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February 2026

In this edition of Animal Tales, take a peek behind the scenes to learn more about how our team of animal shelter technicians at the Bonnie Hays Animal Shelter helps not only the pets of Washington County, but also the people in our community!

Shelter technicians are involved in nearly every part of an animal's time with us, including when a pet arrives at and departs from our shelter. These puppies were reunited with their owner the same day we took them into our facility.

Getting lost pets back home


When a stray pet arrives at our shelter, no stone is left unturned in our efforts to reunite the animal with the people who know and love them. First steps include looking for identification on the animal, such as a dog license or ID tag, and scanning them for a microchip. If a tag contains outdated information or a microchip isn’t registered, shelter technicians will follow all leads to try to find the current owner’s contact information. No known owner? Shelter technicians review lost-and-found reports, monitor social media, and keep their eyes and ears open for any information that could help with a reunion. 

We check all stray pets at our shelter for microchips. When detected by a scanner, a microchip provides a series of numbers that can be used to look up who a pet belongs to. Learn how to update the information associated with your pet's microchip by visiting the Lost Pet Resources page on our website.

Individual care includes offering physical and mental enrichment like puzzle feeders, Kongs and new smells and sounds for our furry shelter visitors. You can help us provide this enrichment by donating items from our Amazon Wish List.

Pets showing signs of illness are placed in isolation by our shelter technicians. Staff also take steps like wearing personal protective equipment when working with isolated animals to reduce the spread of disease and parasites. Sylvester, the cat pictured above, was reunited with his family shortly after this photo was taken.

Offering help to people in our community

Animal shelter technicians frequently talk with community members in upsetting and sad situations. When a deceased pet arrives at our facility, our shelter technicians try to identify and contact the owner to offer them closure. Shelter technicians talk with community members facing challenges with their pets – whether they need to find a new home for a dog they can no longer care for or are seeking affordable veterinary options for a beloved cat. Shelter technicians are trained to have these hard conversations with respect, compassion and professionalism.

Shelter technicians provide information and resources to community members facing a variety animal-related issues.

Teamwork is key!

Although the focus has been on our team of dedicated, well-trained animal shelter technicians in this edition of Animal Tales, it takes a wide range of skills and roles to care for the pets and people at our shelter and in our community. Shelter technicians work alongside administrative specialists, veterinary staff, Animal Services Officers, volunteers, staff from partner organizations, and others to provide care and assistance to people and pets in Washington County. 

Want to help?


Consider making a tax-deductible gift to support our work. You can even donate in honor of a person or the special pet in your life. Thank you!

Donors are the reason we were able to provide Tom, pictured above, with a full medical exam after he got stuck in a car engine compartment. Read Tom's story in the December edition of Animal Tales.

We're hiring!


We’re looking for a certified veterinary technician (CVT) to join our team! This person must be a licensed CVT at the time of hire. It’s a full-time position that comes with the satisfaction of helping animals when they need it most. 

Our veterinary staff works with vulnerable pets, including animals that are part of abuse and neglect investigations. Here, our CVT Natasha Hines poses with one of the 30 Maine Coon cats and two birds we rescued as part of the animal neglect investigation highlighted in the November edition of Animal Tales.

Dog licenses help get lost pets back home


All dogs six months and older or that have permanent canine teeth (whichever comes first) must be licensed in Washington County. But that’s not the only reason to license your furry friend! A license tag also provides your dog with identification that can help get them back home if they are ever lost. 

If you find a dog wearing a Washington County license tag, remember: You can use the dog license lookup tool on our website to reunite the pup with their person without a trip to the shelter. When you type a dog license number into the lookup tool, you'll get the phone number of the owner. We’re here to help, but we love to see lost pets back with their families as quickly as possible!

Duke, Clover and The Governor ("Govy" for short) all stopped by the shelter recently for licensing. Don't worry if your pup isn't up for a field trip. These sweet faces lit up our lobby, but visiting us is not required for licensing. License your dog online, over the phone, by mail or in person.