Assisting a Stray Animal
If you are reading this column, chances are that you are an animal
lover. As such, you need to know what to do on the day you drive
down the street and see the stray dog or cat by the side of the
road.
You can actually take some steps in advance to be prepared for
this. You can keep any or all of the following in your car: a leash,
collar, cardboard box (this can be broken down for storage), an
adjustable muzzle or a length of gauze, a portable bowl, water,
treats or strong smelling food (a can of tuna can quite enticing
to a stray or lost animal), and phone numbers of local/state animal
control offices and a 24hr veterinary hospital. You may also want
to put together an animal first aid kit.
Please be sure to consider your safety. Be careful pulling over
onto the side of a road, especially if it is a busy road, highway
or intersection. If there is a payphone nearby or you have a cell
phone, you may want to call ahead to the local animal control officer
or police dept. to let them know where you are. Be as specific as
possible and include your vehicle information and a call back number
if possible.
Be very careful approaching any animal you are unfamiliar with.
If the animal is injured, sick, frightened or otherwise stressed,
he could act unpredictably. Any sudden moves on your part may cause
him to run off, or even bite you. If the animal you are trying to
help seems threatening, it is best to remain in your car, keeping
an eye on the animal from a safe distance, while waiting for help.
If you do decide to approach the animal, do so slowly. Speak calmly
and stay in his view. Offer him some food (treats or that tuna…).
Try to restrain him with a leash or the cardboard box. If you are
certain help in on the way, you can try to get the animal into your
car. It may not be the best idea to do this, however, if you are
on your own. An animal that is unfamiliar with you may become aggressive.
And a cat can hide under the seat, from which removing him can be
difficult.
If you have been successful in obtaining help from local authorities,
all you have to do now is wait. If you have not been able to reach
any help, you may want to try to bring the animal to a local shelter
or animal hospital. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE AWAY WITH A THREATENING
OR AGGRESSIVE ANIMAL!! You will do more harm than good to both you
and the stray.
If it is after hours for the shelters and animal control offices,
you may be tempted to bring the animal home with you. If you decide
to do this, you are better off keeping the stray away from your
family and any pets you have. If you can separate the animal (on
a porch or in a garage for example) you lessen the risk of anyone
getting hurt, or any diseases to be transmitted. Be sure to contact
your local police and let them know you have the dog. In the morning,
call your neighborhood shelter(s), veterinary hospitals and animal
control offices. Do not assume that the animal you have found does
not belong to anyone, or that it’s owners are irresponsible.
Accidents do happen, dogs and cats do escape from time to time,
and the stray may be a beloved pet whose owners are frantic.
It is important to keep in mind the following, though: animal care
agencies (police and shelters) do have limits as to the care of
strays. In addition, if the animal is injured and you take him to
a veterinary hospital yourself, you will most likely be expected
to pay for any services out of your own pocket. You may go ahead
and do this, and take the animal into your home and heart, only
to hear from the owners at a later date. It may be difficult for
you to part with an animal you have formed a bond with.
So, before you stop by the roadside to help that animal, think
reasonably about what you can offer emotionally and financially,
while also considering what you would want someone to do if it were
your missing pet. And always keep tags on your pets with his name,
your name, address and phone numbers.
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