‘Mommy! I found a puppy!’ Now what?

By Beth Leermakers

This cute dog followed me home. Can I keep him? Not without trying to locate his owner. 

Loose dogs tend to find me, probably because I’m out walking my personal and foster dogs for hours every morning. Yesterday, a cocker spaniel trotted up to me and my dog as we were heading out for our walk. Fortunately, the dog was friendly — and wearing a collar with multiple ID tags (microchip, rabies and one with the rescue group’s phone number). Unfortunately, none of the tags included the owner’s phone number, and the engraving on the microchip tag had worn off, making it difficult to read the first three numbers. 

The little dog followed me into my house, and I called Home Again, the microchip company. The agent figured out the missing chip numbers and located the dog’s information. She called and left a message for the owner, telling me that Riley wasn’t far from home. I put the little guy in a crate and texted a neighbor, asking if his dog was missing. Yes, Riley was his dog, who’d left the backyard through an open gate when he went out for his morning potty break. When I took Riley home, I recommended that James add a tag with his phone number. Calling his number (instead of the microchip company) would’ve saved time, and I would have known immediately where Riley lived (because James’ number is stored in my contacts). 

What should you do if you find a loose dog without ID tags? If the dog seems friendly, use a slip leash to capture the unknown pup without getting too close to his teeth. If the dog is aggressive, immediately contact Animal Control. 

Put the dog in your securely fenced yard (weather permitting), a crate, or a spare room or bathroom. Even if the dog appears friendly, keep him separate from your pets. An unvaccinated or sick dog is a threat to your pets’ health.

Spread the word. Report the found pet on the Petco LoveLost website (per the Dallas Animal Services website: bedallas90.org/found).  

NextDoor. Post a close-up photo (clearly showing his face and identifying markings), description (e.g., sex and size), and where you found him (city and neighborhood/major cross streets). I see NextDoor posts from people in Irving and other Dallas-adjacent cities, not just my own neighborhood. 

PawBoost. Create a free “found pet” alert on www.Pawboost.com. PawBoost, a national database of lost and found pets, is the world’s number one service for reuniting missing animals, with more than two million pets reunited with their families. PawBoost alerts local communities on Facebook and NextDoor, and through a partnership with local shelters, spreading the word about lost animals. If you’ve lost your cat or dog, you can use PawBoost’s free template to create a flyer. 

Post “found pet” flyers in your neighborhood. According to PawBoost, the best place to post Lost/Found posters is on bulletin boards in high-traffic stores in your community. It’s illegal to put flyers in people’s mailboxes or post them on city utility poles. Who knew? 

Check for a microchip. Microchips are required for dogs and cats in Dallas. Take the dog to an animal shelter or vet clinic to be scanned for a microchip. Hillside Veterinary Clinic (6150 E Mockingbird Ln, #201, Dallas, 214-214-4871) is open 24/7. Dallas Animal Urgent Care (12835 Preston Rd # 405, Dallas, 972-910-2890) is open 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily, including holidays. 

Take the dog to Dallas Animal Services (or the city shelter where you found him). If someone doesn’t claim the dog within a few days (or hours if you’re not able to keep him longer), the shelter is your next stop. People are often reluctant to take a dog to a crowded city shelter. As a foster parent who sees hundreds of pleas for urgent (read: in danger of being euthanized) dogs every day, I understand and appreciate that concern. But many people go to a shelter to look for their missing dog, and most shelters vaccinate dogs when they come in. 

Ask for the dog’s ID number so you can track him on the shelter’s website and Facebook page. If you’re willing to foster the dog until he finds a home, a local rescue group may be willing to help you promote the dog for adoption. The shelter can recommend rescue groups that work with them. Rescue groups can’t save dogs without foster homes, and many foster parents are at their limit (legally and sanity-wise). 

How can you help your own pets make it home safely if they get loose?

Put ID tags with your phone number on your pet’s collar. If your cat or dog loses her tags, invest in a collar with your pet’s name and phone number embroidered on it. I swear by the GoTAGS personalized collars (durable embroidery). I have several collars embroidered with “Foster Dog” and my phone number. 

Get your pet microchipped. Vet clinics, Spay Neuter Network (www.spayneuternet.org; 972-472-3500;  $20 microchip), and Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP; www.texasforthem.org; 940-566-5551; $30 microchip) insert microchips. Be sure to register the chip and update your contact information with the microchip company. 

Thank you for helping wayward dogs find their way home safely.