Education Dog Jake is feeling very confused. His owner, Fiona, takes him for two lovely walks every day and puts him on a lead to keep him safe. Jake would hate to get lost or have an accident on the road! However, Jake has noticed that sometimes there are dogs out wandering by themselves. Who are these dogs? Where are there owners? Are they lost and lonely?
A dog that is on his or her public place without an owner is known as a 'stray' dog. A stray dog may be lost, abandoned or even have been stolen. Don't forget, a dog is also classed as stray if their owner lets them roam the streets on their own! Stray dogs may be picked up by the dog warden and brought to the local dog pound, where they will stay for 5 days to see if their owner comes to reclaim them - the pound is the first place you should check if you ever lose your own dog.
But what if, like Jake, you come across a stray dog yourself. What then? Here is some advice from Dogs Trust about what to if you spot a stray dog:
- Remember, children should NEVER approach a stray dog. Even if a dog appears happy, he might not be happy to see you - don't forget some dogs are afraid of children! If you see a stray dog, the first thing you should do is tell a responsible adult.
- The adult may be able to check the dog's collar to see if he is wearing an ID tag if he or she thinks it is safe to do so. An ID tag usually has the owner's name/address and telephone number. It is the law for all dogs to wear and ID tag!
- If the dog has no ID tag, the adult may bring the dog to a local vet. The vet will have a scanner to check the dog for a microchip containing the owner's contact details. A microchip is usually found in a dog's neck but may 'migrate' to other parts of the dog's body.
- You can call Dogs Trust with the dog's description as we have a list of lost and found dogs and a Facebook page, so please leave your contact details with us.
- If no one is available to take the dog to the vet or pound, then call your local dog pound to alert the dog warden that there is a stray dog in the area. The dog warden is also trained to deal with dogs that appear aggressive or injured - DO NOT approach these dogs yourself. The dog warden can collect the dog and bring him to the pound.
- Every area has a different dog pound. You can find contact details for your nearest pound on the internet or by calling Dogs Trust or your local animal welfare organisation.
- Dogs Trust gets 70% of our dogs from the pound and finds them new, loving forever homes.
How to make sure YOUR dog doesn't become lost/stray:
- Always walk your dog on a lead to keep him or her safe and secure.
- Children under 16 should walk their dogs in the company of an adult.
- Do not allow your dog to roam the streets on his own as your dog may become lost, stolen or injured.
- Make sure your dog is wearing a collar and ID tag - it's the law!
- Get your dog 'chipped'. A microchip is a tiny computer chip in the back of a dog's neck containing the owner's contact details. This can be done at your local vets or check out one of Dog Trust's FREE microchipping events this September - details can be found on www.dogstrust.ie or on our Facebook page. The law states that ALL dogs must be microchipped by 2016.
- If your dog does get lost, contact your local pound, Dogs Trust or other animal welfare organisation with your details and a description of the dog. Don't forget to put up posters in your neighbour and on the internet.
