Our mission is to achieve the most efficient and effective use of resources for the benefit of the citizens and animals, to create an environment in which people can move about safely, to minimize euthanasia by promoting our facility's pets for adoption in as many ways as possible and to maintain management excellence.

Jump to:

• Animal Adoption
• Fees
• Support Groups and Donations
• Feline Overpopulation
• Rabies
• Volunteer Positions

Animal Adoption

For pets available please visit Petfinder.org. This site is updated daily. "Pound Pets for Adoption" showcases our pets, as well as pets from other shelters, on cable station channel 14, Monday at 9:00 p.m.

We use a pet adoption questionnaire to match prospective owners with pets. We give extensive information about our pets and pet behavior issues in order to ensure a successful adoption. We offer a “test day”, a day in which new owners get to know the pet in a home situation. We strongly recommend group obedience training to strengthen the relationship with your dog.

By state statute we reserve the right to refuse any adoption. We are always prepared to take animals back if it doesn't work out.

Fees

• If the animal is already spayed or neutered: $5
• If the animal is not already spayed or neutered: $50, and the adopter receives a voucher from the Animal Population Control Program that covers the cost of a spay/neuter plus the cost of a rabies and distemper vaccine.
• If a cat has been tested for Feline Leukemia & AIDS, and/or received vaccines, $25 to $35 will be added to the adoption fee. If a dog is heartworm tested and/or vaccines given, $25 to $35 will be added to the adoption fee.

Support groups and donations

The Friends of the Mansfield Animal Shelter (FOMAS) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization formed in 2001 by a group of four volunteers. FOMAS supports the Mansfield Animal Control facility and their animals. Donations and new members are always welcome. FOMAS has 65 members at this time. For more information about FOMAS please visit their website.

FOMAS also lists animals available for adoption on Petfinder.

To contact FOMAS:

The Northeastern Connecticut Animal Rescue (NECTAR), is a local animal rescue league, has a lost and found service, a placement service with rescues and low income spay and neuter assistance. This is not a shelter. For more information about NECTAR please visit their website. To contact NECTAR:

Feline Overpopulation

A great number of complaints we receive are cat related. Most of these calls are a direct result of feline overpopulation resulting from owners failing to spay or neuter their cats. Cats can become pregnant at four months of age. Contrary to popular belief, an animal does not have to have a first litter before being spayed. It is equally important to neuter and spay cats as they contribute to the spread of Feline AIDS and Leukemia. A responsible cat owner spays or neuters his/her cat between 5 and 6 months of age. By law cats need to be vaccinated for rabies from 3 months of age. Cats are best kept indoors. We receive numerous calls about lost cats. Coyotes and fishers are mostly to blame.

The town of Mansfield does not have legal responsibility to care for stray cats, but we do offer some services on a space available basis. We assist Mansfield residents as much as we can and give advice about stray cat problems or unwanted cats. If you are not a Mansfield resident, please contact your local animal shelter. Intake of cats is dependent upon space available and we are forced to use a waiting list. We cannot take in feral (aka wild) cats.

These organizations may be helpful for cats needing homes. Because of the cat overpopulation problem they are often full, just like we are.

• Connecticut Humane Society 860.594.4502 and 860.442.8583
• Kitty Angels 860.742.8250
• Protectors Of Animals 860.569.0722
• Helping Paws 860.267.0496

Other helpful numbers:

• For cats in trees - "From the Roots Up" tree service 860.455.0600. Mansfield Animal control does not rescue cats in trees.

Please do not feed stray cats before making sure that they are spayed or neutered. Feeding unaltered stray cats only adds to the overpopulation problem by increasing litter sizes and making the problem worse.

If you need help trapping cats to have them altered call CATS Northeast in Mansfield at 429.7899 between 10am and 7pm. PLEASE NOTE: this is not a shelter. Please visit their website: www.catsnortheast.org and www.petfinder.org.

The TEAM van, a mobile spay/neuter unit for cats only, will spay/neuter and give vaccines for the low price of (currently) $57 per cat. Call 888.FOR.TEAM (888.367.8326) for more information.

Rabies

If a human is bitten by a dog or bitten or scratched by a cat or wildlife, please seek immediate medical attention and contact your animal control facility.

The most common signs of rabies are:

• falling over
• inability to move
• walking as if drunk
• aggressive behavior
• foaming at the mouth

Volunteer Positions

We maintain a list of open volunteer positions on the Human Resources page.