At Sierra Pacific Furbabies, we hear from people who've just found a lost or stray animal all the time, and what you do in the first little while can make a real difference.

Most lost pets are actually found less than a mile from home, and they have a much better shot at getting back there if their family gets a real chance to look for them, rather than the animal going straight to a shelter that could be miles from where they actually live and easy for a worried owner to miss.

So before you bring a found dog or cat to a shelter, here's what we'd try first.