What to do if I find a lost dog

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First, approach the situation with the assumption that the dog you find on the street is lost, not abandoned. Experience shows that reuniting the dog with its family, when possible, leads to the best outcome for everyone, especially the dog!

Typically, dogs are classified as personal property, meaning you have both a moral and legal duty to make a genuine effort to locate the owners. Often, if the owners cannot be found within 14 days, you may then decide to take ownership and either adopt or rehome the dog yourself. (Be sure to check local ordinances and regulations, as they may vary or change over time.)

Step by step guide

1. Asses the situation (your safety comes first):

When you encounter a lost dog, your initial actions are crucial. Quickly evaluate the situation to ensure the dog’s safety and determine how you can assist. Avoid rushing over and grabbing the dog’s collar right away. While securing the dog’s safety is important, your own safety comes first. Not all dogs are friendly, and a lost dog may be scared, stressed, or injured.

Observe the dog’s body language. If it appears calm, approach slowly with your body angled to the side, which is less threatening than a direct approach. Squat down and extend your hand (forming a fist with the back facing up) for the dog to sniff. Keep your body sideways and avoid direct eye contact to help the dog feel at ease. Only attempt to grasp the collar once the dog seems comfortable beside you. Alternatively, you can attach a leash or create a temporary slip lead using a rope or belt, or use treats to gently lure the dog closer.

If the dog avoids you or shows aggression, do not attempt to grab or restrain it. Look for signs like a stiff posture, bared teeth, or raised fur. Note that a wagging tail indicates emotional arousal, not necessarily friendliness. If you have any doubts about the dog’s behavior, contact animal control or the police to safely handle and relocate the dog to the appropriate authorities.

If you can’t safely approach, try to take a photo or video if possible. This provides a more accurate description than memory alone, which can help if the dog leaves before help arrives or if you share it with the owner via flyers or online posts. Posting the image or video on social media with the precise location can also maximize the owner’s chance of finding their pet.

2. Check for identification:

Ideally, the lost dog will wear a collar with ID tags containing the owner’s contact information. Call each number provided and leave a message if there’s no answer. If the dog lacks tags or the numbers are disconnected, have the dog scanned for a microchip. Most veterinary clinics offer free scanning services, and the process is painless, with the chip number connecting to a pet registration database.

3. Keeping a lost dog safe:

If you can secure the lost dog, consider a suitable holding area. This might be a short-term space until you can transfer the dog to a local shelter, or a longer-term spot while awaiting contact from the owner. Regardless of the duration, prioritize the safety of your family, other pets, and the lost dog.

Avoid allowing the lost dog to interact with your pets until you’re certain it poses no risk to your household. You might confine the dog to a separate room or a fenced yard, giving it space to relax and adjust to its new environment.

4. Don’t make judgments about the dog’s owner:

It’s tempting to assume a pet goes missing due to an irresponsible or uncaring pet parent who failed to take proper precautions, but this is seldom true!

Various situations can lead to a pet getting lost: a dog bolting in panic from fireworks or loud noises, contractors inadvertently leaving doors or gates open during home repairs, or a friend or family member watching the pet without knowing their escape-prone nature. These incidents have occurred frequently, even with the most devoted and diligent pet owners. Sadly, some events are beyond our control.

So, withhold judgment and give the pet’s family the benefit of the doubt. Chances are, they are heartbroken over their missing furry companion and are making every effort to bring them home.

5. Alerting the lost dog’s owner & local community (see links provided at the bottom of this page to help get the word out):

If you’ve exhausted all contacts from the ID tag and microchip, what steps can you take to reach the dog’s owner? Start by leveraging technology. Check local websites with lost and found animal sections, review existing lost pet postings, and add your own message. Additionally, use Facebook and other social media platforms to spread the word about the found dog.

It’s also wise to reach out to nearby veterinarians, animal control, and shelters. Provide a description of the dog and your contact information, as owners often contact these places when their pet goes missing. Even if you decide to keep the dog with you instead of surrendering it to a shelter, informing the shelter of your situation boosts the owner’s chances of locating you and their pet. After reuniting the dog with its owner, remember to notify all organizations tracking the lost dog to remove it from their records.

6. Reuniting the pet with the rightful owners:

If the dog you rescued had a clear ID tag or microchip and the rightful owners were reached, congratulations, that’s a success! If not, continue reading.

While most people are kind and honest, scammers may exploit a desperate situation, which is a harsh reality. To ensure the pet you found goes to the right person, take these precautions before handing them over.

Request proof of ownership documents, such as vet records, ownership or breeding papers, or family photos, which can verify ownership. If the individual cannot provide any of these, they may be attempting a scam.

Ask for specific, unique identifying markings or traits (avoid leading questions). If someone claims the pet without ownership documents, have them describe a distinctive marking, trait, or behavior not visible in posted pictures—e.g., avoid asking, “Does he have white socks on his front paws?” Instead, let them volunteer details. If they can’t provide a unique identifier and lack proof or photos, they might be a scammer.

Arrange the exchange in a public place. If you’re certain this person is the true pet parent, that’s wonderful news! For safety, always meet in a public location to return their furry family member. Reuniting a beloved pet with its family is an incredibly rewarding experience.

7. If no owner steps forward:

If you’ve made a sincere effort to locate the dog’s owner and no one has claimed the animal within a reasonable timeframe, you may now consider adopting the dog as a cherished new family member, finding a suitable home for the dog on your own, or contacting a local shelter to discuss surrendering the dog so they can help secure a forever home.

Conclusion

Rescuing a lost dog can be a rewarding experience with the chance to make a positive impact. By acting promptly and thoughtfully, you can assist in reuniting the pup with its owner or offer a safe haven until a lasting solution emerges. Keep in mind that every action matters. Whether you share the news in your community or provide temporary care, you’re making a crucial contribution to its journey. Your compassion and resolve can transform a moment of doubt into a hopeful reunion. Remember, at the end of the day, the two biggest steps you can take is to 1) Open your heart, and 2) Open your door!

At the USGSD Society, we are dedicated to rescuing and rehoming lost, abandoned, and unwanted animals. We do not accept direct surrenders from the public at our facility. Instead, we partner with the Arizona Humane Society to transfer German Shepherds and Malinois from their shelters to ours for socialization, training, and adoption. If you have found a stray dog and cannot keep it until a permanent home is secured, please contact the Arizona Humane Society, MCACC, or your local animal control to schedule an intake. If the dog is a German Shepherd or Malinois and you’d like to help ensure it reaches our rescue, please send us a photo of the dog along with the name of the facility where you’re surrendering it. We’ll monitor the intake and do our best to bring the dog into our program.

Online links where you can post:

• Pawboost
• Petco Love
• 24 Pet Connect
• Pet FBI
• Straydar on Facebook (specific to Arizona)
• Nextdoor (will require a login; is specific to your neighborhood)
• Ring (will require a login; is specific to your neighborhood)
• MCACC Stray Map (specific to Maricopa County, AZ; your county may offer something similar)