WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FIND A DOG or CAT
*** Animals are considered property in Georgia and it is against the law to keep someone's property. The law is on the owner's side in the case of a found dog ***
FIRST, it is important to never judge a dog or his or her family based on their current condition.
A dog may have been lost for a long time and living on its own and fending for itself. That
can explain a dog's dirty, matted or thin appearance. A dog may also have a medical
condition that could explain weight loss or skin issues. It's important to give an owner the
benefit of doubt and go through the proper channels to search for its owner.
SECOND, even if neglect or abuse is suspected, a finder does not have the right or legal
authority to make that determination and keep or rehome a pet. In Georgia, pets are
considered property and it's illegal to take and keep someone else's property. You must
contact your local animal control unit and file a FOUND report for any dog you find. Your
shelter will advise you on what steps you must take. Some shelters require you to bring a
dog in, but others will allow you to foster the dog as long as you file a FOUND report with
them and conduct a reasonable search for the dog's owner. If neglect or abuse is suspected,
it's up to that local animal control unit, not the finder, to investigate and intervene if
needed. This protects a pet and their family from someone making erroneous claims and it
also allows an animal control unit to investigate and bring charges which could protect other
pets in harm's way.
THIRD, conduct an aggressive search for a dog's owner. Owners with a lost dog will move
heaven and earth to search for their lost dog, but finders can sometimes fall short. There are many reasons that a finder may not do an aggressive search for a dog's owner and we have just touched on a few. Other reasons may include a busy schedule or a lack of
knowledge on all the ways to search for a dog's owner. Some people find a dog and want to
help, but they have nowhere to house the dog so they feel the only option is to
immediately rehome the dog or send it to a rescue. This way of thinking drastically reduces
the chances of a pet being reunited with their family. There are many options out there to
help you quickly reunite a pet with its family if you are willing to do a little work.
Another common reason that someone may not search for a dog's family is that the finder
becomes attached to the dog and decides to keep it. This decision is not only wrong, it's
against the law. It can also put a dog's life in danger. If a dog has a medical condition and is
on daily, life sustaining medication, not being returned to their home immediately could cost them their life.