How To Help A Stray Dog

If you’ve found a stray dog and are trying to help it, thank you. I will do my best to help you help the lost pup. In the interest of your time and the dogs, I’ll get right into it.

To help a stray dog, here is a list of things you should do immediately.

6 Steps To Follow To Help A Stray Dog

1. Is the dog lost or homeless?

Lost dogs will be clean, may have a collar on, and will likely be in good spirits and happy to see you.

Homeless dogs will likely be dirty, skittish, may not have a collar, and will not be very trusting of you.

Be more patient with a homeless dog, and don’t make any loud noises or fast movements. If it growls or barks it’s best not to approach yourself. Call a local rescue.

If you have treats or other food handy, you can quickly gain the trust of a dog through his stomach. Make sure you kneel down and talk in a “baby” voice to make yourself less imposing. Again, if the dog is aggressive or you don’t feel safe, call a rescue or animal control.

2. Try To Identify The Dog

Tattoos are sometimes used to keep track of pets and their owners. Common places you can find a tattoo are in the dog’s ear, or on their stomach. Contact a local pet registry, or rescue with a clear picture of the tattoo.

Microchips are the most reliable and best form of identification. You won’t be able to check this yourself, so you’ll need to bring the dog to a vet’s office or animal control to have it read.

Collars are the classic identification method for dogs and are likely to only be found on a lost dog, not a homeless one. Check the dog’s collar for owner contact information. If the collar only has a series of numbers or letters, you’ll need to contact animal control to identify the dog.

3. Social Media

Take a clear photo of the dog and post it to local facebook groups. There are facebook groups dedicated to lost dogs, pets, and other things. Posting on buy and sell groups is also a good place, although your post may be removed by overzealous admins.

4. Talk To People Local To The Area

Neighbours may be familiar with the dog. Be on the lookout for people walking their own dogs, or that have other indications of pet ownership. You want to avoid taking the dog to a shelter so this is a good way to find it’s owner, especially if you think it’s just a lost pet and not homeless.

If you don’t mind housing the dog for a few nights, add some real-life posters to complement your social media posts. A simple photo of the dog with the word FOUND and your phone number will get the message across.

5. Local Animal Control

Call a local rescue, shelter, or animal control to report the dog found. They will guide you through the rest of the process.

6. Returning The Dog

Assuming you’ve found the owner, you can return the dog however you like. Just make sure you let any groups you’ve notified that you found the owner and the dog is no longer missing.

Want To Help More Stray Dogs?

Helping an animal in need is one of the most fulfilling and selfless things you can do. If you enjoyed helping the lost dog, consider volunteering at a local rescue or animal shelter. Most rescues have flexible shifts and really need your help.

If you don’t think you can give up your time, consider a small donation. Every bit helps.