Lost and Found Pets

The Rural City of Wangaratta partners with the Albury Animal Care Centre to provide pound services focused on the safe, cost-effective return of lost pets - ideally within the first 24 hours.

To support this, pet owners are encouraged to ensure their animals are microchipped and registered with up-to-date details, which often allows pets to be returned without being impounded.

Initially, lost pets are held for 24 hours at a local Wangaratta facility that meets Animal Welfare Victoria Standards. If not reunited within that time, animals are transferred to Albury Animal Care Centre.

Owners may collect their pets directly from the Albury Animal Care Centre, otherwise, can utilise a council run transport service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Council Rangers will post found pets on the "Lost and Found Pets of Wangaratta" Facebook page, which should be the first-place owners check if their pet is missing.

Some interesting stats about the lost and found pets picked up by the Council Rangers.

 

Total: July 2024 to July 2025

Total Impounded Animals 356 Collected by Rangers 100%
Returned within 24hrs by Rangers 98 27.53%
Albury Animal Care Centre 72 (includes 16 Surrendered) 20.22%
Feral 110 33.43%
Euthanised 67 Surrendered by owner- Behavioural/Medical 18.82%

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is providing Council’s Pound Services from July 2023 and why?

  • Albury Animal Care Centre, Albury Council, was the successful tenderer for the Council contract to provide domestic animals pound services from July 2023.
  • The contract was awarded to Albury Animal Care Centre, Albury Council following a fair and rigorous tender process.
  • Albury’s tender submission was the only one within Council’s budget for this service and they have the facilities to provide the level of service and care Council requires.

What's happening during this period?

  • Council will be assessing the viability of establishing its own pound facility in Wangaratta beyond the 2-year contract period.
  • If found to be viable and subject to funding, the aim would be to establish the pound facility on a suitable site in Wangaratta.
  • If found not to be viable, council will go through a future tendering process.

What service can the community expect from this contract?

  • Council maintains our ongoing commitment to the welfare of domestic animals and support of responsible pet ownership.
  • The objective is to ensure the safety of domestic animals within our municipality and reunite them with their owners swiftly, safely and in a cost-effective way.
  • Council will care for lost domestic animals for the first 24 hours in a holding facility in Wangaratta that meets Animal Welfare Victoria Standards, while efforts are made to return the pets to their rightful owners.
  • Community members whose animals are taken to Albury after this period, are encouraged to contact Council and can arrange for the return of their animals through the animal transport service that will run on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays each week.
  • Community member can also choose to collect their animals from Albury.

How exactly will this process work?

  • Council will look after and hold animals in our 24-hour holding facility in Wangaratta.
  • During this holding time, Council officers will try to contact the owner to return the animal to them.
  • Council Rangers will carry microchip scanning devices in their vehicles if they collect an animal, they will try to return the animal to the owner.
    • If animal is found out again - one formal warning with caution will be issued.
    • If animal is found at large on more than one occasions a fine will be issued.
  • Rural City of Wangaratta encourages pet owners to get their pets microchipped and ensure their pet registration details are up to date to facilitate the return of their animals within the first 24 hours
  • If Council officers cannot get animals back to owners within the 24-hour period due to:
    • Owner being uncontactable,
    • Information on the domestic animal register being incorrect or not up to date,
    • The animal not being registered,

    then Council will transport these animals to the Albury facility.

  • If needed, Council will transport animals they have not been able to return owners on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
  • If you have lost your domestic pet and it has been taken to the Albury Pound and you cannot get to Albury to collect your pet, arrangements can be made with Council officers to collect your pet to be brought back on the days that they are visiting the Albury facility.

Can Albury Animal Care Centre provide this service to another State?

  • Albury Animal Care Shelter has been providing pound services to Wodonga, Indigo and Towong Shire Councils and they meet all Victorian Animal Welfare Standards. 
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