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Finding an Abandoned Pet

What To Do If You Find a Lost Dog or a Lost Cat

Jul 22, 2007

Pets go missing from their homes everyday, luckily people find lost dogs and cats everyday. The problem is what to do with animals found lost.

Stray animals are seen everyday roaming the city streets or the country roads. The question is should you stop to help or keep driving. Some of these animals have good homes and are legitimately lost, others know where their home is and are out roaming, and still others have been abandoned by a cruel owner.

Don't get bit when helping an abandoned animal. If you decide to stop, be prepared, not all dogs and cats are nice. If injured, even animals you know may bite. It is important to be especially careful when handling a stray animal. The vaccination status is unknown on these animals and there is an increased risk of rabies and infection.
Keep the stray animal isolated. It is important that the stray dog or cat is kept away from other animals. There is a risk of exposing pets at home to parasites, parvo, distemper, feline leukemia, feline AIDS, and other infectious diseases by bringing a strange animal into the home.
Veterinary Visit: It is a good idea to take the stray animal for a veterinary check up before taking the lost animal home. The veterinary visit should include an exam, fecal test for parasites, deworming, vaccinations (a minimum of a rabies vaccination but a distemper/parvo booster would also be recommended), and a heartworm test for dogs and a feline leukemia/feline AIDS test for cats. Also, ask about flea treatments.
Is your pet protected? Pets at home should be protected before bringing home any stray animal. Lost pets may carry disease or parasites. Animals at home should be currant on all vaccinations and using a heartworm preventative that includes intestinal parasite control and a good, veterinarian recommended flea control.
Humane Society versus Animal Control versus home. This abandoned pet may not have been abandoned, it maybe lost and the owner maybe looking for it. The lost dog or cat has the best chance for reunion in an animal control facility or a humane society. Many of these facilities will only keep animals for 3 days before euthanizing them due to lack of space, but will take your name if you want to adopt the animal after the 3 days. Keeping the animal at home and bypassing the animal control facilities all together is another option. The original owner can be found by making "found dog or cat" posters to hang around town and many newspapers and radio stations will run "Lost and Found" adds for free. Utilize what you can to help reunite the lost dog or cat to its owner.
Many animals are microchipped. Ask a veterinarian or animal control officer to scan the stray animal for a microchip. This chip will help reunite the lost pet with the original owner.
Check the internet. There are many internet sites that list pets that are lost or missing. The site can be searched encase the stray is listed as a lost pet or can be added as a found stray animal. Sites like pets 911, petfinder.com, and pets lost and found, are good ones to try.

Lost and abandoned pets need our help. Ask about volunteering at your local Humane Society or Animal Control. Many facilities are in great need for foster homes.

The copyright of the article Finding an Abandoned Pet in Pet Care is owned by Charla Dawson. Permission to republish Finding an Abandoned Pet in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.