How Long Does a Shelter Keep an Animal?
It depends on state and local law. For impounded strays, state holding period laws give owners between 48 hours (Hawaii) and 10 days (Missouri) to reclaim them, and most states with such laws require 3 to 5 days. About 12 states have no statewide holding law, leaving it to local rules. After the holding period, the shelter may put the animal up for adoption, transfer it to a rescue or, in some cases, euthanize it.
A "holding period" (or stray hold) is the time a shelter must keep a found animal so its owner can reclaim it. It's set by state law, and often lengthened by city or county ordinances.
State holding periods at a glance
| Holding period | |
|---|---|
| Shortest state requirement | 48 hours (Hawaii) |
| Longest state requirement | 10 days (Missouri) |
| Most states with holding laws | 3–5 days |
| States without a statewide holding law | Arkansas, Florida, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming |
Source: Michigan State University's Animal Legal & Historical Center (count current as of 2025). About 38 states plus DC have holding laws; some cover only dogs, and California and Rhode Island have separate cat holding rules. Local ordinances can set longer periods, and holding laws don't apply to private people who take in strays.
What happens after the holding period
The shelter decides whether to make the animal available for adoption, transfer it to a rescue partner or, in some cases, euthanize it. Nationally, about 8% of shelter animals were euthanized in 2025, down from 10% in 2019, according to ASPCA figures.
Owner-surrendered pets
Pets given up by their owners usually don't have a stray holding period, because ownership transfers to the shelter at surrender. How long they stay depends on the shelter's capacity and policies.
If your pet is lost: act fast
- Visit every nearby shelter in person, repeatedly; don't rely only on phone calls or websites.
- File a lost-pet report with animal control and local shelters.
- Check your microchip registration is current. In a large study, 52.2% of microchipped stray dogs were returned to owners versus 21.9% without chips; for cats, 38.5% versus 1.8%.
- Post on local lost-pet groups and neighborhood apps.
- Bring proof of ownership (photos, vet records, microchip number) when you go.
How long do no-kill shelters keep animals?
Policies vary. Shelters that describe themselves as "no-kill" generally keep adoptable animals until they're adopted, which can limit how many new animals they can take in. Ask your local shelter about its policies.
See should I microchip my pet and find animal shelters near you.
Sources
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This article is general information for pet owners, not veterinary, legal or financial advice. Prices vary by city and clinic; always ask your veterinarian or provider about your own pet.