Lewis County Animal Shelter, Control & Adoption 2026
If you searched for the Lewis County Animal Shelter, this guide is for Lewis County, Washington. The county-run shelter is on 560 Centralia-Alpha Road and its current public hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.. The shelter phone is 360-740-1290.
One local detail is especially important: shelter/adoption questions and field animal-control complaints do not use the same phone route. Lost or found pets can start with the shelter, while animals at large, neglect concerns and animal-related bites are routed through Lewis County dispatch and the Sheriff’s animal-control authority.
Verified September 23, 2026
Current shelter hours, 2026 county fees, animal-control routing, Sheriff’s contact, animal-bite reporting and Lewis County rabies guidance were checked against current Lewis County government sources.
This is Lewis County, Washington
Other states have Lewis County animal-control or shelter programs with different addresses, phone numbers, fees and emergency routes. Do not reuse this Washington information for another Lewis County.
Independent guide
Animal-Shelter.org is not Lewis County government, Lewis County Animal Shelter, the Sheriff’s Office or Public Health & Social Services.
Address Note Before You Drive
Lewis County’s current Animal Shelter page contains two locality descriptions for the same street location. That is worth knowing before you copy an address into a navigation app.
Start With the Right Lewis County Number
This is the part most likely to save a wasted call. The shelter and the county animal-control reporting system have different jobs.
Lewis County Animal Shelter Hours 2026
The current Lewis County shelter page lists public hours as 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. This is newer than older county documents that still show a Monday opening, so the current shelter page should control your visit planning.
| Day | Current public hours | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Closed / not listed as public-open | Do not rely on older documents that showed Monday hours. |
| Tuesday | 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Check current pets before leaving home. |
| Wednesday | 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Call first if your visit depends on one animal. |
| Thursday | 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Bring time for questions and paperwork. |
| Friday | 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Availability can change before arrival. |
| Saturday | 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Give yourself enough time before closing. |
| Sunday | Closed | Use online resources and emergency routes as appropriate. |
How Adoption Works at Lewis County Animal Shelter
The county’s published rules are straightforward: adoptions are first come, first served, and the adopter must be at least 18 or have a parent or guardian present to sign the adoption forms and agreements.
Check current dogs and cats first
Look at the shelter’s current Petfinder listings. If one pet is the reason for your trip, call 360-740-1290 before leaving because first-come adoption means availability can change.
Visit during current public hours
Plan your visit Tuesday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Arriving with time to spare is better than trying to make a permanent decision at closing time.
Meet the pet as an individual
A photo can make you fall in love quickly. The useful questions come next: energy level, handling, other pets, children, medical notes, confidence and what the first quiet week at home may require.
Confirm the fee and current status
Use the standard 2026 county fee schedule below as your planning baseline, but confirm the specific animal’s fee because Lewis County has approved temporary adoption-fee reductions at times.
Complete the adoption paperwork
The adopter must be 18 or older, or have a parent or guardian present to sign the required forms and agreements.
Leave with a safe trip-home plan
Lewis County says adopted pets receive an appropriate collar, identification tag, leash or pet carrier. Still plan a quiet ride home and a calm decompression area before you arrive.
Lewis County Animal Shelter Adoption Fees 2026
The county’s 2026 fee schedule became effective January 1, 2026. These are the standard published amounts.
| Animal | 2026 standard fee | County fee-schedule note |
|---|---|---|
| Adult dog — over 6 months | $230 | Includes mandatory spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip implant. |
| Puppy — under 6 months | $290 | Includes mandatory spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip implant. |
| Adult cat | $120 | Includes mandatory spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip implant. |
| Kitten | $165 | Includes mandatory spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip implant. |
What Is Included With an Adoption?
Spay or neuter
Lewis County says all adopted animals are sterilized. County code also requires dogs and cats held for adoption to be sterilized before adoption.
Initial vaccination
Adopted pets receive an initial vaccination. Ask which vaccine was given and what your private veterinarian should schedule next.
Microchip
The county states adopted animals are microchipped. Before leaving, ask how to keep the owner contact information current.
Basic take-home gear
The shelter says pets receive a collar, ID tag and a leash or pet carrier as appropriate. Deworming is also included.
