How to Catch Stray Dogs and Take Them to a Shelter
There are approximately 70 million stray animals in the United States, making it all too common to see a stray around your home or workplace.
Stray dogs have the risk of abuse, injury, poor nutrition, infectious disease, trauma, and parasites. Intact dogs have the potential to add to the pet overpopulation. The benefits of getting a dog to a shelter include safety, access to treatment, higher-quality nutrition, and the potential to find a forever home.
Here are ways to safely catch a stray dog and bring them to a nearby shelter.
15 Tips for Catching a Stray Dog
If trying to catch a stray dog without a trap, be sure to keep your safety in mind. Well-intentioned rescuers can be bitten or attacked.
- Observe the dog. Does the dog seem scared? Happy? Erratic? Sick? Aggressive? If you notice ANY of the above signs, back away slowly and calmly, avoid eye contact, and call for help. If possible, take a photo of the dog and share it on social media to obtain help or determine if the dog is lost.
- Call a rescue or shelter. Before you find or catch the dog, know where you’re going to take them and ensure they’re able to accept the dog.
- Assess your environment. Look for traffic or anything else that could compromise your safety. This is a good time to consider ways to safely trap the dog, like a fenced-in yard.
- Prepare in advance. Your ability to catch a stray dog will depend on the size and personality of the dog, and your experience with dogs. Some dogs will readily come to you and others may run away. Make things easier by having treats, snacks, a leash, pet carrier or crate, and collar with you.
- Consider your transport options. If you don’t have your own vehicle or a crate that fits it, seek help from an animal control group.
- Carefully approach the dog. When approaching a stray dog, make soft clicking or kissing noises so the dog knows you are present. Avoid direct eye contact and move slowly. Crouch and use your side to face the dog, so you appear less threatening. Then, watch and carefully observe their behavior. If the dog seems to be fearful or aggressive in any way, seek assistance. The police or local dog warden will come or direct you to someone that can help.
- Gain the trust of the dog. Try to connect with the dog by speaking softly. Offer a treat or snack, preferably an aromatic snack, like leftover meat or wet dog food. Don’t rush, since it may take a few days or weeks to gain the trust of a stray dog. This can start with food in a bowl while you are a short distance away. The goal is to work your way closer to the feeding site. The sequence may begin with a dog eating the food by themselves, and end with you feeding the dog by hand. Once that occurs, allow the dog to eat from your palm while speaking to them softly and gently touching their neck.
- Let the dog approach you. Don’t rush forward to meet the dog once they approach a treat. Let everything be on their terms and avoid sudden motions or loud sounds.
- Offer your hand. Allow the dog to move toward you and smell the back of your hand, offer your hand with the palm down. Allow the dog to take their time smelling you. This is a dog’s way of getting to know you.
- Touch. If you believe you can do so safely, you can touch the dog on the neck. Avoid the face or top of the head.
- Place a leash over the dog’s head. Once you get a leash around the dog, continue to offer treats and speak slowly. They can become very frightened and try to run or turn and bite out of fear. This can take minutes, hours, days, or even weeks of working with a dog. Some small dogs can be captured in a crate with treats. You can also reach out to your local animal rescue group for assistance or to see if they can lend you supplies like a crate, leash, or muzzle.
- Safety first. If you have any doubt about a dog’s intensions, the safest thing to do is to call for help.
- Getting the dog into the car. Now that you have caught the stray dog, you can transport them to your local rescue. Ensure the dog is secured in the car and not able to move around. Free-roaming dogs can cause accidents by getting under the gas pedal or distracting you. Keep the car windows closed, turn down loud music, make the temperature comfortable, and continue to speak quietly and softly to the dog. These tips can help minimize their stress.
- Spread the word. Once you have caught the stray, you can see if the rescue group wants help finding the owner. You can call local veterinary clinics and rescue groups or spread the word online and in your neighborhood.
- Get Help. If the above steps have not been successful, it may be time to call in reinforcements. The local shelter and rescue groups may have traps and other devices to help catch a feral stray.
Some dog lovers enjoy the experience. If you do, learn more about Stray Dog Rescue: How to Help Your Community.
Stray Dog Adoption: Is It Safe?
If you're considering adopting a stray dog, you need to keep the well-being of the animal in mind. Strays may have health or behavioral issues that require professional assistance, which could take an emotional and financial toll. It may be best to adopt directly from a shelter, since many shelter dogs are previously trained, up to date on vaccinations, and comfortable around humans. Click here to browse our vast network of shelters and rescues and find your perfect pet today!
What Not to Do When Catching a Stray Dog
- Do not chase after a stray dog. They will trust you less and can run further away or even into traffic.
- Never grab a loose dog. This is a good way to get bitten.
- Don’t ever run away from a stray dog.
- Don’t directly face or cower over a dog.
- Avoid cornering a dog. This can make them feel threatened.