What to do if you see a stray dog wandering loose
By Jim Branson, volunteer with Useless Bay Sanctuary
If you see a dog wandering down the street, what can you do to help? Taking the right approach can make all the difference. This could be someone's lost pet, and your actions could be crucial to returning the dog to his family. In most cases, when you see a dog casually roaming the street, the dog lives nearby. Chasing after him could displace him from his safe zone. Please follow these steps. And remember, if the wandering dog is in the greater Seattle-Tacoma-Everett area, you can contact UBS to see if we are available to help the dog.
1. Don't chase or call after the dog.
2. Get several pictures.
3. Use calming signals.
4. Post on a local Facebook page or Craigslist.
5. Ask someone in the neighborhood if the dog lives nearby.
6. See if the dog will jump in a car.
7. Be careful to avoid being bitten.
8. A humane trap may be needed.
9. Call animal control.
10. If you catch the dog.
. . . .
1. You drive by, or you are walking with your dog, and you see a dog roaming loose with no person nearby. Your first instinct might be to call to the dog or chase after him to make sure he is safe. That might work in some cases, but if those tactics won't work with this particular dog, then you might be making things worse. Instead of calling or chasing, take actions in an order that, if they don't work, at least they won't make matters worse. First, drive or walk to a farther point so that the dog is approaching you. If the dog walks right up to you, problem solved. If the dog does not come up to you of his own accord, calling him and chasing him will only make it harder to help him.
2. Assuming the dog didn't just walk up to you, your next step is to get several pictures. Even if the dog is far away, still try to get the best picture you can using your cell phone. Always take a few pictures so you can get the best view. You may need to have this picture if you don't catch the dog so that you can at least post on Facebook and Craigslist about this wandering dog, in case the owners are looking for him.
3. If you have watched the dog from a safe distance for a while, you may have a sense of his direction of travel. Get around in front of him and sit down on the ground with your side to him. If you have food or treats, toss them out away from you. If you don't have food, pretend to eat something. If you have anything that crinkles, to mimic a treat bag, crinkle that and pretend to eat something from it. As much as possible, avoid eye contact with the dog. When you do make eye contact, look away. Don't smile. Yawn, and pretend to ignore him. If the dog comes up to you, do not suddenly grab at him. Let him come all the way up to you, and earn his trust slowly. Don't put your hand over his head. If he lets you pet him, put your hand under his chin, and rub along his jaw line and below and behind the ear. Don't pat him on top of the head.
4. Whether you catch the dog or don't catch the dog, you can post on Craigslist, Facebook, Nextdoor, and local blogs. If you have control of him, local dog lovers can help you reunite him with his family. If you did not catch him, someone nearby may be able to help keep an eye on him and track his movements. Or they might know where the dog lives. Many people can post to Facebook and craigslist right from their phones. In many instances, Facebook has become a real-time communication tool to coordinate the rescue of a dog. Some examples in the Seattle area include Lost Dogs of King County, Lost Dogs of Snohomish County, Tacoma's Lost and Found Pets, and Lost & Found Pets WA State, all on Facebook.
5. Whether you have control of the dog or not, ask people in the area if they know where he lives. Countless times, I have gained control of a dog and learned he was just a block or two from his home. Most wandering dogs you find can be reunited with their owners right away. Before you assume a dog is neglected or abused in some way, it is critically important that you contact the owners, if possible. If you find a stray dog, then immediately assume neglect or abuse, and deliberately don't look for the owners, you could be charged with theft, which would severely limit your ability to help dogs whether you were right or wrong. In some cases, if you don't think the dog should go back to the owner, it may be appropriate to take the dog to the local shelter. However, that may expose the dog to a whole different set of risks. I can't advise you in advance as to what is going to be the best course of action in every case. Usually, returning the dog to the owner is going to be in the best interests of the dog, even if those owners are not ideal. (I know of people who have kept dogs from their owners. There were consequences for the dog and the people who failed to return the dog.)
6. Sometimes if a dog won't come to you in other ways, he will just jump right into a parked car with the door open. Leave the passenger door open, and some treats on the seat, and see if he will just hop in. If you don't have treats, there probably is a fast food place or convenience store nearby. Cheeseburgers have captured many dogs. One of those disgusting hot dogs that has been rolling under the heat lamp for hours might be considered a delicacy by a dog.
