Collier County shortens stray hold time for pets without microchips

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK)—Starting June 15, Collier County Domestic Animal Services is changing how long stray dogs and cats without identification will be held at the shelter.

The new policy shortens the holding period for animals without microchips or collars from five days to two days. Animals with microchips will continue to be held for five days.

"It used to be that dogs were five days regardless of microchip or not. So we're narrowing that down to be five days with a microchip and two days without," said Meredith McLean, division director for Collier County Domestic Animal Services.

Collier DAS takes in more than 6,000 animals every year. McLean said the goal is reunification, not just adoption.

"Most people, when their pets get lost, as they come here to reunite with them, and it's an exciting moment, but sometimes we don't find owners for those pets, so for those animals we really want to move them through the system a lot quicker, so they can be in a home versus a shelter environment," McLean said.

The policy change affects every dog owner at Naples Dog Park. If any of them lost their dog, finding them means making every second count.

Dave Kokotan was walking his mini-Australian shepherd near Naples Dog Park when WINK News spoke with him. His dog has a QR code tag for identification.

"QR codes, yeah. And then that automatically tells me where she is, and that somebody's found her, and it gives them the phone numbers and all kinds of stuff," Kokotan said.

When asked what he would do if separated from his dog, Kokotan said he would look immediately and call the shelter. DAS says that's exactly what owners should do.

The most effective way of connecting a pet with their owner is with identification—a microchip, a collar or a QR code tag. Animals that come into the shelter are posted online within a couple of hours.

However, DAS says owners should not rely solely on the internet. Their message is: check online, call, go to the shelter in person, and make sure microchip information is up to date.