Emergency & Important Contacts
Every number below has a different job. Calling the shelter for an aggressive animal in the roadway, or calling 911 for an ordinary adoption question, sends you down the wrong path.
| Contact | Number | Verified purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Lewis County Animal Shelter | 360-740-1290 | Shelter, adoption and lost/found-pet contact. |
| Lewis County Communications / Animal Reporting | 360-740-1105 | County Animal Reporting directs this number for an animal off its property, animal neglect concerns and animal-related bites. Dangerous/aggressive animal reports also start here. |
| Lewis County Sheriff’s Office | 360-748-9286 | The shelter directs animal abuse, neglect and cruelty matters to the Sheriff’s Office. The shelter page lists this route Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., or Central Dispatch at 360-740-1105. |
| Emergency | 911 | Immediate emergency, crime in progress or serious life-safety threat. |
| Lewis County Public Health — human rabies exposure | 360-740-1223 | Potential human exposure to a bat or another potentially rabid animal. Public Health determines whether a true rabies exposure assessment/testing route is needed. |
| Code Compliance / Environmental Health | 360-740-2718 | Lewis County Code Compliance / Environmental Health contact; the county’s Vector Control page directs animal-bite/exposure reporting information through this office. |
Lost or Found a Pet in Lewis County?
Start quickly. A missing pet can move across neighborhood, city and county-service boundaries, and one online search is rarely enough.
If your pet is missing
- Call Lewis County Animal Shelter at 360-740-1290.
- Check the shelter’s current Petfinder listings repeatedly, not just once.
- Search the area where the pet disappeared, including sheds, garages, bushes and quiet hiding places.
- Update the pet’s microchip company with current contact details if the animal is chipped.
- Keep recent photographs, veterinary records and license or microchip details ready in case you identify a possible match.
If you found or see a loose animal
- If it is safe, check for an identification tag before assuming the animal was abandoned.
- Lewis County’s Animal Reporting page says to call 360-740-1105 to report an animal off its property.
- Call the shelter at 360-740-1290 for shelter/lost-and-found questions.
- Do not attempt to restrain an aggressive or unsafe animal. Use dispatch or 911 according to the urgency.
- If the animal is inside an incorporated city, confirm whether that city’s own procedures affect pickup or intake.
Who Handles Animal Control in Lewis County?
This changed in recent county law. Lewis County’s current code defines the Lewis County Sheriff or authorized personnel as the animal-control authority. That is why field complaints are not handled like ordinary adoption questions.
Animal off property
The county’s current Animal Reporting page says to call 360-740-1105 when reporting an animal off its property.
Neglect or cruelty
Animal neglect, abuse and cruelty are routed through the Sheriff’s Office / county dispatch rather than the shelter’s adoption counter.
Dangerous or aggressive animal
Lewis County tells residents who are concerned about an aggressive animal or who were attacked by an animal to call the non-emergency dispatch line at 360-740-1105 to start a report.
Animal Bite or Possible Rabies Exposure
A dog bite report and a possible human rabies exposure overlap, but they are not the same process. Lewis County publishes separate reporting and public-health guidance.
Animal-related bite
Lewis County Animal Reporting says to call 360-740-1105 for an animal-related bite. The county also recommends medical attention for bites or animal-to-person exposures.
Possible human rabies exposure
Call Lewis County Public Health & Social Services at 360-740-1223 when there has been a potential human exposure to a bat or another potentially rabid animal.
Pet-only rabies exposure
Lewis County says pet-only exposure is not reportable to its Public Health & Social Services office. Contact your veterinarian promptly for assessment and rabies-booster guidance.
