So you found a stray dog…
Step 1
Check for a collar or name tag with phone number or other contact information. Contact the owner directly if the information is available.
If there is no collar or tag with contact information, you can take the dog to any vet or shelter to have them scanned for a microchip.
Step 2
If the dog is not microchipped, you can either:
a) Take him/her to your local animal City or County shelter. When you turn a stray over to the shelter there is a legal hold period in which the dog is still considered the property of the owner. After the hold period expires, the dog becomes available for adoption. When you drop off the dog you may put your name in as an interested party/first rights. If the owner does not claim him after the required hold period, you will have first right to adopt provided you are present on the morning the dog becomes available (typically at 8 AM). Another option is to get his impound number and network him to friends, family and rescues to adopt him from the shelter.
b) Or you can become a shelter-at-home foster. This option allows you to help find the owner while enabling the dog to remain in a home environment and out of the shelter. In this scenario you must also abide by the legal hold period while you try to find the owner. Below are some suggested resources to greatly assist in reuniting the lost dog with his/her family:
Post physical “Found Dog” flyers around the area where the dog was found.
Post a “Found Dog” notice online in the various channels:
https://shadowapp.com - download the app and post a found dog.
www.nextdoor.com - if you aren't already a member, join this site for the neighborhood where the dog was found and post a message to the neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods in the lost and found section. (if you didn't find the dog in your own neighborhood, you'll need to find someone from the neighborhood where the dog was found and ask them to post on their Nextdoor account.)
www.craigslist.org - post a found dog ad in the lost/found section for the area where the dog was found.
www.pawboost.com - click "report lost pet" then select pet status "found" and complete the rest of the form.
www.lostmydoggie.com - click "report lost dog" then select pet status "found/stray" and complete the rest of the form.
www.helpinglostpets.com/petdetail/PostPet.aspx - make sure to select "found" (not lost) and complete the rest of the form.
LA County Lost & Found: www.facebook.com/LostAndFoundDogsInLosAngelesCounty
LA City Lost & Found: facebook.com/groups/LACityLostandFoundPets
LA general Lost & Found: www.facebook.com/groups/110065474202/about
Step 3
If all necessary steps have been taken to find the owner and the dog remains unclaimed, you can apply to surrender the dog to Wags & Walks: link. Please note: same as what you have but replace "my" dog with "the" dog in the last sentence.
If the dog is still available after the legal hold period and has been with you, as long as the dog is sweet with people and other dogs, please fill out the form below.
Please note: we are very careful to only rescue dogs that are friendly/comfortable/social with people of all ages and other dogs. Please only complete this application if you believe this dog will pass our temperament evaluation. There is no guarantee that Wags & Walks will agree to meet and/or accept this dog.