If it doesn’t have a tag
In this case, stay with the dog in the place where you found it for a reasonable time to allow for the owner, who may be looking for it, to appear.
The next step could be to take the dog to the nearest veterinarian clinic to check for free if it carries a microchip in order to locate the owners this way. In case it carries a microchip, the veterinarian can access the information and get into contact with the owner. It is possible as well that the vet recognizes the dog and is able to warn the owner without it needing to carry a microchip.
Another option is calling the local police, the Guardia Civil or the Town Hall. If the owner is looking for their dog, it is likely they will have called the authorities to inform them about their dog on the loose. Besides, local authorities usually dispose of a microchip reader so that they can contact the owner immediately in case the dog carries one.
Does the dog have no microchip, then both the veterinarian and the local authorities can call a dog warden to take the animal to a municipal kennel or in some cases a shelter.
Tips: Municipal kennels and shelters are not the same thing. The first, also called animal health centres, are the collection centres for abandoned animals provided for by the public administration, the latter are non-profit associations dedicated to the protection of animals, though in some cases they possess a municipal concession to manage the service of collecting abandoned animals. In most kennels dogs tend to be sacrificed if their owner does not claim them and no adopter appears before their stay has surpassed a fixed term. In shelters animals are never sacrificed, except in exceptional cases such as terminating a sick animals suffering, so dogs may sometimes live all their life on the premises of a shelter.
If you see a dog walking alone in the street and there is nobody near it, you may be dealing with an abandoned dog though it also may have got lost or escaped, with its owner likely on the look-out. It may be hungry or thirsty, be cold or hot, may get run over or cause a traffic accident. So what can you do to help it?
If the dog looks healthy and doesnt show an aggressive attitude, you may try to approach it. An abandoned or lost dog is confused, and can easily get scared and run away if you approach it in a abrupt or direct way. For this reason it is important that you come closer little by little while avoiding any sudden movements. Use a soft voice and certainly do not talk in a menacing tone. If you happen to have some food on you, you can use it to make the dog feel at ease. But instead of trying to draw it towards you, it is better to throw the food away from you. The dog will come closer to you as its trust is growing. If it is hot, it could be useful to offer some water as well, to help it relax in your presence.
Once the dog is near and its behaviour is calm, you can try to stroke and hold it. If it has a collar, doesnt seem aggressive and lets itself be handled with ease, you can apply a leash or a piece of rope or just hold the collar with your hand. If it isnt wearing a collar, you can improvise a leash with the help of some rope.
Tips: If the dog is injured or ill or showing signs of aggressiveness, it is better to stay near and call the authorities so they can come and collect it. If you want to give it first aid, it is important that you know how to handle it to avoid hurting it as well as to avoid the dog hurting you in defence.
Once you have it secured, there are two options, depending on whether it has a dog tag:
A dog tag usually carries the name of the animal and a telephone number. If the number is up to date, with a little luck the owner will answer you straight away and you may be able to tell them you have found their dog.
Some modern dog tags instead of a telephone number have a QR code: if you have a smartphone and scan the code, you will have access to all the information the owner of the dog has left for it to be located.
In case the owner doesnt answer, the number is not updated or you cant read it or you are not able to get near the dog and handle it, you can act as if it didnt carry a dog tag.
Tips: Not all animals walking alone are abandoned, especially in build-up areas. Simply ringing someones doorbell and asking if they know the dog may be the fastest way to solve the situation.
According to Sanjana Madappa, who is in charge of CUPA’s Second Chance Adoption Centre, the most common cases of canine abandonment occur when a dog is left on the streets when they’ve been surrendered by their owners, or in cruelty cases, where the dogs have been severely mistreated. One of the reasons that dogs are abandoned is because people often aren’t aware that there are animal organisations which care for dogs. And even when dog owners are aware of these NGOs, there is often a cost associated with leaving the animal at a shelter, which can also be a deterrent for some.
Two dogs play with a stick on the grounds at CUPAs Second Chance Adoptions Centre.
“Dogs live an average of 10 years, during which point you can get married, your job can take you somewhere else, you can have a child,” Sanjana said. “If you cannot commit to a dog saying, ‘I will treat the dog as I would any other family member,’ don’t get one.”
CUPA currently has about 50 pedigree dogs and 50 indies, many of whom have been abandoned.
Abandoning pet dogs is a traumatic occurrence that happens far too often in cities like Bengaluru. Take Helen, a Rottweiler who was kicked out of her home. Or Holly, a Saint Bernard who was found wandering the streets. Beauty and Bruno were rescued and never claimed after the Kodagu floods. And Rudra, a cocker spaniel had been treated so cruelly by his previous owners that shelters workers could barely touch him when he was first brought in.
Why Are Dogs Being Abandoned?
A dog was illegally abandoned at Spring Farm CARES in Clinton Sunday, and they are looking for help identifying the owner.