Did you find a loose dog? First of all, thank you for getting involved and probably saving his life.
Secondly, no matter what condition he's in, assume that he's lost, not stray. Many dogs can stay lost on the streets for weeks, months, and even years, so move forward with the assumption that you've found someone's lost dog, and it's your job to reunite them. But how? Well, here's a rundown of what you should do, all based on my real-life case experience and current lost dog recovery standards: 1. Take at least one photo (but more if you can). Get photos of any special markings the dog may have. 2. Secure the dog with a leash or in a crate, or by getting him into a car, garage, or house. A yard will work in a pinch, but a dog in this state is often extremely frightened, and can easily hop a fence or dig under it (even if you think he can't). 3. Call the number on the dog's ID tag. If there is no ID tag, but there is a rabies tag or a city dog license, contact the number on that tag--they should be able to help you find the owner. You may have to do a web search for the agency name if there is no phone number on the tag. 4. If there are no tags of any kind, take the dog to the closest shelter, vet, or groomer, and ask them to do a full body scan with a Universal scanner (there are 3 kinds of chips and corresponding scanners). If a microchip number comes up, the facility will be able to plug it into a database and find out who the dog belongs to. Most facilities will not release the chip number to you, but if they do, you can look it up yourself here and contact the owners. If, after plugging the microchip number into the database, no information is found, it means the owners didn't register it. Important: many owners realize or are told once their dog becomes lost that they need to register information to their microchip. So if at first there is no information attached to the chip, wait a day or two and have the dog rescanned. If still nothing, keep trying every day for as long as you have the dog. The information could suddenly appear! Protect Your Pet Puppies get in to all kinds of things and veterinary bills can be expensive. Protect your puppy with Pet Insurance. Embrace will cover hundreds of dollars in wellness and pay for up to 90% of your vet bill! Take a minute – get your FREE quote today! dataLayer.push({'in-article-ad': 'Puppy'}); var articlead = 'Puppy'; dataLayer.push({'event': 'ArticleQuoterShown'}); Enter your pet's name Zip Code Get Quote 5. If there is no microchip, turn dog into the shelter closest to where you found him (this is actually required by law in most cities) OR take him home with you, secure him, and begin the search for his family. 6. Post flyers and posters in the area in which he was found. Don't be afraid to cover a lot of ground. He could have travelled a long distance. Here are some tips on how to make effective lost/found dog signage. 7. Walk dog around the area in which he was found. You may cross paths with someone who recognizes him (maybe even his owner!) or he might even pull you in the direction of his home. Be sure to knock on doors in the area, and talk to everyone you see. 8. Search Craigslist ads for lost dog ads that might be a match, and then post your own “found dog” ad. Be sure to post in BOTH the lost and found section and the dogs section. When you post an ad, provide some helpful information, but withhold some information as well. It's also often helpful to post a photo. And always require proof of ownership (this could be adoption or vet records, photos, the sharing of special markings you haven't made public, etc). 9. Use social media, email, and any web-based tool you can think of. It's okay to post one photo to help draw attention, and remember to include your personal phone number or email (not just “contact me here on Facebook”). Extra tip: be sure to do a search for and contact any state, city, or neighborhood social media pages, websites, and email lists. There's a growing presence on Facebook of volunteers around the globe who do nothing but network and match lost and found dogs;
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