Last night, 2 golden retrievers showed up at my house. After sharing the pictures and asking for advice on Facebook, I finally connected these dogs with their worried owners. After this little adventure, I decided to share a few details about what to do when you come across a stray animal.

For the most part, humans are caring creatures and when we come across a stray, our heartstrings feel a tug and we do what we can to help these animals.

In times past, when I came across a stray, the owner was soon to follow so I didn't have to do much to reconnect the animal with its family. This time was different. These 2 beautiful dogs showed up, but after a couple of hours of walking them through the neighborhood I couldn't find the owners. So, I started posting their pictures on various Facebook groups in hopes of spreading the word about them. Finally, one person suggested I take them to get scanned for a microchip (something I never thought of). So I did and one was chipped and we were able to get a hold of the appreciative owners.

So, if you're in a situation like I was, then follow these steps and you'll be well on your way to helping the animals find their way back home.

  1. Contain them. The last thing you need is the animal getting excited and running out into the street, possibly getting hit or causing a wreck.
  2. Get them some water. That doesn't need explaining, right?
  3. Take them to a vet to get scanned for a microchip. If the animal has a microchip, the vet can give you the chip ID. At that point, you can contact 24 Hour Pet Watch, with the chip ID, about identifying the pets and their owners.
  4. If the animals don't have a microchip, take them to your local shelter. The first place most people will look, when their pet is lost, is the local shelter. So, taking the animal to the first place the owner should look is a good idea. Make sure you check back on the animal a day or two later.
  5. If you decide to board the animals until you find the owners, make sure you have them well contained in your backyard or house. Some animals may freak out when away from their homes too long. The last thing you want is for them to get lost again.

I'm not animal expert, just an animal lover. So, you may have more tips for this list. If so, please drop them in the comment section below. You can also check out this site for more info.

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