Frequently Asked Questions

Is Napa Humane part of a national organization?
How is Napa Humane funded?
What is the difference between Napa Humane and Napa County Animal Shelter?
How do I report a case of animal abuse or neglect?
How do I adopt an animal?
What do I do if I’ve lost an animal…or found one?
What should I do if I find injured wildlife or birds?
Do you offer all veterinary services through your Clinic?

1. Is Napa Humane part of a national organization?

No. Napa Humane is a private and independent organization. We do not receive any funding from any national group nor do groups such as the Humane Society of the United States or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals dictate our policies or procedures.

We are members of many national groups and applaud their work on behalf of animals and people particularly in their areas of focus – national advocacy, legislation, and policy. You’ll find links to several national organizations on our “links and resources” page.

2. How is Napa Humane funded?

Napa Humane is supported by private donations by individuals and businesses, bequests, and fees for service. We receive no government funding, tax dollars or funding from national animal welfare organizations.

3. What is the difference between Napa Humane and Napa County Animal Shelter?

Napa Humane is a privately funded, non-profit animal welfare organization. Our mission is to promote value and respect for animal life and community well being. We work to accomplish this through education and community outreach in coordination with other animal welfare organizations, and by providing a variety of services and programs including affordable spay/neuter and vaccination services and our mobile adoption program.

The Napa County Animal Shelter is the county’s municipal shelter for all animals, whether lost, abandoned, surrendered or rescued. It takes in not only dogs and cats, but also other domestic and farm animals. It works along side Napa County Animal Services, the county’s agency that enforces animal control laws and anticruelty ordinances, picks up stray animals, rescues animals in distress and responds to animal-related emergencies.

4. How do I report a case of animal abuse or neglect?

Call Napa County Animal Services – (707) 253-4517. They are the agency that responds to complaints of stray, sick or injured animals throughout the County, and are responsible for rabies control and investigations of animal cruelty complaints and animal bite cases.

5. How do I adopt an animal?

There are many animals in sheltering environments throughout our region – municipal shelters, private shelters, fostering programs, and breed and species rescues and societies. Napa Humane works with these groups through our mobile adoption program so that these animals can be taken out of their shelters and into our communities to better their chances of adoption into a loving home. Watch for announcements of upcoming mobile adoption events or visit our local shelters such as the Napa County Animal Shelter or We Care Animal Rescue.

6. What do I do if I’ve lost an animal…or found one?

If you have lost your pet in Napa County, visit the Napa County Animal Shelter right away and on a regular basis, as that is where the “stray” or “owner-unknown” animals are taken. File a “lost pet report” with their staff and consider placing a “lost pet” ad in our local newspapers.

Be sure to put up flyers with your pet’s description – date lost, area lost, and your contact information. But don’t include every details about your pet; hold back a distinctive feature or trait – that way, if someone calls claiming to have found your pet you can determine if they are legitimate by asking about a feature or trait that only someone who actually has your pet would know. Veterinary clinics, pet supply stores, and public bulletin boards are great places to post your flyers.

Continue to search your neighborhood and go door to door to talk with your neighbors. Try searching in the evening when it is quiet and call or whistle, listening for signs of your pet – remember, if injured or frightened, your pet may be hiding.

Don’t give up! Watch the “found pet” ads in our local newspaper, visit the shelter daily and monitor the Napa County Animal Shelter’s web page – for “found pet” postings.

If you have seen a stray animal and would like it picked up, call Napa County Animal Services at (707) 253-4517. If the animal is friendly and you can safely handle it, check for identification and try to trace the owner. If you are able to maintain the pet while looking for the owner, be sure to contact the Napa County Animal Shelter at (707) 253-4381 to file a “found pet report.” If you cannot maintain the animal, you can have an animal control officer come to your home or business to pick it up, or you can take it directly to the Napa County Animal Shelter.

Consider placing “found pet” flyers in the area where you first sited the pet and place a “found pet” ad in our local newspapers with the animal’s description, date found, and your contact information or that of the Napa County Animal Shelter.

7. What should I do if I find injured wildlife or birds?

Call the Wildlife Rescue Center of Napa County at (707) 224-4295 and listen to their pre-recorded detailed message with instructions for handling injured or orphaned wildlife or birds.

8. Do you offer all veterinary services through your Clinic?

No. Napa Humane’s Clinic offers subsidized, affordable spay/neuter, vaccination, and microchipping services to the public. Spaying and neutering directly addresses the tragedy of pet overpopulation and helps ensure decreasing numbers of homeless animal euthanasia in our communities. Vaccinations help promote a healthy pet population and supports responsible pet care and microchipping promotes pets finding their way safely home if injured or lost.

While important, these services to not take the place of on-going health care for your pet. Napa Humane strongly urges that all pets have a relationship with a local, full-service veterinary hospital to provide for their health throughout their lifetime.

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