10 Steps to Take when You Find a Lost Dog

Living in a rural area, we frequently encounter unfamiliar dogs in our yard. Not long ago, a young and confused Australian Cattle Dog showed up on our lawn. My pet-loving daughter and I found him tag-less.

Could we locate the owner of this apparently lost dog?

With a few simple steps and some good fortune, we reunited the errant pup with his anxious owner in under an hour. Such speedy reunions are rare, but we learned lots about what to do when finding a lost dog.

What can you do, if a lost dog crosses your path?

A few basic steps can improve safety and success, as you try to return a found dog to his owner. Here are several strategies we have found helpful in our own experience as animal lovers and caregivers.

1. Be careful with an unknown dog.

Safety is the first issue when encountering a lost dog. Never corner an unfamiliar canine, even if he appears friendly. Approach him slowly and calmly.

2. Stay away from bitches and puppies.

The gentlest canine may become agitated, if she senses her offspring may be threatened. It's not uncommon to find an unknown mother dog and her pups under a porch or garden shed. But it can prove perilous to crowd in and grab them.

3. Keep the found dog away from your own pets.

A wandering canine may be a beloved family pet, healthy and current on all vaccinations. On the other hand, he may carry dangerous diseases or problematic parasites. The best bet is to quarantine him from family pets until his owner is located.

4. Put a collar and leash on the found dog.

Before handling a mysterious canine, it's important to tether him humanely. If you have no leash, grab a rope. Or take off your own belt, and loop the end through the buckle to hold the dog.

5. Look for dog tags.

The first step in finding a lost dog's master is to check her identification tags, if she's still wearing a collar. Rabies and registration tags bear serial numbers, which are kept in official files in most communities.

6. Alert animal control and city hall.

Missing dogs are routinely reported to local authorities. The county animal control department and city hall can check dog tag numbers and their database for lost pet reports. Owners are often identified at this point.

7. Check with local vets.

Even a collar-less dog is identifiable, if she has been microchipped. Microchipping, recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association, is an easy way to track missing or stolen dogs. Local veterinarians routinely scan found dogs for microchips.

8. Call pet experts in the area.

Local animal care professionals may provide leads on missing dogs. Call pet groomers, dog kennels and animal shelters to report a found pooch.

9. Post flyers and ads.

If the lost dog's owner is not immediately found, you can print flyers and hang them around town. Local newspapers usually offer free classified advertisements for found dogs.

10. Network to find the dog's owner.

When we found the Aussie Cattle Dog, we put out the word online. I Tweeted and stuck messages on Facebook walls of friends, kennels, veterinarians, and pet rescues. Immediately, my cell phone exploded with texts.

My daughter drove the pup to the firehouse, where a neighbor volunteers. He recognized him and phoned the owner, who appeared right away. The intact male puppy had strayed overnight. Now we wonder how many Aussie-mix puppies may appear around here in nine weeks!

Lost dogs and owners can often be reunited quickly, if those who find them follow these practical steps promptly.

More from this contributor:

Dog Do's And Don'ts For Pet Parks

10 Tips for Teaching Dogs to Behave with Ringing Doorbells

Easy 5-Step Guide to Introducing Other Dogs to Your New Puppy

Linda Ann Nickerson brings decades of experience and a globally-minded Midwestern perspective to a host of topics, balancing human interest with history, hard facts and often humor.