What to Do If You Find a Stray Dog: Expert Advice

If you find a stray or lost dog, there are a number of important steps you can take to ensure the dog's safety and well-being and help it get back to its owner. The first thing you should do is not approach or chase the dog, as this can cause it to run away. Instead, call your local animal control or police non-emergency number to let them know you have found a stray dog. Be prepared to give a detailed description of the dog and its location and wait for help to arrive.

To help you navigate this situation, we will explore expert advice from animal welfare organizations and veterinary professionals on the best practices for dealing with stray dogs. This will include information on how to assess the dog's behavior, how to try to find the owner using different strategies, and how to determine if the dog needs to be placed in temporary foster care while you search for its owner. If you follow these tips, you can help ensure that a lost dog is reunited with its family or receives the care it needs.

How to Approach and Evaluate a Stray Dog

When you find a stray dog, it's important to evaluate its behavior before attempting to approach it. According to wikiHow Pet, signs of aggression in dogs include bared teeth, ears that are pricked forward, a stiff tail, or hackles that are raised along the back. In addition, Animal Wellness Magazine says that other signs of aggression include growling, snarling, and a crouched position.

It's also important to remember that fear can cause a dog to become aggressive. Wagwalking.com explains that signs of fear in dogs include avoiding eye contact, licking their lips, tucking their tail, and lowering their ears. If a dog is displaying signs of defensive aggression, it may be due to fear. If you notice any of these signs of aggression or if you feel unsafe, do not approach the dog and instead call animal control for help.

If the dog seems to be open to interaction, approach it slowly while speaking in a calm, soothing voice. Do not make direct eye contact with the dog, as wikiHow Pet says this can be seen as a challenge. Instead, lower yourself to the dog's level, turn your body to the side, and allow the dog to come to you and sniff you first, according to Wagwalking.com. In addition, you can use strong-smelling food, such as wet dog food, to help the dog feel more comfortable with you, says Animal Wellness Magazine. By taking these precautions and being mindful of how you approach the dog, you can help ensure a positive experience.

Finding the Owner and Notifying the Authorities

If you find a stray dog, the first thing you should do is look for any tags or a microchip that could help you find the owner. As the Animal Legal & Historical Center explains, "If you decide to help the pet you acquire a duty to the pet's owner to take reasonable care of it and make reasonable efforts to reunite it with the owner."

The Best Friends Animal Society suggests that you let your local animal shelter know that you have found the animal because the owner may call them to see if their pet has been found. You should also put up signs on social media and in your community and contact local vets, as recommended by LawInfo.

While the specific requirements for caring for a stray dog can depend on the laws in your area, the Animal Legal & Historical Center explains that some states have laws that require finders to report the animal to authorities or take it to a shelter. If you can't find the owner, you may be able to keep the dog, but you must make reasonable efforts to find the owner before doing so.

How to Temporarily Care for a Stray Dog

If you have found a stray dog, it is important to take it to a vet immediately for a checkup and to be scanned for a microchip, according to Friends Of Jacksonville Animals. This will help you determine if the dog has an owner and give you an idea of the dog's health. Until you know the dog is healthy, you should keep it separated from your other pets, according to Paws 4 You Rescue.

To temporarily care for the stray dog, you will need to put together a pet care kit that includes food, water bowls, leashes, and blankets. PetHub also suggests that you include extra collars and towels. Make sure you have a safe and comfortable place for the dog to stay, and be prepared to work with local animal rescues or shelters if you need to find a long-term solution, according to the Jacksonville Humane Society. By making sure the dog is safe and healthy and working with professionals when necessary, you can make sure that you are providing the best temporary care.

Long-Term Solutions for Stray Dogs

When it comes to long-term solutions for stray dogs, it's important to remember that they should not be held indefinitely without proper care and commitment. As PAWS Chicago points out, most stray animals are found within a quarter-mile of their homes, so temporary care can be the best way to reunite them with their owners as quickly as possible.

If the owner cannot be found, the next step is to partner with local animal shelters and rescue organizations. According to The Heroic Tail Dog Rescue, these organizations are critical to helping stray dogs find permanent homes. This may involve surrendering the dog to the shelter or fostering the dog through a rescue program until a permanent home can be found.

In terms of permanent placement, it's important to make sure the dog is placed in a home that can provide for its needs and that the new owner is committed to the dog for the long term, as pointed out by PAWS Chicago. This may take time, especially since the Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services has committed to saving the lives of all adoptable animals in their community. However, by partnering with these organizations, you can help ensure that a stray dog finds a loving, forever home.

Conclusion: The Importance of Responsible Pet Ownership

If you come across a stray dog, it’s important to remember to handle the situation with care and caution. Per the American Humane, this means trying to capture and contain the animal, if possible, by speaking to it in a calm, soothing voice and using food to lure it. However, it’s important to never put yourself in danger by trying to handle an animal that is acting aggressively. In that case, you should contact your local animal control or police department immediately.

If you are able to safely approach the dog, the next step is to check for any identification tags or a microchip that could help you find the owner. The Humane Society of the United States notes that you can also take the animal to a shelter or veterinarian to be scanned for a microchip, which will provide the owner’s contact information. You can also put up signs in your neighborhood and post on community websites to help the dog find its way home.

If the owner can’t be located, you may need to care for the stray dog temporarily. This involves taking the dog to the vet for a checkup, gathering necessary items, and setting up a safe and comfortable environment. However, it’s important not to take on the responsibility of caring for the dog long-term if you don’t have the necessary resources and commitment, according to PAWS Chicago. Instead, you should partner with animal shelters and rescue groups to find the dog a permanent home with a responsible owner.

By taking steps to help stray dogs and promoting responsible pet ownership, we can all help reduce the number of homeless animals in our communities.