When you see a dog roaming outside, you may be tempted to act quickly and catch it. However, a wandering dog is usually in a fighting state and will be more likely to run away (not approach you). To catch a dog without endangering its safety or your own, you must plan your strategy carefully and decide what to do after you catch it.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Assessing the Situation
Step 1. Pay attention to the dog's body language
Before approaching a dog, pay close attention to his body language. Strange behavior can be a symptom of rabies. Growling and snapping indicate that the dog is being aggressive.
Dogs may tense their muscles or walk stiffly if they are afraid
Step 2. Determine what you can do next
Watching your dog's body language is a great way to decide if you can, or should catch him. If your dog is frightened, but doesn't seem threatening or overly aggressive, you may be able to catch him. However, if his body language indicates that the dog is not afraid to attack or bite, contact veterinary authorities or the police to arrest him.
- Call the police if you are in a rural area far from a veterinary authority center.
- When contacting the authorities, provide as much information as possible: your name and phone number, as well as clear information about the dog's location (eg landmarks, distance markers, street names). Also ask the expected time of arrival.
- If you can, keep an eye on the dog until the authorities arrive.
Step 3. Ask if anyone has lost a dog or not
If you see a dog in an inhabited area, such as a residential area, consider asking some local residents if they know of the missing dog. If no one knows that a dog is missing, identify the dog or its owner. You will have to catch it yourself or contact local authorities.
If you see a stray-looking dog in a housing estate, it's probably just hanging around near the owner's house
Part 2 of 4: Making the Dog Comfortable with You
Step 1. Secure the area
This is especially important if you see a dog on the side of the road and want to take it to the car. Since the dog is in a ready-to-fight state, attempts to catch it may cause it to run into a vehicle and be hit.
- Try creating a barrier between the dog and the oncoming vehicle using materials such as a wooden box, long cloth, or leash. Signal the vehicles to circle the area to keep you and your dog safe. It will also help if you turn on the hazard lights.
- If you see the dog in your home, use good dog food to lure him into a confined area (such as a fenced yard) to prevent the dog from escaping. You may need the help of several people to do this. Keep in mind that your dog will be difficult to move to another area if he is uncomfortable with you.
Step 2. Show signs that don't seem threatening
The ability to catch a dog will depend on how comfortable the dog is with you. If your first move is to walk up to him (albeit slowly and carefully), the dog may be frightened. You have to watch him from a safe distance.
- Try licking your lips or yawning.
- Pretend to eat food from the ground. Squeeze an empty bag of potato chips, and when your dog notices you, pretend to drop the food on the ground and kneel as if he ate it. Say 'mmm!' when 'dropping' the food.
- Sit on the ground or even lie on your back if you can safely do this. The closer you are to the ground, the less threatening you will appear to the dog.
- Once the dog sees that you are not a threat, it may approach you out of curiosity.
Step 3. Don't make any threatening moves
Even if you mean well, some of the actions you take may scare the dog and run away. For example, don't call the dog. The dog may have been called by others to rescue.
- If called again, the dog will become even more frightened.
- Do not stroke your paw or walk near the dog.
- Don't look the dog in the eye.
Step 4. Persuade the dog to come near you
Even if they are no longer afraid, your dog may still be wary of approaching you. One of the best ways to get him to approach you is to give him tasty treats like hot dogs, canned food, and meat-based treats. The trick is to give it in small portions. This will keep the dog wanting to eat it.
- If you give a large amount of food, the dog may take the food and run away again.
- Soft-textured foods with strong aromas are ideal foods.
- You can throw food at him or hold food in your hands. Either way, try to appear disinterested in the food. Your disinterest will likely attract him.
- If the dog refuses to come close, you can contact local authorities or try to catch it in an animal-safe trap.
Part 3 of 4: Catching the Dog
Step 1. Attach the dog to the leash
If your dog wants to approach you, you can try catching him on a leash. Before pairing them, place the leash on the ground for the dog to approach and investigate. Continue to feed the dog and show that you are not a threat.
- When you put the reins on, you need to be calm and act swiftly. The sudden movement will make it difficult for you to attach the leash.
