What Do You Do When You Find A Stray Dog?

Hearing other people's rescue stories made me realize how far we have evolved on the dog rescue front. When I was growing up, if you found a stray dog, your parents might have let you put a bowl of water and food outside for it to eat. Then, if it worked its magic on their hearts or you presented a good enough story about how you'd take such good care of it, they'd allow you to give it a bath and keep it. If not, the dreaded "pound" was called and the dog was hauled away.

Nowadays, many animals are microchipped and most are licensed and tagged, allowing for quick ownership checks. In the event that no owner is found, there are multiple choices of rescue organizations that you can call for help. Still, there are people out there who may be unaware of how to handle the situation when they find a stray animal. Here are tips taken from my own experience and the United States Humane Society website. Another site with useful information is the Action For Animals Network.

1) If you're the type who cannot drive by a dog seen wandering down a busy street, keep a collar and leash in your vehicle along with a blanket or towels, a water dish and some strong smelling treats like dried liver.

2) Keep a list of phone numbers for local animal shelters and rescues handy, as well as a 24 hour veterinary clinic.

3) If possible, keep the stray dog separate from your own pets, until you're sure it isn't carrying disease or pests and you can safely integrate it into your household.

4) If you're thinking of keeping the animal, first make an honest effort to find the original owner. Place a Found ad in the newspaper. Many newspapers offer this as a free service. Take the dog to a vet clinic to have it scanned for a microchip. Call the local shelters to report the dog, so they can process the information. The shelters should also be able to clue you in as to local and state laws about claiming ownership of strays. If the dog looks like it hasn't wandered far, place poster ads in your neighborhood or use the internet to announce the dog's discovery. Some neighborhoods now have community email groups. There are lost and found animal registries like the Lost Dogs Database. There is even a lost and found section on Craig's List.

5) If you're not interested in keeping the dog, there are many rescue groups out there you can call for assistance. Almost every breed has a state rescue organization now and in the Tampa Bay area we have multiple choices in groups who take in pets of any kind. There's a list of breed rescues and shelters at Florida Rescue website.