If you've found a dog

Please don't assume a loose dog doesn't have a home. A dog who's been on their own for even a week or two can look thin, dirty, or uncared for, even if there's a family out there frantically searching for them. Here's what helps most:

1. Walk the neighborhood. Knock on doors near where you found the dog and ask if anyone recognizes them. Most lost dogs are found less than a mile from home. Mail carriers and delivery drivers often know the local dogs too, so it's worth asking them.

2. Post photos to social media and local groups. Share on neighborhood apps (like Nextdoor or Ring's Neighbors) and local lost-and-found groups. Free photo-matching tools such as Petco Love Lost (petcolove.org) can cross-check your photo against shelter found-pet databases and other listings, which can speed up a match. Printed flyers within about a mile of where you found the dog help too.

3. Check for a microchip. Most vet clinics and pet supply stores will scan a found animal for a microchip at no cost. It only takes a minute.

4. File a found-pet report with your local shelter. Even if you don't bring the dog in, letting the shelter know you have them helps connect the dog with an owner who calls or visits looking for them.