Stray animals
Stray animals refer to dogs, cats and other small pets found and captured within the boundaries of the municipality. Stray animals found in Espoo, Kauniainen and Kirkkonummi are cared for at the Viikki animal shelter in Helsinki.
The shelter takes care of animals for 15 days, during which the owner can pick up their pet by paying the cost of the pet’s care. If the pet’s owner is not reached within 15 days, the ownership of the pet will be transferred to the Helsinki Humane Society HESY ry. If your pet is missing, you can inquire about it from the Viikki animal shelter, HESY or the police.
Viikki animal shelter: Koetilantie 13, Helsinki (tel. +358 40 198 0778, viikki@hesy.fi). Further information is available on the website of the Viikki animal shelter(external link, opens in a new window).
If you need help with transporting a stray animal: The City of Espoo has made an agreement with the Helsinki Humane Society (HESY ry) concerning the transport of stray pets. HESY ry (tel. +358 9 5420 0100, Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00).
Information and guidance on stray animals: City of Espoo veterinarians www.espoo.fi/fi/palvelut/espoon-kaupunginelainlaakari
Care of stray animals in 2024
Information on the stray animals cared for in 2024 is available in the stray animal report(external link, opens in a new window) (in Finnish).