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Approaching
a Stray Animal |
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When you see a
stray or loose pet, approach it calmly and cautiously so as
not to scare it or endanger yourself. If the animal is
injured, try to find someone to stay with it while you phone animal
control for assistance. Do not attempt to move the animal
unless absolutely necessary. Direct traffic around the
animal only if it is safe for you to do so. |
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Check
Shelters |
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Contact animal
shelters in surrounding areas to learn if anyone has reported a
missing pet with a similar description. Visit the shelters
in person to check the "lost pet" board. Contact any
owners looking for pets that resemble the found animal.
Ask any potential owner to provide proof of ownership, including
a photo of the animal, or confirmation from a veterinarian.
Don't just release the animal to anyone claiming to be the
owner, or you could be putting the pet into a bad situation. |
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Check
with Neighbors |
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Check with people in the area where you found the animal to see if
they recognize who it belongs to. Perhaps it is new to the
neighborhood or became lost while visiting. Walk the animal
around the local area and see if he or she reacts to any of the
homes, or pulls you in a particular direction.
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Call Lost & Found
Services |
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In addition to animal shelters, some services and organizations take
calls regarding lost and found pets, and can assist in finding a
pet's owner. Try these resources:
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Take
the Animal to a Shelter |
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Most people are reluctant to take a found animal to a shelter for
fear that it will be euthanized. However, taking it to the
shelter immediately is the best thing to do. The first place a
pet owner will look for their lost pet is the animal shelter.
Most shelters have a period of
four to five days to allow owners to claim their pets. If
the pet is not claimed after this time, most shelters make the
pet available for adoption for a period of time. When you
turn the animal in, ask to be noted in the computer as a 'Red
Alert Adopter' or a 'First Hold'. This means that if the
dog is not claimed by an owner by the end of the waiting period,
you will be allowed the option to adopt the animal on it's first
available adoption date. Be sure to get the animal's
impound number, as that is the only way for the shelter to look
up the pet's information. Don't wait for them to contact
you -- check with the shelter at the end of the holding period
to learn if the pet you found was claimed. If it has not
been claimed, you can either adopt it yourself, or find it a new
home. Click
here for more information
on rescuing animals from shelters. |
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Place
"Found" Ads and Posters |
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Take a photo of the animal that you found and create a poster to
circulate in the area. Most local newspapers will fun
"Found Pet" ads free of charge for a few days. When
placing a "Found Pet" ad, do not give too many details about
the animal so that only the rightful owner can claim it by
identifying distinguishing marks or traits.
Once
you believe that you have located the pet's owner through your ad,
ask for some type of proof that this pet belongs to them (e.g. a
photo, past veterinary bills, etc.) to be certain that you are
turning the pet over to the correct person. The last thing you
want to do is to put the animal into a bad situation by giving
him or her to the wrong person. |
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Find the Pet a New Home |
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If all of your
best efforts to find a pet's owner have failed, and you have
given it your best shot for over two weeks, then it may be time
to help the animal to find a new home. Click
here
for information on re-homing a pet. |