7. Whether you have caught the dog or he is still loose, take measures to avoid being bitten. Of course, no one enjoys being bitten by dogs, and it can be very dangerous. However, you don't want the dog to have to bite you, either, for his own sake, because that can be a black mark on his record that will cause problems for him down the road. Watch the body language of the dog. Most dogs will give you plenty of signs that they are about to bite. This isn't always obvious, such as barking and lunging. In fact, most dogs that bark and lunge have no intention of biting. More likely, just before a bite, you will see the dog's body go stiff. The tail stops wagging, and the dog looks at you sideways. I know this from having been bitten at least 8 times. Even though dogs are fast, you will usually have time to get your hand or leg out of the way if you are watching his behavior and are prepared to react. You shouldn't be acting afraid of the dog, because that could make him nervous and more inclined to bite. Just be cautious and don't assume that a dog won't bite. You don't know this dog's history or triggers. I have been bitten eight times because I refused to let go of a dog, for the dog's safety, even though I saw the bite coming. I can't recommend that you follow my example. It's probably better if you avoid the bite and seek help getting the dog to safety by some other means.
8. If a dog is showing an inclination to bite, a humane trap may be the best way to go. I know of many dogs that were of a bitey disposition while wandering loose, but once they were trapped in a humane trap, they became quite manageable. A humane trap has been the best way to catch a dog that couldn't be controlled by other means. Of course, you probably don't have a humane trap lying around, but animal control definitely will have one. You could also buy one at the hardware store, if the dog is a small dog. Traps big enough for black labs and German shepherds have to be special ordered, but a rescue group near you may have one. In the greater Seattle area, Useless Bay Sanctuary is often available to help with a humane trap. Full instructions for using a humane trap are available in this article. There are no pre-made traps for Great Danes, but one could be custom built.
9. Call animal control whether you catch the dog or not. If you have the dog in your custody, it is important to let animal control know about it in case the owner is out looking. If you can't catch the dog, animal control may be able to. Some people won't call animal control because they assume a call to AC will increase the dog's chances of being euthanized. That's not a fair assumption to make in most cases. Animal control is responsible for reuniting hundreds of dogs with their families every week. If you don't tell AC about the dog, it may hurt the dog's chances of finding his family. Regardless, you would be required by law to tell them, in most jurisdictions.
10. Once you have caught a stray dog, please make every effort to find the owner. Don't assume that the owners are somehow undeserving of the dog even if he looks dirty, skinny, and injured. A beloved pet that was pampered and well-treated may look abused or neglected after roaming loose for a week or more. For more ideas on what to do with a dog you have captured, please visit this page.
1. Don't chase or call after the dog.
2. Get several pictures.
3. Use calming signals.
4. Post on a local Facebook page or Craigslist.
5. Ask someone in the neighborhood if the dog lives nearby.
6. See if the dog will jump in a car.
7. Be careful to avoid being bitten.
8. A humane trap may be needed.
9. Call animal control.
10. If you catch the dog.
. . . .
1. You drive by, or you are walking with your dog, and you see a dog roaming loose with no person nearby. Your first instinct might be to call to the dog or chase after him to make sure he is safe. That might work in some cases, but if those tactics won't work with this particular dog, then you might be making things worse. Instead of calling or chasing, take actions in an order that, if they don't work, at least they won't make matters worse. First, drive or walk to a farther point so that the dog is approaching you. If the dog walks right up to you, problem solved. If the dog does not come up to you of his own accord, calling him and chasing him will only make it harder to help him.
2. Assuming the dog didn't just walk up to you, your next step is to get several pictures. Even if the dog is far away, still try to get the best picture you can using your cell phone. Always take a few pictures so you can get the best view. You may need to have this picture if you don't catch the dog so that you can at least post on Facebook and Craigslist about this wandering dog, in case the owners are looking for him.
3. If you have watched the dog from a safe distance for a while, you may have a sense of his direction of travel. Get around in front of him and sit down on the ground with your side to him. If you have food or treats, toss them out away from you. If you don't have food, pretend to eat something. If you have anything that crinkles, to mimic a treat bag, crinkle that and pretend to eat something from it. As much as possible, avoid eye contact with the dog. When you do make eye contact, look away. Don't smile. Yawn, and pretend to ignore him. If the dog comes up to you, do not suddenly grab at him. Let him come all the way up to you, and earn his trust slowly. Don't put your hand over his head. If he lets you pet him, put your hand under his chin, and rub along his jaw line and below and behind the ear. Don't pat him on top of the head.
