What To Do When You Find a Stray

Inspired by an event yesterday in which I rescued a very adorable little pup that almost got hit by a car, I decided to post a blog about what to do if you find a loose/stray dog.


A lot of dogs that have escaped from their yards or been allowed to roam free will avoid coming over to people for various reasons. Some will be extremely friendly and easy-going, some will be more fearful and stand-offish. For your safety and the dogs safety, here's a few pointers on how to attempt to call the dog over to you and safely check them for identification. Remember: always use caution when interacting with dogs you do not know. If the dog is exhibiting aggressive behavior, or you feel uncomfortable handling them, call your local animal control professionals to come out and get the dog. Give them the precise location in which you have seen the dog, a physical description, and any other information that can help them find the dog.

Getting The Dog

Do not approach the dog - he or she may view your approach as a threat and run off (potentially into traffic if you live in the city). Instead, try to make friendly, baby-talk noises to entice the dog to come to you. If you're a dork like me who has some form of dog treat on you nearly at all times, use that to help entice the dog to approach you. When the dog approaches, do not bend down or over her. This, again, is likely to frighten her and cause her to run off. Instead, let her sniff you (and take food from your hand if you have it). Have you body turned slightly to the left or right so you are not facing the dog head-on, and avoid making direct eye contact. If you have food to offer, dangle your hand loosely at your side with your hand open so she can see it. Do not try to reach your hand towards her, even to offer her a treat. If she seems comfortable with your presence, slowly kneel vertically down next to her (presuming this isn't a great dane... obviously for a large breed there may not be the need to kneel down to get closer to their tag). Do not hover over her. Slowly place your hand out flat, palm-up, under her chin to pet her. Do not try to pet the dog directly on their head or body. If she shys away, stop moving your hand and keep it still. Don't pull it back in, but instead let her sniff and become more comfortable before you try again. If she is comfortable with this, gently pet her under her chin, grazing her collar. Many dogs do not like their collars grabbed and will react if you try to do so abruptly. If you have a leash handy, make sure you have that ready before calling the dog over to you so you can attach it to her collar if she allows you to. If the dog freezes, growls, or pulls away when you touch her collar, do not attempt to grab it. If she has a tag, try and see if you can get a glimpse of the information on it without touching her collar. If you have a treat, hold it so she has to tilt her head slightly upward to get it, giving you a moment to look at her tag. If you have a leash, use this opportunity to clip it on to her collar. If the dog has no collar at all, do not under any circumstance attempt to pick the dog up or grab ahold of her. If you can loop your leash around her long enough to take her to safety, try that, otherwise call animal control.


If you have your own dog with you, do not let them greet. Even if the stray dog seems friendly, you do not know if she is vaccinated or carries any harmful diseases. If there is a tree or post nearby, tether your own dog to it (or keep them in the car if you were driving), then attempt to coax the stray over, away from your dog.

Once You've Got The Dog

If you are able to get any information off of the tag, such as a phone number, take the dog to safety and give the phone number a call. If you get a voicemail, leave a message including your phone number so the owner can call you back.
If there is no tag, or a tag with no information on it, take the dog to the nearest vet office. All veterinarian offices are equipped to scan for microchips in the event that a lost dog is brought into their clinic, and most are more than willing to help you locate the owner if the dog is microchipped. In the event that the dog is not microchipped, take her to the nearest animal shelter. Many vet offices are not set up to take in strays, but depending on the office they may or may not offer to take the dog in. Shelters are often the first place owners will check when they realize their beloved dog is nowhere to be found. Most shelters have a holding period for stray dogs before they are put up for adoption to give the owner ample time to call and come claim their pet. If you have any interest in the dog yourself, ask that you be contacted if she is not reclaimed. Depending on the capacity of the shelter, they may or may not be able to house her for very long once the holding period is up. Alternatively, if you have the ability to house the dog yourself and don't mind doing so, you can call the shelter and vet clinics in the area and give them a description of the dog, as well as your contact info so the owner can get ahold of you should they come looking for their dog. If you do take the dog in, be prepared to care for her if the owners don't call.

Again, if at any point you feel uncomfortable with interacting with the stray dog, call animal control. They have the proper equipment and are trained specifically for this purpose. Its much better to call them than to put yourself in harms way.

That said, most of the strays I've personally encounted have been neutral or very friendly in temperament and have not posed any threat to me leashing them up and getting them home. Which brings us to... (drum roll, please)... prevention! Accidents do happen, but we can do our best to try to make sure they don't.

1. Always have your dog leashed when she is not contained in your home or in a fully-fenced backyard. Never open the door without your dog on a leash or properly trained to wait before exiting the house. Leash laws exist for a reason, obey them.
Seattle's law states your dog must be on a leash of 8 ft. or shorter at all times in public, and must be properly contained on the property by a fence or tie-out when in your yard.

2. Have current tags on your dogs at all times. Accidents happen despite our best efforts, and when they do, we want someone to be able to identify our pets and get them home safely to us.
3. Microchip your pets. Collars can fall off. Microchips don't. A microchip can save your dog's life if they ever get loose and are turned in to the shelter.

4. Secure your backyard if you have one. Make sure every crack in the fence is filled, and there are no secret exit points your dog could escape from. If you don't have a fence, make sure you have a sturdy tie-out made of dog-proof material. Many local pet stores sell chew-proof tie-outs and long lines (which come in handy for camping, too!) Never leave your dog outside unattended for an extended period of time.

5. Train a solid recall command. Once your dog has accidentally slipped out of her collar or leash, your best ammo is a well-trained dog.



(disclaimer: I use the term "she" as a reference point to the dog. The entirety of this post applies to a dog of either gender, and all breeds)