First - don’t fall in love! If you suspect the animal is a lost pet (he’s wearing a collar, has identification, looks well cared for and is roaming your local neighborhood), then your focus is to help reunite the pet with his rightful owner.

If the animal is friendly towards you, check him for identification. Check to see if the animal has any identification such as a pet tag or rabies tag on his collar. If there is a name, phone number, or address that is current, you will have a good chance at locating the owner very quickly.

If there is no identifiable information on the animal’s collar, try taking him to a local veterinarian to have him scanned for a microchip. The pet can be quickly reunited with his owner if he has a microchip implant and is registered with current owner information.

Try not to expose your home, pet’s, or children to the lost animal unless you have him checked by a veterinarian for signs of illness or pest infestation. Try to contain the animal in a safe, dry area while you work on locating the owners. Provide fresh water.

If you decide to care for the animal for a brief period of time (one or two weeks) while trying to locate the owner, then you must take him to a veterinarian to be evaluated for safety reasons.

Call any pet services in your area and describe the lost animal. If the animal lives nearby, then it is likely that a local veterinarian, pet groomer, or trainer may recognize the pet’s description and provide information to help locate the owner. Leave your contact information with them in case they receive a call from the pet owner.

If the pet found its way to your yard, then he may live close by. Go door to door, or drive around the neighborhood to see if anyone is searching for a missing pet. Print some flyers to post near mailboxes or street signs. Supply your phone number, area where the animal was found, and only a brief description of the lost pet. Require that anyone calling about the animal can provide you with a more accurate description to ensure he’s returned to his rightful owner.

Contact your local animal shelters to see if someone has inquired about a missing pet fitting the description of the pet you found. Leave your contact information with the shelter in case the owners call in the future.

Submit a lost and found ad in the local newspaper. This is usually a free service. Call the local radio stations to see if they would provide a special service announcement for the lost pet. Again, a brief description of the animal, location where he was found, and your phone number is all that’s needed. There are some good organizations with web sites where you can post a lost pet notice.

If after a reasonable period of time, the owner has not been located then you may want to contact your local Humane Shelter or a local no-kill shelter to transfer care of the animal.

Important note: If you find an animal that has been injured, or exhibits signs of illness, do not try and handle the animal; call your local Humane Shelter for assistance. An injured or ill animal that is frightened or in pain can bite or be a threat to strangers.