Use caution
When approaching the animal, exercise caution. You stand a considerable possibility of getting bit or scratched if you manage to get close enough to capture them.
Speak quietly to the animal as you approach to reassure it. As you get closer, make sure they can always see you and consider feeding them strong-smelling food, like canned tuna or dried liver, to tempt them to come to you.
Lure them into your car
If you are confident that animal control will arrive to assist you shortly, try to entice the animal into your car with food, then shut the door and wait. A unfamiliar dog left unattended in your car while you try to drive somewhere is typically not a smart idea since they could grow agitated or aggressive. It can be perilous to attempt to remove cats from under the car seat because they might do the same thing.
Call for backup
Call your neighborhood animal control facility if you are unable to safely detain the animal (in rural areas, call the police). Regardless of whether the animal is hurt or carrying an ID tag, follow these instructions. Give the dispatcher your phone number and ask for an estimation of how long it could take someone to reply. If at all possible, remain on the scene to watch over the dog or cat until assistance arrives. Use road names, mile markers, or other landmarks to provide the authorities with specific location information when reporting an animal.
Can someone be called to pick up a dog?
Have you ever been concerned for a dog or cat that you saw running loose on a busy street? You might have attempted to remove it from danger or you might have wished to but lacked the knowledge to do so. The following advice can be useful the next time you notice a lost animal:
Carefully capture and contain it. If possible, attempt to capture and contain any stray dogs or cats you come across. Always make gradual, cautious approaches to stray animals and use a soft, soothing voice. Food can also be used to entice an agitated animal to come close to you. Avoid scaring or chasing the animal while there is traffic since occasionally this causes the animal to flee into the road and get hurt.
Dogs should ideally be kept on a leash or confined to a fenced-in area. In an emergency, a belt or piece of rope can be used as a slip lead, but keep in mind that these objects are not suitable for everyday dog management. Since most cats dislike being carried for lengthy periods of time, it’s best to keep stray cats in a cat carrier, secure box (with air holes), small room in your home, or even temporarily in your car (as long as the car is well ventilated and not too hot).
Make a call to the police. Never attempt to capture an aggressive animal because you put yourself in danger. Call your neighborhood animal control or police department as soon as you can if you can’t safely approach the animal or if it runs away. Give the dispatcher the precise street address of the location where the animal was last spotted.
Verify your ID. Once the lost animal is contained, look to see if it is wearing an identification tag. If so, you might be able to get in touch with the owner right away and give the animal back to them. If the animal is wearing identification but you can’t reach the owner right away, you can decide to keep the animal for a few hours while you wait for a call back. In the event that you take this course of action, it is still suggested to submit a “found report” with your neighborhood animal shelter right away in case the pet’s owner phones or visits there to look for it. If you are unable to keep the animal, you can either take it to an animal shelter in your community or arrange to have it picked up by your local animal control or police department.
Get the animal’s microchip checked. The best course of action if the animal is missing an ID tag is to either take it to your neighborhood animal shelter or arrange for the police or animal control department to pick it up and bring it there. The animal will be checked by the shelter personnel for a microchip. If the animal is chipped, the shelter workers will be able to contact the microchip firm or search the microchip database online to find the owner’s details right away. It may be alluring to retain a lost pet and try to track out the owner yourself, but it is crucial that the animal be checked for a microchip.
Bring pets without identification to an animal shelter. The best opportunity for the animal to be reunited with its owner if it is without an ID tag or microchip is typically at an animal shelter. The only obvious location where owners are likely to check for lost dogs is the shelter. Although the majority of shelters have a database of “found reports,” these reports are frequently erroneous since the person describing the animal was subjective. Many people lack knowledge of breeds and coat colors, making it difficult for them to describe an animal accurately. If the shelter has software that can do this, posting a picture of the recovered animal in the database on the shelter’s computer would be a respectable alternative. As a result, you would be able to handle the lost pet while still enabling the owner to locate it at the shelter using a picture.
Place an online or local newspaper ad about your lost pet. There are a number of ways you can assist in locating the owner, regardless of whether you keep the lost animal yourself or give it to your neighborhood shelter. If at all feasible, photograph the animal and put flyers in and around the location where it was discovered. Don’t forget to hand out the flyers to the neighborhood veterinary hospitals. Using social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to share information with your friends and local community is a fantastic idea; just be sure to make the post “public” so that others can share it as well. A discovered report and picture should also be posted on Petango or Pet FBI. If the animal was found in your own neighborhood, knock on doors carrying a photo of the pet to see if anyone recognizes the owner. In addition, you can publish a found ad on neighborhood websites like Nextdoor or Ring or in the classifieds section of your local newspaper.
Knock on doors.
Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the city of Austin analyzed statistics and discovered that the majority of dogs are found within 1,000 feet of their residence. If you discover that the owner is one of your neighbors, you may be able to avoid the next step. Check to see if anyone recognizes the dog while you walk it around your neighborhood. When let out, most dogs don’t go more than a mile.
Snap some photos of the dog in good lighting and cross street signs or area background of where you found the dog.
NEVER change the dog’s look by clipping its hair, giving it a haircut, or adding or removing the clothing it was wearing when you found it.
Call your city hotline and make a found animal report.
