Welcome to Metro Animal Services, your dedicated partner in animal care, proudly serving the communities of Algona, Bonney Lake, Edgewood, Milton, Pacific, Puyallup, and Sumner. We are committed to the well-being of both people and their beloved pets in these areas.
Important Notice: Temporary Office Closure
Currently, Metro Animal Services is facing unforeseen circumstances requiring immediate attention. Our offices are temporarily closed to the public due to urgent and unexpected maintenance needs. We understand this may cause inconvenience, and we appreciate your understanding and patience as we work diligently to resolve these issues.
Service Update: Limited Operations During Maintenance (Updated February 11, 2025)
We want to keep our community informed about our operational status. As of February 11, 2025, repair work on our building is underway. We anticipate resuming normal services in early spring. During this interim period, the Metro Animal Shelter will operate on a limited service basis to ensure we can still address critical animal welfare needs in our service area.
Why the Temporary Closure? Addressing Building Maintenance
In late December, an organic growth was discovered beneath the office flooring at our facility. The City of Puyallup, the building owner, promptly initiated a thorough evaluation by industrial hygienists. Their assessment is crucial to determine the necessary steps to ensure the building is safe for re-occupancy for both our staff and visitors, including your cherished pets. The health and safety of everyone who interacts with Metro Animal Services is our utmost priority. To ensure a safe environment, our staff has been temporarily relocated, and while the issue appears to be isolated from the kennel areas, as a precautionary measure, all 64 animals under our care have been safely moved to foster homes, partner organizations, and other shelters within a 72-hour timeframe.
Metro Animal Services is a collaborative partnership between the cities of Puyallup and Sumner, extending its services to five additional cities through contractual agreements, reinforcing our commitment to regional animal welfare.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Metro Animal Services’ Temporary Limited Operations
We understand you may have questions regarding our temporary operational changes. Here are answers to some common concerns:
Animal Safety and Well-being During the Closure
The safety and comfort of the animals in our care are paramount. Although initial assessments indicated that kennel areas were likely unaffected by the maintenance issue, we took proactive steps to relocate all animals as a precaution. Construction and maintenance work can be stressful for animals. We are immensely grateful to our network of foster families and partner organizations who responded swiftly to provide temporary, safe havens for all animals, ensuring they continue to receive excellent care during this period.
Pet Adoptions: Temporarily Suspended
Due to the office closure and relocation of animals, we have temporarily suspended adoption services. As our animals have been moved to various safe locations to avoid the disruption of construction, they are currently not available for adoption through our shelter. Rest assured, all pets who were in our care and awaiting adoption are now in secure facilities where they are receiving quality care and attention. We look forward to resuming adoptions as soon as our operations return to normal. Please check back for updates on when adoptions will recommence.
Surrendering Pets and Intake of Stray Animals: Not Available at This Time
Regrettably, Metro Animal Services is unable to accept owner-surrendered pets or stray animals during this temporary closure. If you are facing the difficult decision of surrendering your pet, we encourage you to explore alternative options that may be helpful. Please visit Surrendering a Pet Resources for suggestions and resources that might provide you with other solutions. If you have found a stray animal, we recommend posting about the animal on social media platforms and tagging Metro Animal Services. If the stray animal is wearing a license, please contact Metro staff directly at 253-299-PETS. For stray animals running loose, it is often best to leave them undisturbed as they are more likely to find their way home on their own than if strangers attempt to intervene.
Lost Pets and Animal Distress Concerns: We Are Still Here to Help
Even with our limited operations, Metro Animal Services remains responsive to the needs of our community. If your pet is lost or you are concerned about an animal in distress within the seven cities we serve, please do not hesitate to call us as you normally would. While our staff is operating with reduced capacity and are managing the complexities of this maintenance situation, our officers are still actively responding to calls within our service area. Response times may be slightly longer than usual due to these circumstances. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate these challenges.
Anticipated Reopening and Return to Normal Services
Current projections indicate that we anticipate returning to normal, or near-normal, service levels in early spring, as repairs progress. The cities of Puyallup and Sumner are working collaboratively to prioritize the best possible solutions for our staff, visitors, and, most importantly, the animals in our care. We are committed to resuming full services as quickly and safely as possible and will continue to provide updates as they become available. Thank you for your continued support of Metro Animal Services.
