Posted by T. on 4/7/2006, 9:10 am (excerpted from the site) Report the lost pet to your county's animal control agency or humane shelter. If you take the animal to your county shelter, his chances of finding his owner or a great new home are better than you might think. If you would like to keep the animal, ask to adopt him when you take in line to have him as your permanent companion if the owner isn't located. Some shelters allow you to be a back-up adopter, so you can save the animal if no one else adopts him. Many shelters are overcrowded, if you wish and are able to foster the animal until his owner is found, tell them that you wish to do this. Most agencies may be agreeable to this. Alternative Steps If you don't turn the animal over to a shelter, there are some things that you must do. The law requires you to file a report with your local animal control agency, so information about the pet you found is available for his owners. You must also place "found" ads for at least two weeks in a local newspaper. The animal's owner can claim him from you any time in the next six months. When placing a notice, leave out a pertinent piece of information about the pet. This will be used to help properly identify the owner. Another thing that you may ask a person identifying themselves as the owner is the name and telephone number of the animal's veterinarian. Make the call and verify this before turning over the animal. There are lots of unscrupulous people out there who search the classifieds for animals to be sold to laboratories for research. Don't let this animal fall into their grasp. There are other steps you should take to find the animal's rightful owner. Put up posters with the animal's photo throughout the neighborhood, as well as at local grocery stores, pet stores and veterinary offices. Take the pet to a shelter or veterinarian to scan for microchip identification. Check the "lost" ads in the paper every day. Ask people in the neighborhood, including mail carriers, meter readers, trash collectors and schoolchildren if they know who owns the animal. Excerpted from the HSUS site linked below: If you are able to transport the animal, take him to the nearest animal shelter. Or, if you plan to keep the animal in the event no owner is found, notify animal control that you have the animal or that you have taken him to a veterinary hospital for treatment. You usually can place a free "found" ad in your local newspaper. Keep a copy of the ID to prove your good intentions should any question arise later. To check on any relevant laws in your state, county, or town, contact your local animal control agency, humane society, or SPCA. Many times, the dog or cat you find along the highway will turn out to be unowned, unwanted, and unclaimed. Even so, the person finding the stray dog or cat does not automatically become the owner or keeper—as in "finders keepers"—until he has satisfied certain state and/or local requirements. In almost every state, the animal is not "owned" by the finder until the holding period for strays (as specified by state or local laws) has expired and the finder has made an attempt to reunite the animal with his original owner and/or has taken steps—obtaining vaccinations, license, collar and identification tag—to prove he is now the owner. Don't assume you are dealing with an irresponsible owner. Good Samaritans who have never lost a cherished companion animal may conclude that the owner of the found dog or cat callously abandoned him or, at the very least, neglected to keep him safely confined at home. But accidents can happen to anyone. The frantic owner may be looking everywhere for their beloved pet. If you're uncertain about whether or not to assist or keep an animal you see alongside the highway, here's a final word of advice: First, think of what you would want the finder of your animal to do if he happened to find him injured and his collar missing. You'd want him to take your pet to a veterinarian, and you'd want him to try to find you. At the same time, be reasonable about how much you can afford to do for that animal if no owner shows up. Are you willing to add him to your household? And will you be willing to return him to his original home if the owner turns up after you've started to form an attachment? Thinking these issues through in advance may stand you in good stead the next time you see that wrenching sight at the side of a road. **************** I also think its important to include that a carefully written found dog ad can make all the difference. For example, when you take out an ad for a stray you found, your ad shoud state that -"dog found", as opposed to "lost dog"; yes, the dog is lost but now found by you - so be clear, else folks will think you are advertising for the dog you lost, and not the other way around! Also, many newspapers have free lost and found ads - use these to your best advantage. If you are near a major metropolitan area place the ad in the major paper that is viewed by many, as dogs can travel miles from their original homes when lost. If you only place the ad in the local podunk town gazette, you have no chance of contacting the owner! Please do right by the strays you find! You would want the same for your own pets should they stray, right? Another site of related interest: Dog laws
204.73.55.90
http://www.h4ha.org/lostfound/foundsteps.html
Notify the Authorities
Look for posters and fliers that may be describing your "found" pet. Submit a listing to Hugs for Homeless Animals' Worldwide Lost and Found Pets [ http://www.h4ha.org/lostfound ]
The bottom line: A lost, frightened animal is depending on you. Do for this creature what you would want someone to do for your pet.
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http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovuslostdog.htm