What to Do if You've Found a Lost Dog: Step-by-Step Guide

Key takeaways

Coming across a lost dog can be a tricky situation. While you may want to treat it like any other pet, it's important you keep your composure and act safely and responsibly.

It's essential to be aware of the potential dangers that lost or stray dogs can pose before you act.

In this step-by-step guide, we'll talk you through exactly how to navigate the scenario in a way that will prioritize both your and the dog's well-being for a happy ending!

Key takeaways
Step 1: Assess the situation
Step 2: Report the dog
Step 3: Take action
FAQs
Final thoughts

Step 1: Assess the situation

Before approaching the dog or taking action, it's essential that you understand the situation. Making the wrong move can be potentially dangerous.

Is it safe?

First, you need to figure out whether you are safe or not. Any wild or lost animal can be potentially dangerous because of their own fear or stress. Some factors to consider include:

**Area: **Your location plays an important part in the safety of the situation. Are you in a secluded area? Would you be able to get help if you needed it? Or are you by busy roads? Ideally, you'll be near a town or city where you'll be able to get help or advice if needed. If you are near busy roads, you could risk spooking the dog and causing it to run into traffic if you approach.

**Disease: **Some countries' wild animals are at risk of carrying rabies or other dangerous diseases that can be passed to humans through contact. Make sure your vaccinations are up to date and if you are in an area where rabies is prominent, don't approach them.

**Dog: **Observing the dog for a while before approaching will help you understand the situation. You'll be able to tell if they are injured, scared, angry, or confused and make decisions based on their interactions. After observation you should be able to tell if they are a lost pet, or a stray, and whether they may become aggressive.

Step 2: Report the dog

Before making contact with the dog, you should report them to the necessary organizations and seek advice.

Contact your local animal shelter

Animal shelters in the area are likely to know of any missing pets or regular strays. From a description of the found dog, they'll be able to advise you on your next steps.

They will most likely either ask you to bring the lost dog into the shelter for assessment if it's possible, or they'll come and collect it. At the shelter, they'll be able to:

**Assess its needs: **Professionals will check the dog over for any injuries or signs of infections or disease that will need treating. If it is a stray dog, this is an important step in getting it the help it needs to live a healthy life.

**Scan for a microchip: **If the dog is chipped, it indicates that it's most likely a lost pet. The chip will reveal the contact details of its owners, and the shelter will be able to make contact with them and let them know where their furry friend is. If the dog has been abandoned, they will most likely be put up for adoption.

**Compare it to a database of lost pets: **If there's no microchip, they can compare the dog's physical appearance and personality with their database of dogs reported missing by their owners.

busy animal shelter dealing with lost dogs

Report the dog to a dog warden or animal rescue center

Local animal control are an important organization to contact in this scenario. They will likely have a list of known stray dogs and known dangerous dogs in the area. They'll also be able to tell you how to proceed without putting yourself in danger.

Follow these steps:

Contact the local animal control office

Give a full description of the dog you've found

Give a full description of the area you are in

Note any other observations about the pup

Contact the local vet

If you can clearly see that the dog needs medical attention and they are safe to approach, then call a vet. Most vets in a local community will be happy to treat walk-in cases, but make sure you call ahead to notify them of your situation. This means they'll be able to take precautionary measures to keep the staff safe and clear their schedule to treat the pup.

When you call, make sure you include:

Description of the injury

Whether the dog is in pain or is actively bleeding or struggling to breath

Where you found the dog

The situation the dog was in when you found them

Physical description of the dog

Step 3: Take action

After speaking to the right people, you'll most likely be advised to take action if it is safe. This can feel daunting, even for experienced pet owners, but don't worry. Staying calm and confident is the most important thing!

Take them to a rescue center or a veterinarian

If they need veterinary care, you'll likely need to take them to a local shelter or a vet. To transport them safely, use the following tips:

**Use a blanket or towel: **It can make it a lot easier to pick up a dog and keep hold of them if you scoop them up with a big blanket or towel. Wrapping them up will not only make them feel more secure but will help you keep your grip if they start to wriggle or try to escape.

**Use a crate and cover it: **Ideally, you'll be able to use a humane trap or a dog crate to transport them. This will prevent any escape attempts and will make it easier to move them. Cover the crate with a blanket or towel to help keep them calm.

**Keep them secure: **If you are traveling in a car, it's best to keep them secure rather than letting them roam freely. While you may assume they will feel more calm without restrictions, it can actually make them feel more insecure and vulnerable.

Dog being checked up with after being lost

Check if any pets are missing in the area

If you find a lost dog that doesn't look like a stray or is wearing a collar and ID tag, their owners are most likely searching for them. There are a couple of ways that you can find out about missing pets in the area and attempt to reunite them with their owners:

**Leaflet around the neighborhood: **Creating posters with an image and description of the lost dog and your contact details and distributing them will increase the chances of the owners reuniting with them. Post them through front doors and pin them up on notice boards.

**Check the PetRadar website: **The PetRadar website lists many lost animals that have been reported to them in your area. Check the site and see if you find a match. You'll then be able to report a sighting through the system, and we'll notify the owners instantly.

FAQs

What to do if you find a dog?

If you find a dog, report them straight away. Animal shelters and local veterinarians will be able to tell you what to do next.

What are the odds of finding a lost dog after 24 hours?

Over 90% of lost dogs are found, and the majority of them are found within the first 24 hours. This means you have a great chance of finding your missing canine companion.

How long before a stray dog is legally yours?

If a stray dog hasn't got a microchip and has been confirmed as a stray instead of a lost pet, you will be able to adopt them. However, laws differ in different countries, so make sure you double-check your area.

What to do with a random dog you've found?

If you've found a random dog that seems to be lost or homeless, report them to the local animal shelter. They'll be able to advise you on your next steps.

Can a dog be traced?

If your dog is microchipped, they can be tracked when they are scanned. Similarly, if they have a GPS attached to their collar, you'll be able to track them down in real time.

What determines ownership of a dog?

There is no set legal document that determines ownership of a dog. But if you have them microchipped, the contact details on the registry will be those of the owner.

Final thoughts

So, if you have found a lost dog, follow these simple steps to keep both you and the pup safe. While it can be tempting to give them a cuddle and treat them like any other pet, remember it may be dangerous. Acting with caution not only keeps you safe but keeps the dog calm.

If you'd like to adopt the dog once they have been given the care they need, think carefully about your situation. Do you live with other people? Would they enjoy a dog in their space? Do you have enough space? Are there big outdoor areas for walks nearby? Make sure you consider everything before committing to owning the dog.

Written by

Lauren Jeffries

In this blog, I combine my two areas of expertise: pets and writing. I share my personal experiences alongside plenty of animal behavior research to help owners look after their pets. I have always lived with furry friends and am now a loving cat mum to two orange kitties.