Pet homelessness is a serious problem in the U.S. Every year, approximately 3.3 million dogs are brought to pet shelters in the U.S. The two main reasons animals end up in shelters is because they’ve either been surrendered or picked up off the street by animal control officers.
With such high numbers, it’s almost inevitable you will eventually come across a stray dog at some time or another. Do you know what to do when you see a dog running loose on a busy street?
The Risks of Helping a Stray Dog
There are several risks involved in trying to help a stray or lost dog. Even the friendliest of dogs can bite if scared, hungry, sick or hurt. Stray dogs can also be carrying diseases potentially dangerous to other pets or humans.
If you find a loose dog who appears to be healthy and trusting, you might want to see if the dog will accept a leash willingly. In that case, take the dog to the nearest shelter in your area. If the dog doesn’t have an ID tag but has a local license or rabies tag, the shelter will be able to help. Alternatively, you can take the dog to a veterinarian to have the dog scanned for a microchip.
However, if the dog appears to be afraid and is difficult to capture, it’s best to call Animal Law Enforcement (ALE). The number in Colorado Springs is 719-473-1741.
How to Get a Stray Dog to Trust You
Sometimes, you may be unable to reach ALE or they may be experiencing a large volume of calls. In those circumstances you may decide you want to try to get a stray dog off the street yourself.
Be aware it can take a long time to get a dog to trust you. Start by being prepared with a loop leash and lots of treats. A loop leash is a piece of soft rope with a slip knot in it so you can tighten the loop once it’s over the dog’s head. You slip the loop over the dog’s head like a lasso without having to put your hands too close to the dog’s mouth.
Once you’re ready, get low to the ground somewhere close by where the dog is located. Allow the dog to sniff you and gather your scent. Try tossing a few treats to the dog to see if he or she will take them. If so, you can try seeing if the dog will take a treat from your open hand. Just keep working on this until the dog allows you to loop him or her. Then, in a calm and gentle way, guide the dog to where you want him or her to go.
Just be very careful.
Chasing stray animals can be very dangerous. An animal can suddenly get scared and lash out. Traffic, potential wildlife, other people coming to the vicinity, can all trigger a dog to bite or lash out, ending with unintended injury for both the dog and humans. Canine trust is fragile and since you don’t know the dog or how he or she will react, capturing the dog may be best left to professionals if at all possible.
Is the Dog Stray, Feral or Lost?
There’s really no way to know if a found dog is stray, feral or lost unless a search is done for his or her possible owner. Any animal at large can show fear of strangers or have a positive association with strangers who feed them. There are feral dogs who are social and there are lost dogs who are afraid of people they don’t know.
Most animal shelters operate on the assumption that every found animal has an owner looking for them and they do their best to try to reunite the dog with their family and home.
Is It Safe to Take a Stray Dog Home With You?
A well-meaning dog lover may decide to bring the dog home with them to try to track down the owner on their own or to feed the dog before turning it over to the authorities. However, doing so may put the rescuer, rescuer’s family and pets at risk.
Since you don’t know the found dog, you don’t know what diseases he or she may be harboring. Some may be able to be passed to your animals or even to human members of your household.
Another type of risk you undertake when bringing a dog home with you is a behavioral risk. A frightened dog may act out aggressively with the introduction of toys, food or other pets.
It’s always best to take a found dog to an animal shelter or veterinarian. They will check to see if the dog has a microchip and will try to contact the owner. They will also give daily care to dogs during the time until the dog is reunited with his or her family.
Also, a frantic pet parent who has lost their dog will most likely contact the Human Society first, increasing the chances the dog will be reunited as quickly as possible.
Some dog lovers might take a dog home because they’re concerned the dog will be euthanized if they surrender him or her to the Humane Society. By law, dogs are kept at the shelter for a minimum of five days. The Humane Society will evaluate each and every dog and most of the time will care for a dog until he or she is adopted. In some cases, seriously ill animals or animals with severe behavior problems may be humanely euthanized. They also work with other rescue organizations and foster homes to care for animals until a forever home is found.
While taking a dog home with you might seem like a kinder option, in reality local shelters are better prepared to assess the needs of a found dog and potentially reunite it with its worried family.
Related: What To Do If Your Dog is Lost
If you find a loose dog please contact Animal Law Enforcement through Pike’s Peak Humane Society at 719-473-1741 and ask for animal dispatch.
Have you found a lost dog? What course of action did you take? Please share your experience in the comments below.
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