Washoe County Regional Animal Services has reached capacity for dogs and is asking the public to help reduce the number of animals at the shelter.
According to Washoe County Regional Animal Services in an online post, the shelter was at capacity for dogs as of Monday afternoon and is encouraging the community to help reunite lost pets with their owners and support efforts to move dogs out of the shelter.
The agency said 15.8% of the dogs currently in its care have completed the required stray hold period and are available to be transferred to approved rescue partners. Officials encouraged approved rescue organizations to consider taking in dogs that are eligible for transfer.
People who are missing a dog are encouraged to check the shelter's online lost pet listings every day, multiple times a day, or visit the facility in person.
Officials also asked anyone who finds a dog to first use one of the area's microchip scanning stations to try to reunite the pet with its owner before bringing it to the shelter.
If a dog cannot immediately be reunited with its family, the agency asks finders to file an online found animal report and, if they are able, keep the dog for up to 48 hours while searching for its owner before taking it to the shelter.
The agency also encouraged people to adopt or foster through a partnering shelter or rescue group.
(Washoe County Regional Animal Services contributed to this story.)
