A lot of stray pets are seen roaming the streets. An obviously lost dogs wandering around the neighborhood is not an uncommon occurrence, so if you found one would you be a Good Samaritan and help in reuniting the dog with its owners or would you ignore the pitiful sight and go on your way? It is not surprising for dogs to get lost as these forever curious animals are predisposed to roaming. Some stray dogs though were dumped by dog owners that are either overwhelmed with the unmanageable behavior of the dog or simply uninterested with the pet.

Dogs have different personalities…some are friendly, some are not. Be cautious with your decision to help a stray dog as even a small tame looking dog can bite. Be very careful if you decide to stop and help the animal. A dog can turn vicious if it does not understand your intention to help. Remember, the vaccination status of the animal is unknown and the risk of rabies and other infections would naturally be high. You can try capturing the dog if it has not exhibited aggression. If the dog is aggressive your next option is to notify the animal control authorities.

A stray dog that is naturally friendly would go with a person that has offered a helping hand. Strays are commonly hungry and the sight of food can make an aloof dog docile. You may be able to capture the dog by speaking gently and offering food. After securing the dog look for identification tags so that you can notify the owner.

If the owners of the stray are not found you can either turn the dog over to an animal shelter or to bring the dog home. It would be a good idea to take the dog to a vet before bringing it home to rule out any parasite infestation and canine diseases. If a vet visit is not possible you need to isolate the stray to protect your other pets from diseases and parasites that the stray can be carrying.

While some stray dogs are really homeless, others were lost and become strays. Because homeless strays have been surviving on their own, they generally have a skeletal appearance. A lost owned dog may have an unkempt appearance but it is obvious that the dog was once regularly groomed. The owner of the dog may be doing everything to look for the pet. Inform the authorities that you have found a dog. Posters and fliers would do a lot in reuniting owner and pet.

At Sarah’s Dogs you can learn more about what to do if you find a stray dog as well as first aid for dogs and other common dog behaviors.