Assisting Animals of Detainees
February 20, 2025 - WFHS has heard about animals being found in residences sometimes days after their owners are detained elsewhere by ICE.
The people finding and taking these animals in are also typically undocumented and are too afraid to contact shelters and rescues directly.
They are trying to go through trusted third parties to surrender the animals and this has led to (understandably) clashing with established organizational policies or ownership laws.
These animals have often crossed county and municipality lines several times and been passed through families as the community scrambles to care for them. The owner is not available to sign surrender paperwork, and those caring for them are too scared to present to these organizations and sign paperwork.
Below are some resources to use to assist with Spanish language animal surrenders.
Authorization for Surrender (English/Spanish)
Transfer of Ownership (English/Spanish)
The people finding and taking these animals in are also typically undocumented and are too afraid to contact shelters and rescues directly.
They are trying to go through trusted third parties to surrender the animals and this has led to (understandably) clashing with established organizational policies or ownership laws.
These animals have often crossed county and municipality lines several times and been passed through families as the community scrambles to care for them. The owner is not available to sign surrender paperwork, and those caring for them are too scared to present to these organizations and sign paperwork.
Below are some resources to use to assist with Spanish language animal surrenders.
Authorization for Surrender (English/Spanish)
Transfer of Ownership (English/Spanish)
MESSAGE FROM THE WDNR:
KEEP WILDLIFE WILD CAMPAIGN
The WDNR would like to invite you to be a part of the Keep Wildlife Wild campaign.
Each spring many young wild animals are taken from the wild by well-meaning people who fear that they are orphaned and at risk. In most cases, these young wild animals are not orphaned, but are seen alone because of the natural behavior of the species. For instance, female deer leave their young fawns alone throughout the day knowing that their natural camouflage is their best protection from predators. Young fawns seen alone are generally not orphaned and the best approach is to leave them in the wild.
If a fawn is brought in to you by a concerned citizen, you can refer to the “I Found a Fawn. Now What?” flowchart, developed by the Keep Wildlife Wild campaign staff, to assist in deciding the best action to take. Frequently that action will be to return the fawn to where it was found so that it can be reunited with its mother. If you think that the fawn is truly orphaned or is injured, please contact a licensed deer rehabilitator before taking the fawn to them. You can find their contact information here: Wildlife Rehabilitation Directory.
Additional information for many of the common species on how to tell if a wild animal is truly orphaned can be found on the Keep Wildlife Wild webpage. A young wild animal's best chance for survival is with its mother! Thank you for your assistance in keeping wildlife wild.
Each spring many young wild animals are taken from the wild by well-meaning people who fear that they are orphaned and at risk. In most cases, these young wild animals are not orphaned, but are seen alone because of the natural behavior of the species. For instance, female deer leave their young fawns alone throughout the day knowing that their natural camouflage is their best protection from predators. Young fawns seen alone are generally not orphaned and the best approach is to leave them in the wild.
If a fawn is brought in to you by a concerned citizen, you can refer to the “I Found a Fawn. Now What?” flowchart, developed by the Keep Wildlife Wild campaign staff, to assist in deciding the best action to take. Frequently that action will be to return the fawn to where it was found so that it can be reunited with its mother. If you think that the fawn is truly orphaned or is injured, please contact a licensed deer rehabilitator before taking the fawn to them. You can find their contact information here: Wildlife Rehabilitation Directory.
Additional information for many of the common species on how to tell if a wild animal is truly orphaned can be found on the Keep Wildlife Wild webpage. A young wild animal's best chance for survival is with its mother! Thank you for your assistance in keeping wildlife wild.
