What to do if you find a lost dog in Ontario

Have you ever seen a dog wandering the streets alone and wondered, “What should I do?” Here are our tips on what to do if you find a lost dog in Ontario.

Seven simple steps you can take to find the owner of a lost dog:

1. Look for identifying information: The first course of action, if at all possible safely, is to capture the dog and make sure it is securely locked up. Look for any identification tags on the dog. These tags often contain the animal’s name, phone number, and sometimes the address.
2. Circuit check: The dog can also have microchips. To find out if it’s them, you can take them to your local animal center or veterinarian’s office to have them scanned.
3. Contact your local animal center: If the animal doesn’t have a tag, call your local animal center or humane organization. Sometimes animal centers receive calls from people who have lost their pets and keep descriptions of them on hand. Learn more about Ontario SPCA`s Community support services for lost and found animals.
4. Call your local city animal control agency: Call your local animal control office. They also receive reports of missing animals and can help you get in touch with the puppy’s owners. Animal control services often also have pound facilities where feral dogs can be cared for while the search for their families is underway.
5. On social networks: Social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram can be very effective tools for sharing information about lost and found animals. Check out local lost/found community pages where someone might be looking for an animal that matches the description of the dog you found. You should also create your own post about the lost animal and ask friends and family to share it. You never know who might see it; Social networking makes the world so much closer! You can also ask your local animal center or humane society if they can post about animals found. on their social media pages to help increase visibility.
6. Your neighborhood poster: Take a picture of the dog and create a simple poster to distribute throughout your neighborhood, providing a way for owners to contact you.
7. The catchphrase: Don’t forget to use your network. Ask neighbors, friends, and family if they or someone they know has lost a dog.

If you are someone who has lost a pet, check out this blog post about Tips for your pet’s recovery.

For a list of the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society animal centers and affiliated associations across Ontario, please visit Contact page.