Independence Day fireworks celebrations result in a higher pet intake in shelters across the country.

Lee County Domestic Animal Services serves as Lee County’s only stray facility for domestic animals.

Animal Services reminds owners to keep their pets inside, away from windows and doors. Microchipped pets have the highest rate of return when displaced from their owners. Owners can also put a tag with their information attached to the collar.

If your pet does get separated from you, file a missing pet report by calling 239-533-7387 (LEE-PETS) and keep an eye on the LCDAS website www.LeeLostPets.com.

All microchipped pets or pets with identification will be held for five days to give the owner time to claim. Dogs found without a microchip or identification will be held for three days. Cats without identification do not have a hold period.

Having one location in the county where lost pets can be turned in helps owners to be reunited with their pets more quickly. 

If you find a stray pet, Lee County ordinance requires all stray animals shall be released by the finder to Animal Services within 24 hours of being found to provide owners the opportunity to reclaim their animal. Owners come into Animal Services daily looking for missing pets that may have been kept by well-meaning finders who did not realize they must take them to Animal Services.

A finder may adopt the found animal if unclaimed by the owner at the expiration of the stray holding period with a completed and approved adoption application through Animal Services. This allows the finder to have the pet fully vetted, microchipped and adopted legally.

In addition to the community bringing found strays to LCDAS, there are three additional ways the public can help:

• Adopting

Adopters are needed for animals ready to go to their forever families.

• Fostering

Animal Services is also in need of volunteers to provide foster homes for animals not yet ready for forever homes. Foster families are provided supplies.

• Donating

Items are welcome to help care for animals, including baby blankets, water bowls, flat dishes, digital thermometers, cat beds, Dawn dish soap and cat nail trimmers.

Items can be dropped off at Animal Services located at 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers, during regular hours. Online donations to the Animal Care Trust Fund are also appreciated and can be found at www.leegov.com/animalservices/trustfund. The Animal Care Trust Fund helps provide additional lifesaving services and community outreach.

For more information about Lee County Domestic Animal Services go to www.LeeLostPets.com or call 239-533-7387 (LEE-PETS). You may also submit an adoption application online. Adoption hours are 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday at Animal Services, 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers, next to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office off Six Mile Cypress Parkway.