Flyer maker › Guides · updated Nov 8, 2026
Found a dog? What to do
Safety first: approach slowly from the side, don't grab, and use a lead or a belt as a loop. If the dog seems frightened or aggressive, call animal control instead.
- Check for tags and call the number if there is one.
- Get a microchip scan. Any vet clinic or shelter will scan for free, and it takes a minute. A chip is the fastest way home.
- Report the dog to your local shelter and animal control, even if you keep the dog with you. That's where owners look first, and in many places it's required.
- Post a found report online with a photo and the area, and check lost reports nearby.
- Make a "found dog" flyer (choose "Found pet" here) and put it up where you found the dog.
- Hold back one detail (a marking, collar colour) and ask anyone who calls to describe it, so the dog goes back to its real owner.
If no one comes forward
Rules on how long to hold a found dog differ by city and state; your local shelter can tell you. Don't rehome a found dog yourself without checking: the owner may still be searching.
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