Owner Surrender: Call Before Bringing a Pet
The 2026 county fee schedule publishes owner-turn-in charges, but the current shelter page does not publish a detailed, guaranteed same-day surrender procedure. Calling first is the practical way to avoid arriving when intake cannot be completed.
| Owner turn-in | 2026 fee | Additional charge |
|---|---|---|
| Dog | $85 | Call first for current intake instructions. |
| Litter of puppies | $85 | $5 each over five puppies. |
| Cat | $50 | Call first for current intake instructions. |
| Litter of kittens | $50 | $5 each over five kittens. |
Other Lewis County Animal Shelter Fees for 2026
| Service | 2026 fee | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Daily impound fee — dog or cat | $30 | Daily fee. Call for the exact total applicable to a reclaim. |
| Rabies vaccine | $60 | Listed in the shelter fee schedule. Call before assuming this means a public walk-in vaccine clinic. |
| Spay/neuter aftercare medication | $40 | Shelter fee-schedule item. |
| Deceased dog/cat disposal — 50 lb or less | $30 | The shelter says it offers disposal service but does not pick up deceased animals. |
| Deceased dog/cat disposal — over 50 lb | $60 | Dogs and cats only under the published fee entry. |
| Canine trap | $11 | $100 deposit; county schedule says deposit is refunded when the trap is returned. |
| Feline trap | $5 | $50 deposit; refundable when returned under the county fee schedule. |
Veterinary Services: What the Shelter Actually Publishes
It would be misleading to describe Lewis County Animal Shelter as a public veterinary hospital or community veterinary clinic. The county’s current shelter page instead publishes a Request for Qualifications for veterinary services to obtain clinical consultation and shelter-animal care.
Shelter animals receive medical preparation
Adopted animals are spayed/neutered, receive an initial vaccination and deworming, and are microchipped.
County is seeking veterinary services
The current county shelter page advertises an RFQ for a qualified veterinarian to provide clinical consultation and services for shelter animals.
No invented doctor or clinic hours
A current named shelter veterinarian, public exam schedule and public appointment fee were not verified on the county shelter page, so none are presented here as fact.
Spay & Neuter Resources Listed by Lewis County
The current county shelter page points pet owners to several outside resources when financial help with spay/neuter may be needed. These are resource referrals, not emergency contacts.
| Resource listed by the county | Phone | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Pet Connection | 360-748-6236 | County shelter page lists it as a potential spay/neuter assistance resource. |
| SPAY/USA | 800-248-7729 | Listed by Lewis County for pet population-control assistance. |
| Northwest Spay & Neuter Center | 253-627-7729 ext. 217 | Listed on the current Lewis County shelter page as a spay/neuter resource. |
Lewis County Shelter Building Donations
The county’s current Animal Shelter page says it is accepting funds toward a much-needed new shelter building.
Use the shelter’s own contact route
Anyone interested in donating to the building project is directed by Lewis County to contact the Shelter Manager at 360-740-1290.
Using the county’s own contact route is safer than responding to an unfamiliar fundraiser that merely uses the shelter’s name.
Before You Visit the Shelter
Adoption visit
- Check current animals the same day.
- Call first if one specific dog or cat is the reason for your trip.
- Be ready for first-come, first-served adoption.
- Adopter must be 18+, or have a parent/guardian present to sign.
- Ask what veterinary follow-up your new pet still needs.
- Set up a calm first-night space before bringing the pet home.
Lost, reclaim or surrender visit
- Call 360-740-1290 before a long drive.
- Have photos and identifying details ready for a lost pet.
- Bring microchip or veterinary information when useful.
- Ask for the current total if reclaim/impound charges apply.
- For owner surrender, confirm current intake ability first.
- Do not bring an unsafe/aggressive animal into the lobby without first asking for instructions.
Map: Lewis County Animal Shelter
Use 560 Centralia-Alpha Road, Lewis County, Washington as the street location. Because the current county page itself uses both Chehalis and Centralia locality labels, confirm your navigation result before a long trip.
Official Lewis County Resources
Use these pages for the final live answer on shelter hours, animal-control reporting, county fees and health guidance.
Lewis County Animal Shelter FAQ
Which Lewis County Animal Shelter is this guide about?
This guide covers Lewis County Animal Shelter in Lewis County, Washington, on 560 Centralia-Alpha Road.
What is the Lewis County Animal Shelter phone number?
The shelter phone is 360-740-1290. Lewis County specifically tells people with lost or found pets to contact the shelter at this number.
What are Lewis County Animal Shelter hours in 2026?
The current official shelter page lists public hours as 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
Where is Lewis County Animal Shelter located?
The stable street location is 560 Centralia-Alpha Road. The current county shelter page uses both Chehalis 98532 and Centralia 98531 descriptions on the same page, so confirm your map result or call 360-740-1290 if the locality label creates confusion.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog in 2026?
