DAS Updates to Stray Hold Process and Weekend Hours

Published on June 08, 2026

Collier County Domestic Animal Services Announces Updates to Stray Hold Process and Weekend Hours

Collier County Domestic Animal Services (DAS) will implement updates to its stray hold process and weekend operating hours beginning June 15. These changes are designed to better support lost pets, pet owners, and the animals in DAS care while improving the way animals move through the shelter system.

A stray hold is the required period of time that a lost or stray animal is held at the shelter to give an owner the opportunity to locate and reclaim their pet. During this time, DAS staff work to identify the animal, check for a microchip or other identification, review lost pet reports, provide care, and support reunification whenever possible.

Under the updated changes, dogs and cats without identification will have a 2-day stray hold (certain exceptions apply). Dogs and cats with identification will continue to have a 5-day stray hold. Once an animal's stray hold expires, the pet legally becomes the property of the shelter.

The previous stray hold times were 5 days for dogs, regardless of whether they had identification; 24 hours for cats without identification (with certain exceptions); and 5 days for cats with identification.

DAS will also update its weekend operating hours and will now close at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Shelters are intended to be temporary places of care. While DAS staff and volunteers work hard every day to provide safe, humane, and compassionate care, the shelter environment can still be stressful for animals. Each year, DAS cares for more than 6,000 animals from across Collier County and continues to maintain a strong lifesaving focus, with a lifesaving rate of 96%. Because of the number of animals entering the shelter, reducing unnecessary time in care is an important part of protecting animal welfare, supporting operational capacity, and helping pets move more quickly toward reunification, adoption, transfer, foster care, or other positive outcomes.

The updated process also reinforces the importance of pet identification and quick action when a pet is missing. A microchip is one of the most effective ways to help reunite lost pets with their owners because it provides a permanent form of identification. Community members can get their pet microchipped at DAS any day the shelter is open for $15.

Pet owners are strongly encouraged to keep current identification on their pets, including collars, ID tags, microchips, and updated contact information.

Community members can help lost pets get home faster by:

  1. Checking the DAS website and other Lost Pet social media pages immediately if a pet is missing
  2. Visiting the shelter in person as soon as possible
  3. Keeping pets microchipped with current contact information
  4. Keeping collars and ID tags on pets whenever safely possible
  5. Reporting found pets quickly so reunification efforts can begin

These changes are part of DAS’s continued commitment to reducing unnecessary shelter stress, improving animal welfare, and supporting positive outcomes for the animals and families of Collier County.

For more information, visit Collier County Domestic Animal Services or contact the shelter directly.

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