Letenapractical notes on dogs LT

Checklist

I found a dog: the first 24 hours

A found dog is usually frightened, and its owner is very often already searching. These steps help you avoid scaring the dog and get it home sooner.

  1. Safety first

    Do not chase the dog or call out to it. Crouch sideways, speak calmly and let it come to you – a piece of food on an open palm helps. If the dog is injured, or running in the road and endangering traffic, call 112.

  2. Check for a microchip

    In Lithuania dogs are microchipped and recorded in the pet register. Any vet clinic or shelter can read a chip in seconds, and the number leads to the owner. Look at the collar too: sometimes a phone number is engraved on the buckle or tag.

  3. Tell people you found it

    Post in local social media groups and neighbourhood boards: place, time and a clear photo. Keep one distinctive feature – a scar, a patch, the colour of the collar – to yourself and ask callers about it. That is how you know the dog is really theirs.

  4. Look after it for now

    For the first day the dog needs a quiet place, water and small portions of food. Keep it apart from your own pets until you know it is healthy and vaccinated. There is no rush to bathe it – the stress is high enough already.

  5. If nobody comes forward

    Municipalities organise the care of stray animals. Call your municipality and ask which shelter it works with. If you would like to keep the dog or foster it, say so straight away – it avoids confusion if the owner does turn up later.