How to Find a Home for a Dog

Explore this Article

methods

1Approaching a Lost Dog

2Finding a Lost Dog’s Owner

3Rehoming Your Dog

4Interviewing Potential Adopters

+Show 1 more...

-Show less...

Other Sections

Tips and Warnings

Related Articles

References

Finding a safe, happy, and healthy home for a dog is a big responsibility. Sometimes situations may arise that require you to help a dog find a home. You may come across a lost dog and need to find its owner, or perhaps due to various circumstances you are unable to continue to properly care for your dog. Reach out to rescue shelters and community members, and take precautions when looking for a lost dog’s owners or finding a new family. Knowing what resources to look for and how to ensure the dog’s safety will help you during your search.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Approaching a Lost Dog

1. 
   1
   Proceed with caution. If you find a stray dog, take care not to harm the dog and be sure to look out for your own safety. An injured or sick stray may behave erratically. Avoid making sudden movements so the dog does not run into traffic or turn to attack you. Contact the local animal control office to report a stray dog that appears to be dangerous.

   • If you are worried that the dog may be hit by a car, call your local animal control office and provide a description of the dog, its whereabouts, and the direction it was heading.
2. 
   2
   Speak in a calm voice. Speaking loudly or yelling may make the dog feel threatened. When a dog feels as though it is in danger, it may be more likely run off or attack you. When approaching the dog, speak to it in a calm, steady voice.

   • In addition to speaking in a calm voice, use calming signals such as yawning and lip licking. Pretend to eat food may pique the dog’s interest and make it more likely to approach you.
3. 
   3
   Lure the dog into your car. If the dog does not appear to be dangerous, try to lure it into your car with food. Gently close the door once the dog is inside. Call your local animal control office and wait for their assistance. Driving away with a strange dog is not recommended. The dog may panic and become aggressive while you are driving, which can cause harm to you, the dog, and others on the road.
   Advertisement

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Finding a Lost Dog’s Owner

1. 
   1
   Look for contact information on the dog’s tags. If the dog has a collar, check to see if there are any vaccination tags and contact information tags. Most dog owners will place the dog’s name, hometown, and their phone number on a dog’s collar tag in the event that it runs away or is lost. If you find the owner's number on the tag, call them as soon as possible and let them know where you found the dog. For your safety, agree to meet the owner in a public place and ask a friend go with you.

   • Some owners will also list their veterinarian’s phone number on the dog’s tag. If you cannot reach the owner, try calling the veterinarian’s number for assistance.
2. 
   2
   Take the dog to a veterinarian. If the dog is injured, consider taking the dog to your local veterinarian. Keep in mind that veterinary bills can be expensive. If you take the dog to a private veterinary hospital, know that you will assume financial responsibility for the animal.
3. 
   3
   Transport the dog to an animal shelter. If the shelter seems unclean or unsafe, you are not obligated to leave the dog at the shelter. Many owners will contact their local animal shelter to inquire about a lost dog, so it is important to reach out to the shelter and provide information regarding the found dog.
4. 
   4
   Board the dog at a shelter or a veterinary clinic. While you look for the owners, consider boarding the dog if you are unable to keep the dog at your home. Your local animal shelter or veterinary clinic may be able to offer a discounted price.
5. 
   5
   Check for a microchip. Ask an employee at the veterinarian's office or the dog shelter to scan the dog to see if it has been microchipped. The staff will be able to retrieve the owner’s contact details if the dog has an implanted microchip ID.
6. 
   6
   Fill out a found dog report. While at the shelter, ask to fill out a found dog report. This report will demonstrate that you have made a reasonable effort to find the dog’s owners. This can be helpful in case you wish to keep the dog at a later date. Some shelters will take a photo of the dog and post it online to help owners locate their lost pet.
7. 
   7
   Notify other shelters and pet-related businesses. Reach out to other shelters, veterinary offices, groomers, and other pet-related businesses in your community. Provide each business with a description of the dog, where it was found, and your contact information. The animal’s owners may have reached out to various shelters in the area, or perhaps a business owner is aware that a client of theirs is looking for their dog. Spreading the word will help increase the changes of locating the owners.

   • Call your local police departments and let them know when and where you found the lost animal.
8. 
   8
   Make posters. Take a photo of the dog and create several “Found Dog” posters. Be sure to include your contact information. Place them around the neighborhood where you found the dog. Ask local businesses in the area if they will place a copy in their storefront window. The owner’s neighbor, friend, or colleague could spot the notice. The more people who know, the more likely you will be able to reunite the dog with its owner.
9. 
   9
   Post notices online. Frantic dog owners who have lost their pet may turn to online sources to help find their dog. Post the information on social media sites like Facebook and ask friends to pass along the information. You can also post the information to Craigslist or on pet websites like Pet Finder.

   • Consider taking out a classified ad in your local newspaper or ask your local radio station to make an announcement.
   • When posting information online, be sure not to give out too much information about the dog. Some individuals may reach out and pretend to be the dog’s owner. If someone comes forward claiming to be the dog’s owner, ask them to provide photographs, veterinary records, or adoption papers to prove that this is their pet.
10. 
    10
    Make several attempts to find the owners. In most states, it is the finder’s responsibility to humanely care for the found dog and try to contact the owner within 48 hours. Try to locate the owners at least two or three times through various methods.
11. 
    11
    Choose to keep the dog. If you wish to keep the dog, talk to your local veterinary office or animal shelter and ask about your town's or state’s laws regarding lost pets. In most states, the finder cannot legally claim ownership of the dog until the holding period for strays or lost dogs expires. This varies from state to state or town to town. In addition, you will need to be able to prove that you have made a reasonable attempt to find the dog’s owner.

