If you live in the area of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and you lost your dog or cat recently, you might want to check the shelters in neighboring counties. That's because a contract between the City and the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) expired on December 31, and hasn't been renewed.

For the past five years, the City contracted with the WHS to house its population of stray animals. In addition, the WHS had the right of first refusal on all animals collected by the City. This means, that no other shelter or rescue was allowed to care for unwanted animals until the WHS had a chance to look it over. The City wants the WHS to agree to a less restrictive contract, allowing it to contract with several other organizations.

Because the contract ran out, the City has no place to house stray animals. Hence, it began shipping them out to shelters in neighboring counties.

Len Selkurt, executive director of the City's animal control agency said that even though the WHS had exclusive rights on all captured animals, it wouldn't accept pit bulls and rottweilers, which make up 74% of all captured dogs.

While the City looks to establish contracts with other organizations, pet owners may be confused in thinking that because the WHS doesn't have their missing pet, that their pet is truly lost. When in fact, it's probably sitting at a shelter in a neighboring county.