When you see a dog wandering nearby, you may be tempted to take immediate action and catch it. However, stray dogs generally react with "fight or flight" behavior and tend to flee rather than approach. To catch a dog without compromising his safety or your own safety, you need to carefully set a strategy and decide what to do to be able to catch him.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Examine the Situation
Step 1. Watch her body language
Before approaching the dog, observe how it moves from a distance; her extravagant behavior could be a sign of anger. If he growls, he may be aggressive.
If he is frightened, he may contract muscles or walk stiffly
Step 2. Assess if you feel comfortable catching the dog
Observing his body language is a good technique for figuring out if you can or want to take him. If you find that he is afraid, but doesn't seem threatening or overly aggressive, you may be able to catch him. However, if you can tell from his behavior that he is willing to attack or bite, you should contact your council veterinary office or the police to have them dealt with it.
- Call the police if you are in a rural area where there is no possibility to contact the veterinary ASL or the municipality's veterinary office.
- When contacting the authorities, provide the operator with as much information as possible: your name, your phone and be detailed in describing the location where the dog is (for example, the landmarks, what kilometer you are or the street name); also ask how long you will have to wait before their intervention.
- If you can, check the dog until the appropriate bodies arrive.
Step 3. Find out if anyone knows if a dog has been lost
If the animal is in an urban area, for example in your neighborhood, you can ask a neighbor if they know about a lost animal. If no one has precise information on the matter, cannot recognize the dog or does not know who the owner may be, you must proceed to capture the animal yourself or decide whether to contact the local authorities.
If you feel like the animal has gotten lost in the neighborhood, it may simply have strayed a little from its owner's home
Part 2 of 4: Make him feel comfortable with you
Step 1. Secure the area
This is especially important if your dog is on the side of a road and you want to put him in the car. Since the animal is certainly experiencing a "fight or flight" reaction, trying to catch it could lead it to run in traffic, with the risk of being hit by a moving car.
- Try to create a barrier between the animal and the oncoming cars, using material such as a crate, a long piece of cloth, or a rope. Warn motorists arriving in the opposite direction to stay outside the secured area, in order to protect their and your safety; to do this, it may be helpful to switch on the hazard lights.
- If the dog is in an inhabited neighborhood, use tasty dog food to lure him into a confined area, such as a fenced yard, where he cannot easily escape. This may require the help of several people; keep in mind that it may be difficult to be able to move him to another area if he does not trust you.
Step 2. Don't be aggressive towards him
Your ability to catch him depends a lot on how comfortable he feels around you. If your first action is to approach, regardless of whether you move slowly and carefully, you probably frighten the dog; instead, show yourself as a non-threatening figure and stay at a safe distance.
- Consider licking your lips or yawning.
- Act as if you are eating food from the ground. Crumple an empty bag of potato chips; when the dog looks at you, pretend that food is falling on the ground and kneel as if you want to eat directly from the ground. Say appreciative exclamations when you "drop" the food.
- Sit on the ground or lie on your back if you feel confident doing so; the closer you are to the ground, the less aggressive you appear to the dog's eyes.
- When the animal realizes that you are not a danger, it is likely that it will approach you if only out of curiosity.
Step 3. Don't make threatening gestures
Even if your intentions are good, some of your actions may increase his fear and adrenaline, causing him to run away; for example, avoid calling him. It is likely that other people have already called him several times in an attempt to get him.
- Being continually called again could frighten the animal even more.
- Don't tap your thighs to attract him and don't walk towards him.
- Also avoid eye contact.
Step 4. Invite him to come closer to you
Even if the animal is no longer afraid, it may still be afraid to approach. One of the best ways to get him to meet you is to offer him some delicious treats, such as a hot dog, canned food or meat treats; the trick is to give him small bites, so that he wants more.
- If you offer him a single large piece of food, he will likely take it and run away again.
- The ideal is to offer him a soft food with a strong smell.
- You can choose whether to throw food or hold it in your hand. Either way, try to show disinterest in food, as this will appeal to him even more.
- If the animal refuses to approach, you can decide whether to call the local authorities or try to catch it using a non-cruel trap.
Part 3 of 4: Capturing the Dog
Step 1. Put him on a leash
If the animal is willing to get close, you can try to catch it using a leash. Before putting it on, however, leave it on the ground so that the dog can approach and explore it. Give him some tasty treats and let him know that you are not dangerous.