    • Be sure to document your attempts to find the owner. Keep records of any posters you printed and any information you posted online. If you completed a found dog report at a local animal shelter, keep a copy of it for your records.
    • If you wish to keep the dog, you will also need to provide proof that you have provided your dog with the necessary vaccinations, a collar, and an identification tag. This will demonstrate that you have put time and effort into caring for the dog, which can help prove that you are now the owner.
    Advertisement

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Rehoming Your Dog

1. 
   1
   Increase your dog’s adoptability. Sometimes situations occur that leave you unable to continue to properly care for your dog. If you need to rehome your pet, be sure that your dog is well-groomed and is up-to-date on its vaccinations. Ensure that your dog is free from ticks and fleas. Consider having your dog spayed or neutered if you have not already done so. Presenting a healthy and well-kept dog to a potential adopter, a foster family, or a rescue shelter will increase your dog’s adoptability.
2. 
   2
   Consider boarding your dog. If you believe that your situation may change in the foreseeable future and if your finances allow for it, consider boarding your dog for an extended period of time. A trustworthy boarding group or dog sitter may be able to care for your dog for you. This may be an expensive option, but it can help ensure that your dog is taken care of during this transition period.
3. 
   3
   Find a foster family for the dog. Foster families agree to provide a temporary home for a dog until a new owner has been secured. Most animal shelters and dog rescue facilities have fostering programs and can put you in touch with a potential foster family. Visit potential foster program facilities so that you are familiar with the organization.

   • The American Humane Society has foster programs that specifically help military families and their pets. Groups like Dogs on Deployment and Military Pets FOSTER Project can help you place your dog in a foster home temporarily.
4. 
   4
   Find a breed-specific rescue group. If you have a purebred dog, look into breed-specific rescue groups in your area. Volunteers in these groups are dedicated to finding a new home for specific breeds. Since they specialize in a particular breed, they will be well-acquainted with that breed’s temperament and specific needs, which will make the adoption process easier. In addition, these groups often take in senior dogs or dogs with special needs that a regular animal shelter may deem as unadoptable.

   • The American Kennel Club has a rescue network that represents 160 breeds. Review their online list of sources to find a rescue group for your breed.
5. 
   5
   Ask for recommendations. While searching for a new home for a dog, you want to be sure that you place your pet in a loving, safe, and healthy environment. Ask for references from friends, relatives, or colleagues. Be sure to ask employees at your local pet shop, veterinary office, or dog daycare facilities if they know of a responsible person who may wish to adopt your dog.

   • See if your local humane society or animal rescue shelter will list an adoption ad on their website.
   • Posting an adoption advertisement on websites like Craigslist may not be the safest option for your pet. Some animals adopted via online sources have been abused, neglected, or have ended up in dog fighting rings.
6. 
   6
   Go to an animal shelter for help. Talking to a local rescue group can help ease this difficult transition. Rescue groups focus on taking unwanted, lost, or stray dogs to provide care and attention until the dog can be placed in a new home. Research your local rescue groups to see if they can take in your dog.

   • If you must surrender your pet to a shelter, be sure to research their adoption and surrender policies beforehand. Some shelters must euthanize animals to make room for others when they reach capacity. Owner-surrender animals, senior animals, and animals with disabilities or illnesses are put to sleep first when the shelter is full. Be sure you understand the shelter’s policies before surrendering your dog.
   Advertisement

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Interviewing Potential Adopters

1. 
   1
   Verify the adopter’s name and address. If you are finding a new home for a dog, it is important to ensure that the new owner will provide a safe, healthy, and happy environment for your pet. Ask for their name, phone number, address, and a list of referrals to verify their identity. If a friend or colleague referred the potential adopter to you, ask them to verify this person’s information.
2. 
   2
   Ask about their living situation. Be sure to ask about the potential adopter’s home and family. Find out if they live in a house or an apartment or if they have a yard of their own. You will want to be sure that the dog will be comfortable in that environment. Ask if they have a family and if they have any children. If the dog is not comfortable around children, this may not be the best situation for it.

   • Ask the potential adopter if they have other pets in their home. Be upfront about how the dog handles being around other animals. If the dog does not get along with cats, for example, and the potential new owner has cats, this may create a stressful environment for the dog. Ensure that the new home and all of its inhabitants will allow the dog to feel safe and comfortable.
3. 
   3
   See if they have experience being a pet owner. Be sure to ask if they have had a dog in the past, what type of dog it was, and how long they had the animal. If the adopter has had previous experience with dogs, they will be more apt to making the dog feel comfortable, which will help the dog transition more easily.
4. 
   4
   Bring your dog to their home. After you have interviewed the potential adopter, plan to visit their home with the dog. If they have a family and other pets, ask that everyone be present during your visit. You will want to see how they interact with the dog and if it will be comfortable in its new surroundings.
   Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Warnings

• If you are bitten by a lost dog, talk to your doctor about getting a tetanus shot.
  Thanks

  Helpful0Not Helpful0
• If you bring a lost dog home and you have other pets in the house, make sure that their vaccinations are up to date. It is advised that you do not bring a lost dog into your home until it has had a thorough check by a veterinarian.
  Thanks

  Helpful0Not Helpful0

Advertisement