While driving , if you saw a dog or a cat wandering around alone, would you stop to help it? It is surprising how many people don’t.
A couple of my co-workers saw a puppy last night running in a very busy road. They said everyone was just driving by and no-one was even slowing down for the pup. Thank God for my co-worker’s compassion! They did stop and scooped him up and out of danger.
I‘ll never understand how anyone can see another living creature in danger, whether it be from traffic, starvation, other animals, weather, and even danger of other people, and not help it. It is one thing when it is wildlife running around (but still if they seem to be in danger, you should try to help), it is another thing if it is an animal such as a dog or cat. Obviously, these are domesticated animals and most likely someone’s lost pet.
If YOU see a dog or a cat wandering alone, please take the time to help them to safety and to try to locate the family.
When trying to locate a lost pets family there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Do not hand the pet over to just anyone
- Make them describe something about the pet only the family would know about them
- If you post a picture of the pet, do something like take off the collar (if they have one on), so when the family describes the pet to you they would have to mention the collar and something specific about it, like the color
- I almost forgot until Colin reminded me in his comment below. Take them to a Humane Society or Animal Hospital to check for a microchip which is the best way to reunite them with their family
- Great tip shared in the comments: Have them show you a photo of the pet!
Having someone prove it is their pet before handing them over could save that pet’s life from those who may have bad intentions.
If you have any other recommendations or suggestions, please share them in the comments of this post. We all need to come together and help protect and care for these precious beings.
You may someday be the one looking for your lost pet. So do for others what you would want done for you and your beloved pet.
You’ll be happy to know the puppy in this post is not the lost puppy. She is my co-workers new furry family member. The very co-worker who helped the little puppy in the busy road last night!
Her name is Lily and as you can see she is doing just fine!
Animals Are Feeling Beings Too 
It would be a good idea to try and find out if any local facility already handles lost pets. In our case, it is our Humane Society who will not only scan the animals for microchips (to identify them), but also coordinate reports of lost/found pets. The first thing we did with a stray dog was to call them, and they sent a van over to pick it up.
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Thank you Colin for sharing this! My only concern with Humane Societies is will they put down the animal if no-one claims them? But I suppose the person who finds them can tell them they will take them back/adopt them if no-one claims them so that doesn’t happen.
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Different Humane Societies/Shelters have different working parameters however, around here dogs are supposed to be micro-chipped so, unless I want to invest in a scanner, then the best chance of reuniting a dog with its owner is to get a shelter involved. Our shelter does not put down any animal based on time in their care.
In response to other Comments – We believe that Ray was set free because he had no i.d. on him whatsoever (he could also have chewed himself free and was simply never licensed etc.). He was afraid of people and other dogs however, the trainers worked with him for 4 months before making him available for adoption.
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It is good to read, that it use to be someones pet, when you find them in this way LeeAnn.
Where I live in Spain, maybe it once was someones pet, but not any longer because of the economic crisis, where many needed to let their animal go. This is a way, some people here think, they let the animal free and think that the animal by itself can go and find a new family.
I do absolutely not agree about this way, but I meet animals, specially dogs, who has been set free. Some organizations help these animals and try to catch them to take care of them. It is not always easy to catch them, if they have been living for a while like wild dogs. They learn to survive by themselves and don’t feel like trusting humans again, which is understandable too.
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That is so sad. If they truly can take care of themselves that is one thing. But I have a hard time believing a once domesticated animal can survive on its own. 😦 By the way, the second email you sent me didn’t work either. Just so you know.
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Yes, I find it very sad too. There are few, who really love the animals and wish to help them to get a good life. Mostly have never learned, how to have animals and what they need. Almost all are very good to help humans, but don’t know much about the needs of animals.
I contacted Microsoft last time, we talked about it and I haven’t heard anything from them yet. Thank you for telling me.
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We’ve helped a number of lost pets at our house. When we think we’ve found the owner, we’ve had the owner show us picture of them with the dog to prove ownership. And the dog had to be happy to see the owner.
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Super good idea!!! Never thought of having them share a photo! Awesome…thanks for sharing that great and important tip! 🙂
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Most people have them on their cell phone.
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Although I’ve adopted/ helped a few strays find homes, I’m ashamed to say have never picked up a lost pet. I guess it’s partly because traffic conditions in Bangalore are so horrendous you just can’t stop to help an animal which might be in trouble. And given the number of animals on the road, you can’t even be sure of that. Stray animals here are fortunately not killed (there is an ongoing and seemingly futile effort to neutering the whole population) but there are so many of them, one feels helpless. The other part is that I don’t really know what to do for a lost animal, and your post really helps with this. Thanks!
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I am so glad this post helped in some way. That is exactly why I write the posts I do. 🙂
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That’s how we ended up with Riley. Here, however, the local shelter requires you hand them over to them, so I never go that route.
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Lucky Riley! 🙂
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I also can’t understand why anyone would ignore an animal that is in danger. I own a dog, and if he were to be lost and I couldn’t find him, I’d absolutely appreciate someone helping bring him back to me. I also have my number on my dog’s tag in case he gets lost, and I’m sure other owners have that too. It could be worth checking a lost pet for that, otherwise taking them to a vet to get their microchip scanned is definitely the best course of action. I’m really happy Lily is doing okay! Thanks for the read 🙂
JN
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Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your comment. 🙂
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Every lost animal I find (that I can catch) I bring home with me. I’ve been fortunate have been able to connect many back with their owners, and others I have taken to the Humane Society so that I can foster them until they find a forever home.
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So glad to hear this. God bless you for doing this and helping these precious creatures.
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