to house them
- Handing in there is also a lost property report
- In consultation with the lost property office, the finder can also keep the animal themselves
- Office or municipality as lost property authority
Full text
From a purely legal point of view, found pets and pets are lost property. Found animals are all lost pets, i.e. animals that are usually kept by people, such as dogs, cats, ornamental birds or farm animals. Wild animals are not pets. If you have found a lost dog or other animal, you must report the find to the relevant local authority as the lost property authority. In case of doubt, this authority will decide whether it is a domestic or wild animal and is then responsible for the appropriate accommodation of the animal.
As a rule, the municipalities work together with local animal shelters where the found animals are housed. Animal shelters provide the species-appropriate accommodation, care and nutrition required by the Animal Welfare Act, as well as any necessary veterinary treatment for the animals.
Basis for action(s)
Costs (fees, expenses, etc.)
generally free of charge
Procedure
If free-roaming animals jeopardise public safety, especially road safety, you should contact the police immediately (emergency number 110).
If you have found a wild animal in need of help, please contact the emergency control centre (call 112). They will then inform the relevant authorities.
If you have found a pet, please contact your local authority. You can report the find there and hand in the animal by arrangement. The local authority will then take care of the further accommodation and care of the animal.
Many municipalities have commissioned an animal shelter to look after found animals. The municipality can inform you of the animal shelter in charge, e.g. by telephone, internet or notice board. If the municipality works together with an animal shelter that takes care of lost and found animals for them, you can usually also hand in the animal there directly. In this case, the animal shelter will take care of the lost property report.
Notes (special features)
After reporting the animal to the lost property office, you can also keep the animal yourself with the consent of the lost property office. However, this has no effect on the fact that the loser remains the owner, so that the animal may have to be handed over if the owner of the animal can be identified or reports himself.
Author
II 400
Typing
2/3bResponsible office
The municipality in which the animal was found is responsible as the lost property authority.
Applications / Forms