How to find an owner

First, consider the safety of the dog and of yourself. A frightened and possibly sick or injured dog may behave unpredictably. A sudden move may spook him, causing him to bolt into traffic or even attack you. If the dog looks or acts threatening in any way, or if for any reason at all you feel uneasy about the situation, stay away from him and notify local animal control authorities.

If the dog appears approachable, remember to use caution and common sense. If you are lucky enough to get close enough to capture him, you still stand the risk of being bitten. Even a small dog can inflict a painful wound, and if a dog whose vaccination status is unknown bites you, you will be advised to undergo expensive and painful preventive treatment for rabies.

When approaching the dog, speak calmly and reassuringly to him. Make sure he can see you at all times as you approach, and perhaps entice him to come to you by offering a morsel of food. For tips on how to capture a skittish dog that is too afraid and runs away from people, visit our MY DOG IS LOST page.

Once you've managed to approach and capture the dog, the best care you can give it is to attempt to return it to its owner. Carefully following the steps below will greatly increase your chances of reuniting the dog with its owner:

Assume, no matter how the dog behaves or what it looks like, that this dog is owned and loved by someone who wants the dog back. This is the basis for our THINK LOST, NOT STRAY campaign. Dogs with skittish or "xenophobic" temperaments who run from strangers, especially when lost, are often mistaken as having been "abused." In reality, many of these dogs are pampered pets who have exhibited fearful behavior since puppy hood. They are genetically predisposed to being skittish and it has nothing to do with how they have been treated. Also, a dog's appearance can be deceptive when determining how the dog was treated before you found it. A loose, lost dog will lose weight, become dehydrated, obtain injuries, become matted, and pick up ticks, fleas, and burs in their fur. So for the sake of a potential happy reunion, never assume that the dog you found was dumped, abandoned, or was homeless until you have concrete evidence or all efforts to find an owner/guardian have failed.
Check the dog for ID tags or tattoos. Tattoos are often found inside the ear, or on the inner legs.
Place a long leash (and secure collar) on the dog and tell him "Go Home!" Unfortunately, some people do allow their dog to roam off leash and it is possible that you found a dog that knows exactly where its home is. See if the dog will lead you to its home. If you pass by any people, ask them if they know who owns that dog.
Check the area for any "Lost Dog" posters, but understand that the dog might have traveled quite far and the posters could be 1 mile away or more. Also consider that the dog may have escaped in the last few hours and the posters haven't gone up yet. Maybe the dog's owner is disabled and unable to create and hang posters. Just because there is no poster, don't automatically assume that there is no owner! Chances are there is an owner, and they desperately want their companion home. Be sure to check back in the area and within a 1-mile radius for lost dog posters for up to seven days after you found the dog. Different circumstances (health problems, being out of town, etc.) can prevent people from getting lost pet flyers posted immediately
Take the dog to a vet's office and have it scanned for a microchip. Microchips are tiny computer chips containing identification information which are injected under the skin of pets to provide permanent, positive identification. Most vets and animal shelters are equipped with the readers necessary to detect and interpret microchips.
Take several flyers to the local shelter because this may be the primary location where the owner will be searching. Never surrender the animal to a local shelter without first checking to see if they are a "no-kill" shelter. Very few municipal shelters have the resources available to house lost and stray animals more than a few days. If you're not sure about the shelter's policy, call and speak with the shelter director candidly about the situation and what is likely to happen to the dog if it is surrendered.
Check the "lost & found" ads in the local paper, and place a "found dog" ad yourself. Remember to check the "lost" ads periodically, as well as local lost pet websites. Even if the description given doesn't perfectly fit the dog you've found, call anyway. You'd be surprised how many pet owners, shelter workers, individuals who find lost pets and place "found" dog ads get the breed wrong!
Post a giant FOUND DOG poster near the exact spot where you found the dog and a couple more at major intersections in that area. Use florescent posters that are 28" X 22" in size and can be found at most office supply or drug stores. Using a wide black marker (do not use water soluble markers), write five or six words that convey your message, then put your phone number in smaller writing at the bottom. For example, if you find a white teacup Poodle, you would want to write: "FOUND SMALL WHITE POODLE" and your phone number at the bottom. MPP volunteers once found a light brown colored terrier mix. We created a sign that said "FOUND TINY TAN TERRIER" and our phone number. The dog was back with his family within five hours.
Finally, take a photo (digital if possible) of this dog and make up some smaller (8 ½ X 11) black & white FOUND DOG flyers with a partial description of the dog, the location where you found the dog, and your contact info. Leave off certain details so any caller will be forced to identify their dog. Deliver these (delegate if you need to) these to rescue groups, vet offices, and pet supply stores in your area. All national pet supply store chains offer lost-and-found bulletin boards in their stores, including Petco and PetsMart, so be sure to take flyers there.

Do not let just anyone claim that the dog you found is theirs. Do not answer any questions (from the caller) pertaining to the description of the dog. Do not ask leading questions like "Does your Poodle have a kink in its tail?" but instead ask open-ended questions like, "Describe your dog's tail" or "Is there something unique about your dog's tail?" Make the caller give you a full description of their lost pet. Never agree to deliver the dog to the caller unless you have first told a friend or family where you are going and unless you take someone along with you.

If you end up reuniting a lost dog with its family, we want to congratulate you on a job well done! You have not only helped make a family very happy, you also helped prevent needless suffering, potential injury (or worse) or homelessness, and you have prevented one less dog from ending up in our overcrowded animal shelters and rescue groups! If the owner/guardian wants to show their appreciation for your helping them but you feel uncomfortable in accepting any "Reward," please consider asking them to make a tax deductible contribution to Missing Pet Partnership instead. Checks can be sent to

I've Found A Dog