Proceed with love, but caution, when rescuing

By Dr. Beth Leermakeres

Loose dogs are a common problem in Dallas. In December 2024, Dallas Animal Services took in 590 lost dogs. Yes, in one month.

My heart stops when I see a loose dog while I’m walking my pups in my neighborhood. Will she be friendly, or will she attack my dogs? How can I help when I have my hands full with two dogs who outweigh me?

What should you do if you find a loose dog or cat? Some people immediately try to find a new home for a found cat or dog, without attempting to locate the pet’s owner. That is not the right course of action. That cat or dog may belong to someone who misses her desperately. Animals that are in poor condition weren’t necessarily neglected; they may have been living on the streets for several weeks or months. My neighbors are reluctant to take a found dog to Dallas Animal Services, but many people go to shelters looking for their lost dogs. 

Last spring, a friendly dog followed me and my dogs home on our morning walk — dragging a 15-foot tie-out cable. I have several foster and personal dogs, so there’s no room at my inn for an extra dog, even temporarily. My neighbor agreed to keep the wayward pup in her yard for a few hours. 

Meanwhile, I posted flyers (securely) in the neighborhood, only to find them missing (apparently torn down) a few hours later. Suspecting that someone intentionally turned the dog loose, I took her to Dallas Animal Services, where she was scanned for a microchip (none), vaccinated and adopted after her stray hold ended. 

When You Find a Loose 

Dog or Cat 

If possible, capture and contain a loose dog carefully. Approach an unknown dog slowly and cautiously while speaking calmly and gently. Food (canned dog food or meat) is a good way to lure a reluctant dog. Dogs should be secured using a leash or kept in a fenced yard. Even if the dog seems friendly, keep him separate from your pets. An unvaccinated or sick dog can jeopardize your pets’ health. If the dog acts aggressively, call animal control immediately. 

With cats, it may be hard to tell whether a loose cat is a community cat or a stray (missing owned cat). Community cats that have been Trapped/Neutered/Returned may have the tip of their left ear snipped to indicate they’ve been spayed/neutered. According to Dallas Animal Services: “If they appear well fed, well-groomed and friendly, chances are they belong to your neighbors. You can leave them be so they can return to their home. As only about 2 percent of cats taken to a shelter are recovered by their owners, DAS does not take in healthy stray cats or kittens 4 months or older. If you see a cat that appears injured, sick or skinny, they may need medical attention and/or are unused to living outdoors. Bring them to Dallas Animal Services at 1818 North Westmoreland Road.” 

Check for an ID tag. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to call the owner right away. After having too many dogs lose their ID tags, I now use GoTags collars with my phone number embroidered on them. 

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

Check dogs for a microchip. All dogs and cats in Dallas are required to be microchipped. Vet clinics and animal shelters have microchip scanners. Once notified that the dog has been found, the microchip company will contact the pet’s owner. 

Take the dog to the shelter in the city where you found him. The shelter staff will scan for a microchip and vaccinate the animal. People are most likely to look for their missing dog at the shelter. Even if you reported the found dog, the information you provided may not match what the owner is looking for. If you guess wrong about the dog’s breed, the pet won’t show up when someone searches by breed. In Dallas, microchipped dogs must complete their 3-day stray hold at the shelter. If the dog isn’t chipped, you can foster him during his stray hold to free up a kennel in the full shelter. Ask for the dog’s ID number so you can track him or her on the shelter website.

Put up flyers and post the cat or dog’s photo and information on lost and found websites. Even if you take the dog to the shelter, you can help reunite him with his family by hanging flyers where you found him. Include a decent, close-up photo that shows the animal’s face and any distinctive markings. 

Post the animal on Nextdoor.com (lost and found section). 

Pawboost.com. One of my temporary foster dogs, who got away from the transporter in Minnesota, found her way back to the rescue group through her Pawboost post. 

Sign up for Lost Pet Alert emails at homeagain.com (a microchip company). 

Thank you for helping loose cats and dogs find their way home. They’re counting on kind-hearted people to protect them from cars and predators.