- When trying to get him to wear the leash you have to be calm but fast; any sudden or uncoordinated movement could compromise your attempt.
- It may be helpful to create a collar with the leash by inserting the buckle through the handle and placing the large loop around the dog's neck. By creating this collar, the ring automatically tightens when your pet tries to pull away, giving you a little more control.
- If the dog does not agree to be put on a leash, do not insist and call the veterinary ASL or the police; don't risk hurting yourself.
Step 2. Look for the identification plate
When you manage to catch the animal with the leash, check if it has a collar with a tag that shows its identity. If not, a veterinarian or kennel staff can scan for any microchips.
The microchip is a small electronic device that is inserted under the skin, usually between the shoulder blades; the chip number is linked to an electronic database that contains the contact details of the dog's owner
Step 3. Take your dog to a vet or kennel
If you can safely transport it by car, contact these facilities immediately; owners usually contact the kennel when they lose their pet. The best thing to do is therefore to first bring the dog to the nearest shelter. The decision is still up to you.
- To get your dog to get into the car, you can put a few tasty treats in the back seat.
- If he becomes anxious when getting into the car, do not attempt to transport him, as his agitation could seriously jeopardize your safety. In this case, keep the car doors closed and contact the appropriate authorities to come and collect the animal.
Part 4 of 4: Deciding What to Do with the Dog
Step 1. Hand over the dog
If you managed to catch him, now you need to consider what to do with him. As tempting as the idea of adopting it may be, first of all you need to look at the different alternatives; one of these is to take him to an animal shelter or kennel.
- If you opt for the shelter, the dog will be kept under "observation" before it becomes available for possible adoptions. This period usually lasts from 3 to 10 days and is a legal obligation to protect the original owners, who thus have time to reclaim their animals before they are entrusted to other people.
- By delivering the animal to shelters, its owner can find it more easily.
- Keep in mind that the vet's office is unable to accommodate the dog. In reality, some doctors make the clinic available so that those in charge of the shelters can come and pick them up.
Step 2. Find the owner of the pet
If you choose not to hand it over to other organizations, you will need to adopt it temporarily and try to find the rightful owner. In most locations, there is a legal obligation to work diligently to locate the owner before finding a new home for the pet. The time taken to identify the rightful owner can vary according to the area; contact the competent authorities to find out how you should do this in your city or region.
- Your efforts in finding the owner must be documented.
- Contact your council veterinary office or animal shelter if you decide to find the owner on your own initiative. Let them know that the dog is in your care in case the owner approaches them.
- If the pet has an identification tag or microchip, contact its owner directly.
- If you don't have this option, hang posters in different places (for example at various veterinary clinics, supermarkets or post advertisements in newspapers). Flyers should include a photo of the dog, an indication of where you found it, and your contact information.
- Do not describe all the details of the animal; in this way, when a person contacts you, you can ask them for more information and understand based on their answers if they are the real owner.
- You can post the pet's information on a website that deals with abandoned or lost dogs, such as
Step 3. Find him a new home
If, after the due diligence time has elapsed, you have not been able to find the rightful owner of the dog, you can start looking for a new home for the pet, which could be yours or someone else's. If you wish to adopt it, you will need to prove that you are now its new owner by registering the microchip in your name, putting on a collar with an ID tag and providing proof of vaccinations.
- If you have other pets, consider whether they can get along well with a new playmate. The time spent when you first cared for it should have allowed you to observe the interaction between the new host and your pets, as well as other family members.
- If adoption isn't right for you, make an effort to find other people who can get the dog. Take him to the vet for initial care (for example, vaccines and deworming treatments) and then start spreading the word to friends, neighbors and on social media.
- Contact your local animal shelter or kennel to help you find a new home for your dog.
Advice
- If you have any doubts about your ability to catch the dog, don't be afraid to contact the veterinary ASL or the police.
- You may find it helpful to keep a specific "rescue" kit in your car, where you can store items such as blankets, leash, food, and contact information for your kennel or veterinary ASL.
- When deciding what to do with the dog you just caught, try to put yourself in its owner's shoes. If your dog got lost and someone found him, what would you want that person to do?
Warnings
- Veterinary care can be very expensive. Consider how much you can afford to spend before deciding to become the new dog owner.
- If the animal is frightened or afraid, it may try to bite or attack you; put your safety first when trying to catch him.