- Try attaching a buckle to the leash handle and placing the shaped leash around the dog's neck. That way, the leash will automatically tighten when your dog tries to get away from you, giving you more control over it.
- If your dog refuses to be put on a leash, stop immediately and contact veterinary authorities or the police. Don't increase the risk of getting yourself injured.
Step 2. Check the identification
After catching the dog on a leash, check to see if the dog has a collar with an identification tag on it. If you don't have a leash, take your dog to the vet or animal shelter staff so they can be scanned for microchip.
Microchips are tiny chips that are deposited under a dog's skin, usually between their shoulder blades. The chip number is linked to an electronic database containing the dog's owner's contact information
Step 3. Take the dog to the vet or animal shelter
If you can safely get him in the car, take the dog to the vet or animal shelter immediately. Dog owners will generally contact an animal shelter if they lose their dog. You can choose to take them to an animal shelter first. The decision is completely up to you.
- You may have to put some good food in the back seat of the car to lure it in.
- Do not try to carry it if the dog becomes restless while in the car. His restlessness can harm you while driving. Close the car door and contact the local veterinary authority or the police to take the dog.
Part 4 of 4: Deciding What to Do on the Dog
Step 1. Hand over the dog
Once you've caught the dog, you'll have to decide what to do with it. Apart from adoption, you can also consider other options. One option is to hand over the dog by taking it to an animal shelter.
- If you hand him over to an animal shelter, the dog will be locked up as a street animal before it can be adopted by someone else. This confinement period usually lasts 3-10 days and it is a legal obligation to ensure that the dog will not be adopted if the dog owner claims it within that time frame.
- Giving the dog to an animal shelter can make it easier for dog owners to find it.
- Keep in mind that the veterinary clinic may not be able to accommodate the dog. Some veterinary clinics even function as pick-up points for animal shelters.
Step 2. Find the owner of the dog
If you decide not to give up the dog, you should take care of it on a temporary basis and try to find an owner. In many places, you are legally obligated to find a dog's owner before adopting him. The length of time required to find a dog owner varies by location. Ask your local veterinary authority for information on requirements.
- Your efforts to find a dog owner must be documented.
- Contact your nearest veterinary authority or animal shelter if you decide to find the dog's owner yourself. This will let them know that the dog is with you if contacted by the dog owner.
- If your dog has an identification tag or microchip, contact the owner directly.
- If you can't contact the owner directly, post the flyer in different locations (eg veterinary clinic, supermarket, newspaper). The flyer should contain a photo of the dog, information about where and when you found it, and your contact information.
- Do not include every detail of information regarding the dog in the flyer. This will allow you to ask the person who contacted you more specific questions based on the flyer and identify the dog's real owner.
- Try uploading the dog's information to an animal rescue site like Petfinder.
Step 3. Find someone who is willing to adopt the dog
If you are no longer obligated to take care of the dog (because the time limit is up) and can't find the owner of the dog, try to find someone willing to adopt him. Adoption can be done by you or someone else. If you want to adopt him, you must prove that you are the new owner by obtaining a new license, necklace, identification tag, and proof of vaccination.
- If you have other pets, consider whether or not they will make friends with the new dog. When caring for your dog, you can pay attention to the interactions between the dog, the animal you are caring for, and other family members.
- If you can't adopt the dog, try to find someone who will. Take the dog to the vet for initial treatment (such as vaccinations and deworming). Then, start spreading the information through friends, neighbors, and social media.
- Contact animal shelters and animal rescue groups in your area for help finding a new house dog.
Tips
- If you are unsure of your ability to catch a dog, don't be afraid to contact your local veterinary authorities or the police.
- A stockpile of a first aid kit in the car containing items such as blankets, harnesses, food, and contact information for local animal shelters and veterinary authorities will be helpful.
- When deciding what to do after capturing the dog, consider the owner's perspective. If your dog gets lost and someone finds him, what would you like that person to do?
Warning
- The cost of veterinary care can be expensive. Determine whether or not you can afford it before adopting the dog.
- A frightened dog may try to bite or attack you. When trying to catch a dog, be sure to prioritize your own safety.
