You Found A Stray Dog. Now What?

I was just getting in the car. We were running late for baseball and I was focused only on getting out of the driveway and on our way. But stray dogs, like most of life's surprises, rarely show up when it's convenient. More often, they bound into your life and sometimes into your heart.

Whether you are a dog-lover or not, chances are you may encounter a stray or lost dog sometime in your life. Knowing what to do in those first hours can make a huge difference in the outcome for both you and the dog. Following these few steps can make life easier for everyone.

Safe Handling Tips and Tricks:

1. Be careful when approaching a stray. There is no way of knowing if it is a friendly dog or not, so approach slowly with your hand extended, palm down. Allow the dog to sniff you before you attempt to touch it. Move slowly and speak quietly. If you are able, slip a leash around its neck. If it runs off, don't chase it. Keep your own safety in mind. A spooked dog could dart into traffic or turn and bite.

2. After securing the dog, check to see if there is a collar or tag that may help you lead him or her home. If not, put the dog in a safe place, like a backyard or a garage.

3. If you have other dogs, keep them apart for now. You have no way of knowing how they will interact or if the stray is sick. Don't put your pets in danger of catching something. The stray we acquired was infested with ticks; another reason to keep it away from your pets. For that reason, don't allow him or her in your house. You don't want to risk a tick infestation in your home.

4. If you are unable to take the dog to your home temporarily, contact the Humane Society, a rescue group, or another no-kill shelter.

5. Offer the dog some water and a small amount of food it it seems hungry.

6. Carefully assess the dog's health. Check to see if he or she is injured or appears sick. Again, be mindful you don't know this dog. Some dogs don't like having certain parts of their body touched, like their paws or backside.

7. Provide him or her with a soft blanket or towels to lay on.

8. Contact your local animal shelter or animal control with a description. Even if you plan on keeping the animal for now, the owner may look for it there.

9. Contact a vet for an appointment to scan for a microchip. Even without a tag or collar, some dogs can be returned to their owners via the information found on a microchip.

10. Post signs in your neighborhood describing the dog and where it was found. Include pictures if possible. Consider putting an ad in the paper.

Now What?

In the absence of a collar, tag, microchip, or answers to an ad, the next step is to consider whether or not you will be keeping your stray.

This is not a decision you should make hastily or simply because you feel bad for the dog. Adding a dog to your family should be a carefully thought-out decision. It is unfair to you, your family, and the dog to make a decision you may later regret. It's important to consider the financial responsibilities, as well as logistical issues. Do you have room in your home? Do you have room in your heart? Can you afford the food and vet bills? Does the dog need to be neutered or spayed? Does he or she get along with the other members of the family, both the two-legged and four-legged varieties?

It's been almost a year since our stray pup wandered onto our street and into our family. We named him Boone, after the great explorer, Daniel Boone, and because he came to us from the boondocks. The name fits him perfectly and we love him dearly. There were challenges from the get-go, however. Some were to be expected, some not.

First off, he was emaciated. Not just skinny, but truly skin and bones. His big lab head seemed much too big for his scrawny body. I was afraid to pick him up because he was so bony I thought I'd hurt him. He was famished and very thirsty. November in Phoenix can still be warm, and he clearly had not had a drink or food in a very long time. He didn't have a tag or collar and in no way appeared to be a "lost" dog. He was truly homeless.

Our house backs up to hundreds of acres of desert and is just about a mile from an indian reservation. He may have been dumped in the desert, but he was most likely a reservation dog, left to run with a pack and forage or fight for his food. His tiny body was covered with hundreds of ticks, even on his lips, eyelids, and nose. His fur was thin and patchy in places. He had a large tumor on his stomach and hadn't been neutered.

Boone spent that first night in our backyard, grateful for a warm blanket and a safe place to sleep. After a visit to the vet the next morning, where a scan confirmed there was no microchip, I consented to do blood work. I was already hooked. If ever there was a dog who needed a loving family, he was it.

The vet diagnosed the mass on his stomach as a mammary gland tumor. Blood tests confirmed malnutrition and anemia. Fortunately, he was an otherwise healthy dog, approximately a year old, but only 49 pounds. He was given medicine to kill the ticks and we were sent on our way with an appointment to return in six weeks to remove the tumor.

Those first few days his appetite was voracious and mealtime was something to see. He wiggled, bounced, and spun in circles when the food bowl approached. He ate with such enthusiasm, food literally flew out of the bowl. I suspect there was very little chewing going on. We fed him just small amounts at first, but offered them frequently.

Boone spent his first week with us secluded in the back yard. He had to be tick-free before he was allowed to meet our other two dogs or enter the house. When he was finally allowed inside, we discovered he wasn't house-broken, didn't know how to climb stairs, and was too weak to jump on the bed with the other dogs. He didn't know how to get in the car or how to behave once he was in. Fortunately, he is a very smart dog and he quickly learned the rules of the house, becoming house trained in only two days.

All in all, we have been exceedingly lucky. Boone has added another level of love and fun to our home. The health challenges eventually resolved themselves, thanks to good nutrition and lots of love. His tumor surgery was postponed due to anemia, and miraculously, the tumor disappeared on its own shortly thereafter. The anemia, however, lasted several months and required iron supplements. The bones, once so prominent on his back and chest, began to disappear under a healthy layer of muscle and fat. When he was finally healthy enough for surgery, he was neutered.

Not all days were sunny though. Boone quickly became very territorial about his new home and nipped at three repairmen. He also cornered the pool man and the landscaper in the back yard. I love his protectiveness, but we are working on manners. There were some struggles with adding a third male dog to our "pack." Jockeying for position sometimes got out of control and we had to break up some fights. The pecking order has mostly resolved itself, but Boone sometimes still picks on our more timid Australian Shepard. His voracious appetite remains unabated. We have to be careful to keep all food put away. He recently ate a whole pack of cough drops and two bags of "Pup Peroni" he stole from a not-fully-closed pantry. He occasionally raids garbages, digs holes, and steals slippers. We have to remember that he is still just a puppy (although a big one) and more often than not, his antics are more funny than destructive. And he still spins in circles at mealtime.

Encountering a stray or lost dog usually results in a happy reunion between the dog and his or her family. For those situations where a dog is truly a stray, following the tips above can help ensure a positive outcome for everyone. If you choose to make a stray part of your family, I hope you are as lucky as us and find a treasure as precious as Boone!