Is it better to pick up a stray dog or leave it alone?

Answer 1

I can't resist taking in strays..It is very rewarding.
I guess I think too much like a dog, and imagine myself wondering, lost and hungry..Seeking safety and companionship..Nope, just can't resist bring them home...

Answer 2

I can't believe all the people who wouldn't get off their butt and help a lost animal, fer chrissake! If YOUR dog was lost, wouldn't you want someone to step in an assist? Either the dog is lost, or not supposed to be loose and the owner is looking for it, or the owner could care less. I would (and HAVE) attempted to catch the dog and taken it in until I can find out who owns it. If no owner claimed it, I would contact a rescue group that would re-home it. (if the owner has bothered to microchip it - it would get returned) A loose dog is not a "dangerous animal" most would run from you first. Too many people look the other way when they could turn the situation around and get the pet home. If I see a dog that even LOOKS lost, I call the local dog officer and report it, so anyone who might be looking for it will know where to search. Dogs can travel a long way from home in just a day. I have helped several dogs/owners find each other just by making the effort to help. All it takes is a little effort and a little compassion. If the dog won't come to me, then I would at least make the phone call and report it. Think about how you would feel if your dog was lost? And I would not just hand it over to animal control depending on the town or city, because it would have a few days for the owner claim it, then it might be turned into dog food - YES, some dog food is made up of euthanized dogs and cats from so-called "shelters". Do a search on "Food pets die for" and look into it. The bottom line is, if my dogs ever got out, I would PRAY that someone would make the effort to catch them and get them scanned for their microchips or look up the info on their tags if they still are wearing their collars.

Answer 3

If I found a dog who was either lost and hopefully not abanded by the owners, I definitely would take it home with me. After I got the dog home, I'd contact the dog pound in the area to inquire if anyone has called them about the dog. I would also inform them that I have this dog in my home and leave information to contact me in case the owners do get in contact with the pound. I, then would phone the radio station and put the dog on their lost and found. I'd put an ad in the local papers, too. I would go to the area where I found the dog and I would go house to house asking people if they knew the dog. You just might get lucky. I went to the mall one Saturday evening 3 years ago. I took my dogs with me and left them in the car. When I came out to the car about 20 minutes later one of my dogs had wiggled his way out of a little window. The kids and I walked around the area until it was well after dark looking for him. I went to the dog pound on Sunday and gave them the information that I needed to. The rest of the day, the previous night all I did was pray and cry for my little guy. My heart was so broken. Monday I went back to the mall and went to several stores in the mall and the places that have businesses in the vicinity and left my name, phone etc... I then checked back with the pound and a woman had called asking them if anyone had been looking for a little dachshund? They had found him in the parking lot at the mall on Saturday evening and had taken him home. I am very, very grateful for their kindness. Horrible things can happen to dogs who are lost. My little guy never runs off since this happened and I never leave an escape for him either. I also would not let the stray dog go to the local pound until the owners could be located. Dog pounds are horrible places. Every dog there has the saddest eyes. Some are probably better than others. We have 2 here. One is run by the humane society and is not to bad of a place. It is clean, doesn't smell. The dogs don't have the sad eyes. The other is run by the city and I don't particularly like the place. It stinks, their employees are very rude and the dogs are so unhappy. In order to adopt a dog there you have to comply with their requirements. They are to strict and unneccessary. If they pick up your dog for being at large. They can fine you up to 750 dollars for first timers.

Answer 4

We have often picked up abandoned animals and brought them home. They were usually on the verge of starvation and would not have lasted more than a day or 2 without food. We brought 2 lab puppies that appeared to be purebred, back home from about 100 miles away. You could see every bone in their body. Within a couple of weeks they were fat and healthy and found loving homes. I am not going to leave a dying animal alone to die.

Answer 5

If You dont plan to spend the money to take it to a shelter than leave it alone. You can also Foster the dog & fill out a Found report untill someone claims it.

Answer 6

Pick it up, check for tags, if there's no identifying tags on the collar, call local radio stations describing dog, call local dog pound and shelter to see if anyone's looking for it yet. If no owners turn up, you can always take it to the shelter. Much better than leaving him to be hit by a car or starving.

Answer 7

Dogs tend to wander if they get out. If the dog is lost and in danger then I would do what I could to help the dog, call the animal control, if the dog is wandering around a neighborhood and is not in danger I would leave it alone.

Answer 8

Stray animals suffer from the elements. If you are able to take care of the dog, you would be saving its life. If not, you should try to find a "no kill" shelter to take it to. If all else fails, take it to the humane society where they will be able to care for it. It may happen that it will be put to sleep but that is much more humane than a being hit by a car, starving, freezing to death, or being tortured by sick people.

Answer 9

What I would do is attempt to catch the poor thing and then bring it to a vet and get it checked out and if you want, and it turns out he has no owners, you could probably adopt him/her! So a good thing happens to the dog and you. However, if the dog seems aggressive I would call animal control and have them catch it. They have the proper equipment to handle a potentionally dangerous animal.

Answer 10

I'm sorry, but I couldn't leave it. I would take it to the vet, get it checked out and find a foster home until we could find a forever home. It breaks my heart to see a stray.........