The fate of lost pets, especially dogs, is often in the hands of the people who find them. And sometimes it's the most good-hearted, well-meaning, pet owners who inadvertently prevent a lost dog or cat from getting home. This is because we make some false assumptions about the pets and their owners.
Many people assume that a dog wandering loose, without a collar, is a stray, and they’ll either ignore him, keep him or call animal control. If a dog wearing a collar is dirty, injured, cowers in fear, or is scrawny, people assume he’s been mistreated and may rescue him from his bad owner.
The truth is, dogs get separated from their owners for many reasons. Dogs can slip out of their collars. Dogs that are well loved may be anxious around strangers and cower in fear. A dog who has been lost for a long time may have become dirty, injured or scrawny during his misadventures away from home.
When people see a cat prowling around outside, people assume it’s either a stray or someone’s outdoor kitty. Cats are often ignored or taken in by the people who find them.
Pet detective Kat Albrecht, founder of Missing Pet Partnership has dealt with hundreds of missing pet cases. Her advice is, “When you find a dog or cat, assume that it is loved and wanted, and work toward reuniting that animal with its owner.” Kat’s motto is: “Think lost, not stray.”
Continued: How to Reunite a Lost and Found Pet with His Owner