What to do if you find a dog

First, define “found”.

SIGHTING: spotted but not contained.

• If you see a stray dog and they do not willingly come to you; do not call out, whistle, approach or follow the dog on foot or with your car. All of these actions are considered “chasing”.  Stray dogs and owned dogs can go into survival mode and any of these actions can cause a dog to run, sometimes right into traffic.
• Snap a photo and note size, gender, coloring, time of day and cross streets where the dog was seen.
• Make sighting reports to social media outlets, a few are listed below:
  • https://www.indylostpetalert.com/make-a-report/
  • https://nextdoor.com/city/indianapolis–in/
  • https://www.pawboost.com/ (comments only)
  • Indy Pets: Lost & Found

FOUND: this means you have contained the dog and have them in your possession.

• Make a found report to the social media outlets listed below and any others that are applicable for your area. Provide a clear photo of the dog with the report. DO NOT show collars, harnesses, leashes or any unusual marks. Require that those claiming to be the owner identify these and also provide pictures/videos and vet records for the safety of the animal.
  • https://www.indylostpetalert.com/make-a-report/
  • https://nextdoor.com/city/indianapolis–in/
  • https://www.pawboost.com/ 
  • Indy Pets: Lost & Found
• Take the dog to a local animal shelter, pet store or veterinary hospital to have them scanned for a microchip.  This is a free service.
  • If a chip is found, the chip company will contact the owner directly or may provide you with the owner contact information.  If the chip company contacts the owner, the owner will call you to claim.  If the chip company provides the owner information, you can contact them and make arrangements for the dog to be picked up.  Always require that those claiming to be the owner provide proof of ownership (ID that matches the chip registration) for the safety of the animal.
  • If no chip is found and you are unable to hold for the duration of the county required stray hold (this is 14 days in Marion County (Section 531-208), other counties may be different), please surrender to a local shelter so the owners have the best chance of finding the dog and update your online posts to note where they have been taken.   Or,  in Indianapolis, you can make a report via Request Indy http://maps.indy.gov/requestindy/ and it will go directly to an animal control officer on duty.
• If you are willing to hold the dog until owners are found, you must contact your local city shelter to make a found report so it is on record and then you must retain possession for the county required stray hold.
• It is also helpful to make reports to surrounding county shelters in case the dog has traveled across county lines and speak with local businesses/neighbors where the dog was found to see if they know where it belongs.
• Make found signs like the pictured example and place these in the area the dog was located (major intersections/neighborhood).  Someone who is not on social media or aware of the lost/found groups may see these instead.
• It is illegal to keep, rehome or sell a stray animal without making every attempt to locate the owner for the county required stray hold. Check local county ordinances for outside of Marion County.