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Responsible for the service Rovakaari Environmental Health Services

Stray Animal Services

  • Service
  • Rovaniemi
  • Public service

In the Rovaniemi area, you can bring a stray dog or cat that you have found to the temporary shelter at Eläinhoitola Käpälärinne.

Always contact the shelter before bringing in an animal.

Outside the shelter’s opening hours, the police may help with stray animals if their other duties allow.

Do the following

By law, private individuals, municipalities, or authorities are not required to transport stray animals.

However, the police and Eläinhoitola Käpälärinne may transport stray animals on a voluntary basis when possible.

You may also choose to take the stray animal to the shelter yourself.

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Background information

A dog, a cat or another small pet or animal kept for recreational purposes found at large and impounded may be brought to the municipality’s animal shelter for temporary care. The animal shelter will keep the impounded animal for a minimum of 15 days. After this period, the animal shelter has the right to sell, give away or put down the animal.

A wild animal that has been cared for because of an illness or an injury must be released if it can be expected to re-adapt to life in the wild without difficulty. If the animal cannot be released or its care otherwise arranged for, the animal must be put down.

The owner or the possessor of the animal may have to pay for the costs of impounding, caring for and possibly putting down the animal.

Responsible for the service

Rovakaari Environmental Health Services
Text edited by: Rovakaari Environmental Health Services
Updated: 22/10/2025