Picture this – You’re out walking or driving in your neighborhood and you see a dog trotting along the side of the road without a human in sight. What do you do? Inspired by our experience with Remy the poodle guiding a lost dog back to it’s owners, we thought we’d put together some tips on what to do if you encounter a lost or stray dog.

Determine if the dog is really alone

Sometimes, especially on wooded trails, dogs get a little ahead of their owners. Take a good look around and see if there are any people approaching. If the dog is near houses, it may be a pet that wanted a little more outside time and slipped out without it’s owner noticing. Knock on a nearby door and see if the residents know who owns the dog. He might not be that far from home!

Look for a collar/ID tags

If the dog is really alone and can’t be identified by neighbors, try to visually confirm if the dog has a collar and/or ID tags. Try approaching the dog slowly, speaking in a calming voice. A strong-smelling treat makes a good peace offering, if you have one. The goal is to gain the dogs trust so that you can get close enough to read it’s tags (If any) and learn it’s owner’s phone number or address.

Always be cautious when approaching an unfamiliar animal. Pay attention to the signals it’s giving you through body language and vocalizations. Do not approach an animal that is acting aggressively. Even the most tame pet can become aggressive when frightened or stressed, as a lost and hungry dog is likely to be.

Make a phone call

If the dog is friendly and you can get his family’s phone number from his tags, congratulations! You can be a hero with just one phone call, reuniting a lost pet with it’s loving family.

If the dog has no tags, is too aggressive to approach, appears ill,  or is frightened and runs away, we recommend you call your local animal control department. This number is often buried in a town or police department website, so your best bet is to call your local police non-emergency number or 411. Either will be able to forward you to the animal control offices. Be sure to give the officer the best description of the dog that you can, as well as the address of where you last spotted it. Don’t be afraid to get the officer’s name and follow up with them in a few days. If the dog is friendly, stay with it until animal control officers arrive to ensure it doesn’t wander off

If you want to make sure you are always prepared to help an animal in need, the Humane Society of The United States recommends keeping an emergency kit in your car including:

• Phone; phone numbers of local animal control, a shelter, and a 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic
• Collars and strong leashes for dogs
• Cat carrier or cardboard box
• Heavy blanket; water bowls and water
• Strong-smelling foods, such as canned tuna or dried liver
• An animal first-aid kit.

Have you ever found a lost pet? Do you have any additional tips?