FAQs
FAQs
Q: I donate to national animal welfare organizations. Does that money go toward the shelter?
Monies donated to national animal welfare organizations do not support local shelters. The only way to ensure that your donation is being used locally is to donate directly to the shelter. Visit our Donate
page to learn more about donating to GCHS.
Q: I have a sick/injured animal and cannot afford the vet bills. Can GCHS cover the cost of treatment?
Unfortunately, we cannot. GCHS is a shelter for homeless animals, not an animal healthcare facility. Our monetary resources must be used to care for the animals in the shelter.
Q: Does GCHS require a veterinarian to be present for evaluation before accepting an animal?
No. GCHS has wonderful volunteer veterinarians, but they do not work with us full-time. We have numerous staff members trained to do intakes (many of them vet techs). If an animal requires veterinary care at intake and a veterinarian is not on-site, we make appropriate arrangements to transport to a local clinic.
Q: Why do I have to call the police before I bring a stray animal to the shelter?
Imagine that you find a lost wallet on the sidewalk. The correct thing to do is contact the police and turn in the wallet. The wallet is stored at the police department until the owner claims it. In Wisconsin, animals are property and the same rules apply. However, animals cannot stay locked in an office until their owners claim them. Therefore, local municipalities contract with GCHS to hold these animals until the owner comes forward or until the stray hold period ends. Visit our Found a Stray?
page to learn more about what to do when finding a stray animal.
Q: Why can’t animals be held longer to give an owner more time to find their pet?
Unfortunately, our resources are limited and we are not able to hold animals indefinitely. Getting animals into permanent homes as soon as possible helps us keep costs in line, reduces stress to the animals, and allows us to help more animals in need. For more information on state required hold periods, visit our Legalities
page for more information on state statutes.
Q: Why does GCHS charge a fee to reclaim my pet?
Our fee is comparable to what a boarding facility would charge to house your pet. Every animal that comes to the shelter requires food, supplies, staff time, and space. We understand that it is just one animal for a few days, but yours probably isn't the only animal at the shelter in the same situation–we take in hundreds of animals each year. If we didn't charge a fee every time a pet was just there for a few days, we would not have any resources to care for the animals that truly need them. Visit our New Shelter Arrivals and Claiming Your Pet
page to learn more about what to do to claim your pet.
Q: If I see an animal being abused or neglected, should I call the shelter?
No, you should call your local law enforcement agency. GCHS cannot initiate any animal investigation because we are not a law enforcement or animal control agency.
Q: What should I do if I lost my pet?
GCHS recommends filling out the Lost Pet Form on our website, contacting your local law enforcement agency, WEKZ, your neighbors, and your veterinarian. As animals cross borders, you should also contact surrounding humane societies/animal control. If you have lost your dog, GCHS additionally recommends contacting Lost Dogs of Wisconsin and/or Lost Dogs of Illinois. If you have lost your cat, please contact Lost Cats of Wisconsin. New shelter arrivals are also posted on our Facebook page, so check often. Every animal’s description is subject to different interpretation, so we recommend visiting the shelter to actually view the animals. These resources are available on our Lost a Pet?
page.
Q: What role does GCHS have in animal seizures?
Only law enforcement can seize an animal. GCHS contracts with Green County and the City of Monroe to provide care for seized animals while a case is adjudicated. These animals are not the property of GCHS and we work under the direction of the law enforcement and courts involved in the matter. As such, GCHS cannot comment if a seizure takes place, so all questions should be directed to the appropriate law enforcement body.
Q: How is GCHS funded?
GCHS is funded by private donations. GCHS is also a contracted service provider for Green County, the City of Monroe, and Lafayette County’s stray animals. For Lafayette County, the contract only covers dogs.
Q: What kinds of animals does the shelter take in?
The shelter only takes domestic cats and dogs.
Q: Does GCHS accept surrenders?
GCHS asks that any family considering the surrender of an animal exhausts all other opportunities before contacting the shelter. Many pets who have only known home life do not do well in the shelter environment. If an animal is stressed, withdrawn, or depressed, it can take much longer to find a new home. We cannot make any guarantees as to how long your animal may remain at the shelter. Consider checking with family and friends first. Rescues are another great option, as many of these animals are cared for in home environments. We can assist you in finding an appropriate rescue if you need help.
GCHS is a contracted service provider for domestic cats and dogs in the City of Monroe, Green County, and Lafayette County. The care and adoption of strays remains our first priority. Limited surrenders will only be taken by appointment pending available space, resources, and adoptability requirements. GCHS will not accept for surrender any animal with a bite history. All surrenders are subject to a surrender fee to help pay for veterinary care and maintenance of the animal while at the shelter.
Visit our Surrenders
page to learn more.
Q: What does limited surrenders mean?
A limited surrender facility is defined as “a shelter that accepts only animals that they believe can be adopted out and only when the shelter has space and resources available.” This means we consider the needs of our current animals, our stray contracts, staffing patterns, and available resources before approving a surrender. Sadly, that means sometimes perfectly adoptable animals will have to be turned away if we feel we cannot properly meet the needs of that animal based on any of the criteria above. If we do have to turn away a surrender, we will do our best to direct owners to suitable outside resources.
Q: Why charge an adoption fee?
Adoption fees
help pay for the care (vaccinations, veterinary services, medications, food) of the shelter animals, pay staff, and maintain the shelter. All animals adopted out are spayed/neutered, microchipped and current on vaccinations.
Q: Does GCHS adopt animals to outdoor homes?
Yes, outdoor adoption of suitable animals is allowed to appropriate homes. An approved application and site inspection is required.
Q: Does GCHS take feral cats?
No, we do not. There is a difference between feral and homeless (stray/lost) cats. Feral cats are not domesticated and cannot be safely handled by the staff or public. As such, these animals are not suited for life as a house cat. Trapping a feral cat for any purpose other than spay/neuter and release is condemning them to a life in a cage because they are not pets and not adoptable. If you have interest in trap and release programs, please contact the shelter and we can direct you to area resources.
Q: We know of people who have abandoned animals in their house, why won’t GCHS go get them?
The short answer is: we can’t. GCHS is a private organization and not a law enforcement body. In the State of Wisconsin, animals are property. Entering private property and removing an animal is theft, the same way entering a house to remove a stereo is. Therefore, we legally cannot enter a private residence to remove animals from a home. If you have a concern about an animal left behind, please contact your appropriate law enforcement agency.
Q: GCHS is a no-kill shelter, but reports euthanasia in animal statistics. What’s going on?
GCHS is a no-kill shelter. No-kill means that we will not euthanize based on space concerns, length of stay, or breed considerations. Unfortunately, there are times when an animal is very ill or suffering and we have to make the decision to humanely euthanize that animal. There are other times when an animal is a danger to the staff and public, and therefore unadoptable, when we must euthanize. The decision to euthanize an animal is not taken lightly at GCHS and we look to every option before we make that final decision.