What do you do when you see a stray dog? What should you do if you see a dog wandering in the street? Maybe it’s not your job to do anything. Perhaps it’s not your problem. You might assume that the dog lives nearby, and he will probably go home soon. Maybe you would call animal control and leave it up to them.
Recently, Tino and I searched for a sweet little dog. He was old, and his sight and hearing were fading. He had lived a wonderful life. He was loved by everyone, and he was very friendly with people. He looked a lot like my Fozzie. He escaped the house of a pet sitter without their knowledge. They had WiFi surveillance cameras that would have seen him, but those cameras weren’t working at the moment because the batteries needed charging. They thought he was in the house, and when they discovered that he wasn’t, they went looking for him.
At least three people, and probably more, saw him on the quiet street as he wandered aimlessly for three hours, looking for his people, looking for help. He would have let anyone pick him up, but no one did. Maybe they thought he would go home. Maybe they assumed he was allowed to wander. Eventually, the family of this dog called us to search. Tino followed the scent trail for a block, to retaining wall above a swift creek. It could have been possible that the little dog walked up to the edge, and then walked away. However, he couldn’t hear the creek, and he couldn’t see well enough to know that it was a three foot drop, into the creek. Tino and I got into the creek and walked along in the water to see if we could find the scent trail of any place he might have gotten out of the water. We didn’t find such a scent trail. My hope was that he turned around and went back the way he came, and was picked up by someone.
Today, his body was found on the shore of the lake. It turns out that he did fall in the creek and was swept away. Tino and I were too late.
At so many points in this dog’s day, he could have been helped. The way he escaped the house through the back door, that exit point could have been fortified and monitored. The gate to the backyard could have and should have been closed, except contractors left it open. The cameras could have been working, and maybe the homeowner would have seen an alert. He could have been wearing a GPS, just in case he escaped. Once he was out in the neighborhood, at least three people were known to have seen him, and they didn’t pick him up and make sure he was safe. As he walked one block from the pet sitter’s house to the creek, he passed in front of a dozen WiFi and doorbell cameras, but they weren’t working or people weren’t checking them.
I understand that accidents happen. No one intended for this dog to come to any harm. He was loved. People weren’t careless, but they could have been more careful. I worry that I will make a mistake someday. A few times, I have thought the kitchen door was latched, and it turned out it wasn’t, and the door blew open in the wind. I have been surprised to find all of my dogs out in the yard when they weren’t supposed to be. They have GPS trackers, but sometimes the batteries fail. I have Ring cameras watching outside the doors, but those cameras have batteries that I have to charge. Every once in a while, I get busy or distracted, and one of the cameras dies temporarily. I could see the possibility that I might make a series of mistakes that would end up with one of my dogs out on the streets without my knowledge.
What would you do if you saw Fozzie in the street? What would you do if you saw Tino? Would you avoid him because he is 100 pounds and somewhat intimidating to some people? What would you do if you saw Mu, a pit bull mix? If you saw Sky on the street, she would run from you. Would you tell someone? If I make a series of mistakes, if I fail at the redundant measures I have taken, one of my dogs could be out on the street, and I would be totally dependent on the kindness of strangers to get my dog home again.
If you see a dog loose on the street, first of all, watch. If you observe a dog for a little while, you might see that he returns to a yard. If so, please knock on the door and ask if it is their dog. If they say yes, and he is allowed to wander, then maybe you can’t do much more for that dog. Unfortunately, you can’t really force someone to not allow their dog to roam, even if it’s against the law. The shelters are full, these days, and Animal Control Officers are overwhelmed. In most jurisdictions, nothing much will happen if you report a dog that is allowed wander freely. Please do knock on the door of the house nearest to the dog, and see if it is their dog. In some cases, it will turn out to be the dog that lives there, and they were unaware that the dog escaped. I have helped dozens of dogs by just watching them, and knocking on doors to make sure they were safe. One day, while I was out on a search with Tino, I received a message from my neighbor that Fozzie was out in the driveway. They watched out for him until he was back in the house. They saved my life. If they hadn’t brought it to my attention, he might have wandered and been hit by a car.
What should you do if you see a dog and he doesn’t seem to belong to any of the nearby houses? What if you see a dog wandering in an area with no houses? Or a commercial district or a busy highway? Again, before you take any action, please watch the dog for a little bit. Maybe he is walking with his person, but off-leash and not very close. While this is not a safe practice, some people do it. I once saw a pair of dogs running down the street. I followed them for five blocks until they ran into a house. A neighbor said they live there. Apparently, the dogs were in the habit of visiting a friend in the neighborhood, five blocks away, and then those people would tell the two dogs to go home, and they would run five blocks home. I certainly don’t recommend that practice, but if I had interfered, I could have put them in more danger if I diverted from their travel to safety.
If you want to help all dogs, and you don’t want any dogs to be in danger, should you automatically grab every dog you see on the street? No, because if you move towards that dog in a way that makes him uncomfortable, you could push him out of his safe space, and then he could be truly lost instead of just wandering near home.
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 group and on NextDoor and the Neighbors app.
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. Please use Calming Signals with any dog you don’t know.
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 choose 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 social media 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 like you aren’t interested in him. 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 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 Pets of Snohomish County, and Lost and Found Pets of Pierce County, 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, and 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. If you find my dog and intentionally keep him from me, you’d better hope I never find out, and I will find out, one way or another.
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. Vienna sausage is available at almost any gas station or convenience store, and most dogs would do anything for Vienna sausage.
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 12 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 12 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, or if you can’t get close, 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 very 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.
If you see one of my dogs out on the streets, please help him or her. I would do anything for them. They are my entire life. If I failed them somehow and they escaped, then I am counting on you to do the right thing. My dogs and I have helped thousands of dogs get back to their families. I would hope that my community would help my dogs get back to me. If you see any dog wandering loose, please assume that it is dog who is loved as much as I love my dogs. Please watch over that dog, be his guardian until he is safe.
Wonderful, useful advice for everyone. I had a newly adopted dog get loose and run out of my neighborhood toward a busy street that led to a highway. Because I remembered Jim’s advice -don’t chase a dog or call him- I sat down on the curb and just talked to myself out loud and soon my dog stopped turned around and looked my way, then proceeded to come back to me. I was so surprised that this worked but it did!! Jim a so much experience with situations that really work!
💔 My heart is broken for this precious dog. I saw the post about him on Nextdoor and sent it to a friend of mine who lives closer to that area.
Is this a public post that is shareable? I’m going to post it on Nextdoor because so many missing and found dogs are shared there. I hope people will be able to see it.