The Everett Animal Shelter will begin providing shelter services for animals found in Lynnwood starting on Jan. 1

Residents who find a lost or abandoned animal or have an animal to surrender within the city limits of Lynnwood can take it directly to the Everett Animal Shelter, located at 333 Smith Island Road in Everett. Residents can also call 911 to contact the Lynnwood Police Department’s animal control officer, who may be able to locate a microchip on the animal and return it to the owner.

Lynnwood residents who lose a pet can retrieve it from the shelter. Redemption fees will be paid at the shelter or online rather than at the Lynnwood Police Department. The Lynnwood Police Department previously contracted with PAWS to provide sheltering services within the city limits.

The Everett facility, built in 2009, offers housing to more than 6,000 lost or abandoned animals every year. The shelter’s on-site veterinary clinic provides medical services for shelter pets, including spaying and neutering. More than 300 volunteers donate their time and energy to help care for shelter pets as they wait to be adopted into their permanent homes.

“We are an open-admission shelter, and we don’t turn away any animals from within our contracted areas,” said Shannon Johnson, director of Everett Animal Services. “We work very closely with our foster families and other area rescue organizations to make sure that every animal has a safe temporary home while they wait to be adopted or returned to their owner.”

The shelter is a regional shelter and provides services to 10 cities and towns, as well as unincorporated Snohomish County.

Everett Animal Shelter has many adoptable animals, including cats, dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs, waiting for new homes. All adoptable cats and dogs are microchipped, spayed or neutered, and have received vaccinations, and deworming and flea treatments.

“The Everett Animal Shelter is a state-of-the-art facility and provides excellent care for lost and abandoned animals from all over the county,” said Bryan Stanifer, Deputy Chief with the Lynnwood Police Department. “We look forward to partnering with them to help reunite families with their lost pets and find new homes for stray animals.”

The shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, except holidays.