If the dog appears approachable, remember to use caution and common sense. If you are lucky enough to get close enough to capture him, you still stand the risk of being bitten. Even a small dog can inflict a painful wound, and if a dog whose vaccination status is unknown bites you, you will be advised to undergo expensive and painful preventive treatment for rabies.

When approaching the dog, speak calmly and reassuringly to him. Make sure he can see you at all times as you approach, and perhaps entice him to come to you by offering a morsel of food.

Once you've managed to approach and capture the animal, the best care you can give it is to attempt to return it to its owner. If you find a stray dog, your first thought should be "Who lost this dog?" instead of "Who would abandon this dog?" Carefully following the steps below will greatly increase your chances of reuniting the dog with its owner:

1. Assume, no matter how the dog behaves or what it looks like, that this dog is owned and loved by someone who wants the dog back.

2. Check the dog for ID tags or tattoos. Tattoos are often found inside the ear, or on the inner legs.

3. Place a long leash (and secure collar) on the dog and tell him "Go Home!" See if the dog will lead you to its home. If you pass by any people, ask them if they know who owns that dog.

4. Check the area for any "Lost Dog" posters, but understand that the dog might have traveled quite far and the posters could be 1 mile away or more. Also consider that the dog may have escaped in the last few hours and the posters haven't gone up yet. Maybe the dog's owner is disabled and unable to create and hang posters. Just because there is no poster, don't automatically assume that there is no owner! Chances are there is an owner, and they desperately want their companion home.

5. Take the dog to a veterinarian's office and have it scanned for a microchip. Microchips are tiny computer chips containing identification information which are injected under the skin of pets to provide permanent, positive identification. Most veterinarians and animal shelters are equipped with the readers necessary to detect and interpret microchips.

6. Take a photo (digital if possible) of this dog and make up some "Found Dog" posters with your contact info. Follow the instructions in our "Making a Poster " section for instructions. Leave off some detail about the dog that only the true owner could use in order to ID the dog when someone calls. Post these flyers throughout your neighborhood. Make smaller (8' X 10') black & white flyers with the same information and photo and deliver (delegate if you need to) these to rescue groups, vet offices, and pet supply stores in your area. All national pet supply store chains offer lost-and-found bulletin boards in their stores, including Petco and PetsMart, so be sure to take flyers there.

7. Take several flyers to the local shelter because this may be the primary location where the owner will be searching.

8. Check the "lost & found" ads in the local paper, and place a "found dog" ad yourself.

Lee Central Coast Newspapers
Phone: (888) 422-8822

Remember to check the "lost" ads periodically, as well as local lost pet websites. Even if the description given doesn't perfectly fit the dog you've found, call anyway. You'd be surprised how many pet owners, shelter workers, individuals who find lost pets and place "found" dog ads get the breed wrong! Consider posting information and a photograph about the dog on a found pet web site that lists lost and found pets from your area. This may be through a rescue group, your shelter, or another source. Consider using the service of PETS911 at www.1888pets911.org, an organization that lists community-based pet services, including lost and found pet web sites.

Copyright © 2006, Missing Pet Partnership. All rights reserved