What should I do if I've found a pet?
If you find a stray cat or dog, first try to locate the owner. 
  1. Check the collar for tags, also look on the inside of the collar for identification.
  2. Go to neighborhood homes asking if they know anything about the animal.
  3. Take pictures and post on social media (Neighborhood Facebook Pages, Lost Pets Mankato FB, Lost Dogs/Cats MN FB, Craigslist, Petfinder, Nextdoor Pet Directory, etc.).
  4. Take it to a vet to be scanned for a microchip. 
  5. ***If the cat or dog is injured call a vet clinic. After hours or on the weekend, call an emergency vet clinic.*** BENCHS is not equipped to deal with emergency medical needs. 

If you are unable to find the owners:
  • Mankato Residents: BENCHS is the official impound for the City of Mankato. If you have found an animal within city limits:
    • Call BENCHS at 507.625.6373 (7:30am-8:30pm) to make an appointment. 
    • Call Mankato Police Department at 911 for a non-emergency call (8:30pm-7:30am).
  • North Mankato Residents: BENCHS is the official impound for the City of North Mankato.  If you have found an animal within city limits:
    • Call BENCHS at 507.625.6373 (7:30am-8:30pm) to make an appointment. 
    • Call North Mankato Police Department at 911 for a non-emergency call(8:30pm - 7:30am). 
  • Madison Lake Residents: BENCHS is the official impound for the City of Madison Lake. If you have found an animal within city limits:
    • Call Madison Lake Police Department at 911 for a non-emergency call to make arrangements for the animal to be brought to BENCHS by a Madison Lake police officer.  
  • For animals found outside of these areas, please contact the local law enforcement for information about the designated impound for that municipality.  Our ability to take in strays from outside of Mankato and North Mankato depends on the circumstances and available space at the shelter or foster homes. 

​Notes about stray cats and kittens:
  • ​​If a stray cat appears healthy and is friendly, it likely belongs to someone nearby. We encourage you to leave it where you found it. Stray cats are very rarely reclaimed after they are brought to the shelter. 
  • If the cat is not tame, we can put you in touch with our partner Trap-Neuter-Release program. They can help you trap the cat, spay or neuter it, and place it as a working cat. 
  • Kittens (under 8 weeks old) should be left in place and monitored for 8 hours to see if their momma returns. She could simply be out foraging for food. Their momma is their best chance for survival. If momma doesn’t return, the kittens could be orphaned and may need help to survive. Call us at 507.625.6373.
    • BENCHS can get overwhelmed with kittens and does not always have enough foster homes. We may ask if you, or someone you know, would be willing to foster them until they are 8 weeks old. We will help with information and supplies as needed. If you will foster, email foster@benchs.org.
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