Found a stray dog, what do I do now?

[orangeblossom]

When we found a stray, we took it to be microchipped and posted to our HOA. We did not give a very detailed description, because we wanted any potential owner to give us identifying marks. We kept it vague like male chihuaua, fawn color and that's about it. I believe we said where we found him.

We also put it in the local paper for free.

Good luck finding their owner, or welcoming a new dog into your house.

You and your husband are good people for getting him off of the street.

[katietornado]

Wow...a vet that doesn't have a microchip scanner??? What the heck?

In any case...there's only so much you can know about a dog before you bring it home, you know? We adopted a stray from a shelter in California. They did a quick physical and gave him a rabies shot, and that was it. No behavioral testing, no other vetting, no neuter, no foster care, nothing. I definitely understand what it is like to bring home a strange dog and have no idea what to expect. But then I started fostering dogs. One by one they'd come to our house, and with each one, I'd do less prep, and I'd know less about them. One dog showed up an hour after the rescue asked me to take him (and we ended up adopting him).

All that to say...it's worth a shot. It could be amazing. Do your due diligence: have the stray scanned for a chip, get him vaxed, give him a Capstar or other flea treatment, etc. and then bring him home. Introduce the two dogs on neutral ground, maybe down the street from your house. Go for a walk together, then bring both dogs inside. I have a good feeling that things are going to work out great! You'll have to keep us posted.

And ditto orangeblossom...you guys are awesome for taking care of him. Without someone doing the right thing and calling animal control to pick up our stray boy, we would never have ended up with him. And now that dog (about whom we knew absolutely nothing) is our best buddy. Best dog in the whole world!

[patches31709]

Awww, if you don't find his owners, it sounds like you've been adopted by this boy!