4. Whether you catch the dog or don't catch the dog, you can post on Craigslist, Facebook, Nextdoor, and local blogs. If you have control of him, local dog lovers can help you reunite him with his family. If you did not catch him, someone nearby may be able to help keep an eye on him and track his movements. Or they might know where the dog lives. Many people can post to Facebook and craigslist right from their phones. In many instances, Facebook has become a real-time communication tool to coordinate the rescue of a dog. Some examples in the Seattle area include Lost Dogs of King County, Lost Dogs of Snohomish County, Tacoma's Lost and Found Pets, and Lost & Found Pets WA State, all on Facebook.
5. Whether you have control of the dog or not, ask people in the area if they know where he lives. Countless times, I have gained control of a dog and learned he was just a block or two from his home. Most wandering dogs you find can be reunited with their owners right away. Before you assume a dog is neglected or abused in some way, it is critically important that you contact the owners, if possible. If you find a stray dog, then immediately assume neglect or abuse, and deliberately don't look for the owners, you could be charged with theft, which would severely limit your ability to help dogs whether you were right or wrong. In some cases, if you don't think the dog should go back to the owner, it may be appropriate to take the dog to the local shelter. However, that may expose the dog to a whole different set of risks. I can't advise you in advance as to what is going to be the best course of action in every case. Usually, returning the dog to the owner is going to be in the best interests of the dog, even if those owners are not ideal. (I know of people who have kept dogs from their owners. There were consequences for the dog and the people who failed to return the dog.)
6. Sometimes if a dog won't come to you in other ways, he will just jump right into a parked car with the door open. Leave the passenger door open, and some treats on the seat, and see if he will just hop in. If you don't have treats, there probably is a fast food place or convenience store nearby. Cheeseburgers have captured many dogs. One of those disgusting hot dogs that has been rolling under the heat lamp for hours might be considered a delicacy by a dog.
7. Whether you have caught the dog or he is still loose, take measures to avoid being bitten. Of course, no one enjoys being bitten by dogs, and it can be very dangerous. However, you don't want the dog to have to bite you, either, for his own sake, because that can be a black mark on his record that will cause problems for him down the road. Watch the body language of the dog. Most dogs will give you plenty of signs that they are about to bite. This isn't always obvious, such as barking and lunging. In fact, most dogs that bark and lunge have no intention of biting. More likely, just before a bite, you will see the dog's body go stiff. The tail stops wagging, and the dog looks at you sideways. I know this from having been bitten at least 8 times. Even though dogs are fast, you will usually have time to get your hand or leg out of the way if you are watching his behavior and are prepared to react. You shouldn't be acting afraid of the dog, because that could make him nervous and more inclined to bite. Just be cautious and don't assume that a dog won't bite. You don't know this dog's history or triggers. I have been bitten eight times because I refused to let go of a dog, for the dog's safety, even though I saw the bite coming. I can't recommend that you follow my example. It's probably better if you avoid the bite and seek help getting the dog to safety by some other means.
8. If a dog is showing an inclination to bite, a humane trap may be the best way to go. I know of many dogs that were of a bitey disposition while wandering loose, but once they were trapped in a humane trap, they became quite manageable. A humane trap has been the best way to catch a dog that couldn't be controlled by other means. Of course, you probably don't have a humane trap lying around, but animal control definitely will have one. You could also buy one at the hardware store, if the dog is a small dog. Traps big enough for black labs and German shepherds have to be special ordered, but a rescue group near you may have one. In the greater Seattle area, Useless Bay Sanctuary is often available to help with a humane trap. Full instructions for using a humane trap are available in this article. There are no pre-made traps for Great Danes, but one could be custom built.
9. Call animal control whether you catch the dog or not. If you have the dog in your custody, it is important to let animal control know about it in case the owner is out looking. If you can't catch the dog, animal control may be able to. Some people won't call animal control because they assume a call to AC will increase the dog's chances of being euthanized. That's not a fair assumption to make in most cases. Animal control is responsible for reuniting hundreds of dogs with their families every week. If you don't tell AC about the dog, it may hurt the dog's chances of finding his family. Regardless, you would be required by law to tell them, in most jurisdictions.
10. Once you have caught a stray dog, please make every effort to find the owner. Don't assume that the owners are somehow undeserving of the dog even if he looks dirty, skinny, and injured. A beloved pet that was pampered and well-treated may look abused or neglected after roaming loose for a week or more. For more ideas on what to do with a dog you have captured, please visit this page.