Many city dwellers start their search for a misplaced pet here. (Include any other information from the time you found the dog, such as the cross streets.) Local animal control officials may come get the dog if it is dangerous or ill, but it is best if you are able to take a sick or injured dog to the vet on your own. Regardless, make sure to document the find and transmit the images you captured.
Take the pet to your nearest vet clinic or pet supply store to check for a microchip. Be sure to call ahead.
Consult the veterinarian about obtaining the person’s contact information if the pet has a microchip if it does.
Post the animal on your area Lost and Found Pets social media pages.
The best social media platforms to start with are Facebook, Nextdoor in your area, the “Lost and Found” and “Pets” sections of Craigslist in your community. Give as much information as you can, such as the dog’s distinctive traits, the color of its collar, etc. Post a photo that accurately depicts how the animal appeared when you found it.
Create bright, colorful found pet posters and post in a 1 mile radius around the area you found the dog.
The posters should include huge wording stating “found dog,” a simple description, and a large, distinct photo. They should be big enough for people to see them going by swiftly in a car. In case you’re wrong, don’t try to guess the breed, age, or anything else. Utilize distinguishing colors and characteristics so that lots of individuals will respond.
Can you foster the dog?
If so, fantastic! Do that right away. You can rehome the dog if the owner has not picked up the dog after 14 days. To aid in the rehoming, there are organizations that will let you foster through them. Anyone in the neighborhood who discovers a lost pet is urged to first assist with nurturing the animal.
Download this infographic on what to do if you find a dog for quick reference! Pet shelters: Take this and modify it with your logo.
Where in the Philippines can I file a stray dog report?
Inform the city pound of any animal abuse.
- Swift number for the Bank of the Philippine Islands is 3944-0021-61 for a USD account. Account number for BPI PHP 3943-0086-11.
- Swift number for the Philippine National Bank is 1888-70015305.
- Account number for Banco de Oro Unibank (BDO) in PHP is 006250058159.
Solicit Friends and Family Members
Your tiny relative would adore your dog even if you were unable to retain him. Or perhaps you work with a dog-lover who can’t resist a fuzzy face. You might be amazed by how many individuals you know would be delighted to take in and care for your dog if you just asked around a little. Simply visit it beforehand to make sure it is a good house.
Seek Out Rescue Groups
Most communities have a number of active rescue organizations that foster pets with responsible, caring individuals until a forever home can be found. The nice thing about rescue organizations is that you can pretty much guarantee that your dog will be going into a home with someone who not only knows how to take care of them (possibly better than you do! ), but also knows how to find a permanent home where the owners will be just as caring and mindful. You can search for neighboring rescue organizations or breed-specific rescues.
Find a “no-kill Organization or Shelter
The organization’s “no-kill” status must be confirmed, especially if it is a shelter because the terms “no-kill” and “pound” are sometimes used interchangeably. If there is space, these facilities will take in animals and make every effort to match them with loving homes.
Ask Around
Most individuals should be able to find a solution among these, but if your dog is still without a home after you’ve tried the other possibilities, consider other options and ask dog trainers and other dog experts if they know of any good homes. The pound should never even be a consideration for someone who genuinely cares about their dog.
Have you found a new home for your dog? In the following comments box, describe how you achieved it. Perhaps other users can benefit from what you’ve learned. Your tale might help a dog survive.
What do you do at night with a stray dog?
A stray dog should only be approached with extreme caution. Your main focus should be on keeping yourself and everyone around you safe while also carefully containing the dog to prevent him from running into oncoming traffic.
Chasing an anxious or skittish dog will simply make him run, which could put you in danger and make it unlikely that you can catch up to him. Instead, move closer to the dog while maintaining a low body position, avoiding direct eye contact, and speaking softly. If he appears likely to flee, halt your advance and keep quiet. If it is safe to do so, take a seat, and keep motionless and silent. The dog might decide to come over if you remain still and patient enough.
Dogs that are playful may play a game of keep-away by running away as you approach them. Running away from the stray may be your best option in this situation because he will run your way once he realizes you’ve opted to play along.
The solution may be as simple as opening your car’s hatchback or back door, especially if the stray is friendly and seems to be seeking attention. He could enter the car, eager for an adventure.
Here are some further advice and strategies:
- Move gently and use soothing voice tones when speaking to the dog.
- Until you get to know the dog better, avoid getting close to his head or leaning over his body or head since he might bite out of fear.
- With a belt or a piece of rope, you may make a slip leash. (This is a stopgap measure until you can procure a collar and leash for your dog.)
- If you have any dog goodies on hand, try giving them to the dog, offering dog-safe people food, or even just pretending to eat.
- Use caution if you have the stray in your car because fear and worry can make the dog unpredictable while you’re driving or taking it out of the car.
What to Do With a Stray Dog at Night
If you come across a stray dog at night, concentrate on keeping him secure; he might need to spend the night with you. Weekend or after-hours calls are intended for emergencies rather for stray intake at shelters and animal control agencies, which frequently operate with a small staff. For information on where to take a stray animal, contact your local law enforcement agency’s non-emergency line. Despite the fact that it might seem obvious, never tie up a stray animal outside a shelter or other institution. It’s risky for the animal, and without the proper intake data, the shelter staff may pass up chances to give the dog back to his owner.
Before carrying him home, if possible, wait close to where you found him in case his family is looking for him. Before bringing him back to where you found him the following morning, check him for ticks or any wounds under an outdoor light and keep him in a separate, dog-proofed room for the night.
