What to do if you find a Stray Dog in Hamilton County, Ohio

Step-by-Step Guide: What to do if you find a Stray Dog in Hamilton County, Ohio

Finding a stray dog can be a stressful experience, but by following a few essential steps, you can ensure both your safety and the dog’s well-being. Contrary to popular belief, your first step should not be to bring that animal to the shelter! Once a dog leaves their neighborhood, their chances of being reunited with their owner drops from 70% to 17%, but you can help avoid that by fostering them and Cincinnati Animal CARE can assist in finding their new home if they are not reunited with their owner!

Step 1: Assess the Situation

Ensure your safety and the dog’s safety. Approach cautiously and observe the dog’s behavior. If the dog appears defensive or frightened, do not attempt to capture it. Contact Cincinnati Animal CARE and the Hamilton County Dog Wardens at (513) 541-7387 for assistance.

Step 2: Check for Identification

Look for any identification tags on the dog’s collar. If found, use the contact information to locate the pet’s owner and reunite them with their lost pet. If there are no visible tags or identification, take the dog to a nearby veterinary clinic, pet supply store, or animal shelter to scan for a microchip. Many facilities in Hamilton County offer this service for free. If a microchip is found, use the contact information to contact the owner and reunite them with their lost pet!

Step 3: Notify Cincinnati Animal CARE

• Call us at (513) 541-7387 to report the found dog. Make sure to mention any unique identifiers or possible injuries. This is crucial in case the dog’s owner is looking for it. 
• Take photos of the dog: Send us a clear picture of the dog and the address where the dog was found. Leave collars on and highlight identifiable features.

Step 4: Knock on Neighbor’s Doors

Talk to your neighbors! Since most pets are found within 1 mile of where they became lost, knock on doors in your immediate vicinity (five houses in each direction) to see if anyone recognizes the dog. The further the animal gets from home, the lower their chances of being reunited with their family.

Step 5: Post Online and Create Flyers

Social Media:

Post a clear photo of the dog with identifying features, the location where the dog was found, and your contact information on platforms like Nextdoor, local community groups on Facebook, and Lost Pet Facebook pages (e.g., Cincinnati Tri-State Area Lost and Found Pets, Lost Pets of Hamilton County).

Flyers:

Hang flyers around your neighborhood that include a clear picture of the dog, your contact information, and the location where the dog was found.

Step 6: File a Found Pet Report

• Cincinnati Animal CARE: After you call (513) 541-7387 to file a found pet report through CAC, there are a few other places you can file a Found report.
• PawBoost: File a report on PawBoost, which integrates with the Cincinnati Animal CARE website to help reunite lost pets with their owners.
• Petco LoveLost: Petco Love Lost uses facial recognition software to report or search for lost or found pets nationwide. It’s free and easy to use. It is designed to assist the public in three ways. Owners can upload photos of lost pets, a person can upload photos of pet they found, and shelters can upload all animals in their shelter. The software matches photos and then contacts all parties involved of the match. Software also shows potential adopters all the animals at a shelter.

Step 7: Provide Temporary Care (if possible)

If you can, hold the dog through the state-required 3-day stray hold period. Cincinnati Animal CARE will provide necessary supplies, support, a medical exam, and vaccinations. Keeping the dog in a calm, safe environment near where they were found increases the chances of reuniting it with its owner!

Step 8: If You Cannot Hold Onto the Dog

If you cannot hold onto a found pet, please call 513-541-7387. Hamilton County Dog Wardens are available 24/7 for animal emergencies.

Step 9: Consider Fostering or Adoption

If the dog is not claimed after a reasonable period, consider fostering or adopting them! Cincinnati Animal CARE will assist in finding the dog a new home if they are not reunited with their owner after their mandatory 3-day stray hold.

Step 10: Understand the Impact of Community Sheltering

Community sheltering and neighbors helping neighbors are crucial for making animal shelters no-kill nationwide. Most lost pets do not need to come into an overwhelming, overcrowded shelter environment and our community play a huge role in making that possible! If you’re interested in learning more about our foster program, visit our foster page here.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can significantly increase the chances of reuniting a stray dog with its owner while minimizing the strain on local shelters. Your efforts in helping a stray dog not only provide immediate care and safety for the animal but also contribute to a more compassionate and proactive community for Hamilton County, Ohio.