The standard 2026 Lewis County schedule lists an adult dog over six months at $230 and a puppy under six months at $290. Temporary promotions can occur, so confirm the live fee.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat?
The standard 2026 fee is $120 for an adult cat and $165 for a kitten.
What do Lewis County adoption fees include?
Lewis County says adopted animals are spayed/neutered, receive an initial vaccination and deworming, are microchipped, and receive an appropriate collar, ID tag, leash or carrier.
Are adoptions first come, first served?
Yes. The official county shelter page says animals are adopted on a first-come, first-served basis.
How old must I be to adopt?
The adopter must be 18 or older, or have a parent or guardian present to sign the adoption forms and agreements.
Who handles Lewis County Animal Control?
Current Lewis County code identifies the Lewis County Sheriff or authorized personnel as the animal-control authority. For an animal off its property, neglect concern or animal-related bite, the county directs reports to 360-740-1105.
What number should I call for an aggressive or dangerous animal?
Lewis County tells people concerned about an aggressive animal or who have been attacked by an animal to call the county non-emergency dispatch line at 360-740-1105. Use 911 for an immediate emergency.
Who do I call about animal abuse or cruelty?
Lewis County Animal Shelter directs animal abuse, neglect and cruelty matters to the Sheriff’s Office. It lists 360-748-9286 Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., or Central Dispatch at 360-740-1105.
Who handles possible human rabies exposure?
Lewis County Public Health & Social Services lists 360-740-1223 for potential human rabies exposure assessment.
What if only my pet was exposed to a potentially rabid animal?
Lewis County says pet-only exposure is not reportable to Public Health & Social Services. Contact your veterinarian for assessment and rabies-booster guidance.
How much does owner surrender cost?
The 2026 schedule lists $85 for a dog and $50 for a cat. Litter fees start at the same amounts with $5 for each animal over five. Call the shelter before arriving because a fee schedule does not guarantee immediate intake capacity.
Does Lewis County Animal Shelter offer public veterinary appointments?
A public veterinary clinic schedule was not verified. The county shelter page currently advertises a Request for Qualifications for contracted veterinary consultation and shelter-animal services. This guide does not present the shelter as a public veterinary hospital.
Does Lewis County Animal Shelter pick up deceased pets?
No. The shelter says it offers a paid disposal service for deceased dogs and cats but does not pick up deceased animals.
Is Animal-Shelter.org the official Lewis County website?
No. Animal-Shelter.org is an independent informational website. Use LewisCountyWA.gov for official current shelter, animal-control and public-health information.
Animal Shelter Action Planner: Lost Pet, Found Pet, Adoption, Reclaim & Surrender Helper
Use this free tool to create a practical next-step plan before visiting or contacting an animal shelter, humane society, rescue, or animal control agency. It does not search a live shelter database, but it helps you prepare the right documents, questions, safety steps, and official-source searches.
Build a USA-wide shelter action plan
Select your situation and location. The tool will create a general action plan, search links, call questions, and a copyable checklist.
Lost pet recovery checklist
Check the steps you have completed. This helps you stay organized during the first urgent hours and days.
Found pet safety decision helper
Use this when you find a stray or loose pet and need a safe next step.
Adoption readiness checker
This helps adopters prepare before visiting a shelter or rescue. It is not a guarantee of approval.
Pet reclaim document checklist
If your pet may be at a shelter, prepare proof before visiting. Exact requirements and fees vary by agency.
Owner surrender preparation helper
Surrender rules vary. Many shelters require appointments, proof of residence, behavior/medical information, and may offer alternatives.
Animal control contact decision helper
Choose the situation and get a general USA-wide contact path. Local rules may differ.
Adoption and first-month budget planner
This is a planning guide, not a shelter fee database. Always confirm adoption fees and included services with the shelter.
Your generated shelter plan
Your action plan, search links, call script, checklist, or budget guide will appear here.
Start with the Planner tab
Select your state, city/county/ZIP, pet type, and goal. The tool will create a practical USA-wide shelter action plan.
Privacy note: this tool runs in your browser. It does not send your entries to animal-shelter.org.