Who Will Pick Up a Stray Dog?

Did you find a stray dog? The good news is that in most cases, animal control will pick up the stray. But in some cases, they may require you to bring the dog to their facility. Find your local animal shelter or rescue below to learn about your area’s policies on strays.

Who picks up stray dogs?

In most areas, your first call should be local animal control — they’re a local government agency responsible for handling stray animals in your area, and policies vary a lot by city and county.

There are a few important reasons to call animal control ASAP. First, animal control is your best bet for a reunion — if someone’s out looking for their dog, that’s usually the first place they’ll call. But there’s also a legal reason to loop them in: in most locations, it’s illegal to hold a found dog for more than 24–48 hours without notifying animal control. Note: Calling animal control is free.

Not sure who to call? Try these:

• Search for nearby animal shelters and rescues

• Dial 311 and ask to be connected to animal control

• Call a local vet who can point you in the right direction

If animal control isn’t available or can’t respond quickly, a local humane society or rescue organization may be able to help, or at least advise you on next steps.

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What to do while you wait

If you’re able to safely stay with the dog until someone arrives, that’s genuinely helpful because an officer responding to an active call with someone on scene is more likely to be prioritized. You don’t have to catch the dog (chasing a scared dog usually makes things worse), but if you can keep them in sight, it is helpful.

If the dog is injured

If the dog seems injured, mention that when you call so animal control can escalate accordingly. Some areas have dedicated officers for situations involving animals in distress.

Alvaro Lavin / Stocksy/

Can you take the dog to a shelter yourself?

Yep, you can take the dog to the shelter yourself and in some cases, that’s actually the faster option. Most shelters and humane societies will accept stray dogs brought in by Good Samaritans.

If you can safely catch the dog without chasing them and are comfortable doing so (see safety tips on doing so here), here are a few things you should know before you go:

• Check for a microchip. You can take the dog to a veterinarian, a grooming salon, and of course, the local shelter to check for a microchip. If the dog is chipped, their pet parent can be contacted. If the dog is not chipped, these organizations can help you with the next steps.

• Take a photo of where you found them. This information can help reunite them with their family.

• Note any identifying details. Note their approximate size, color, markings, or any tags they might have when you found them.

Can you keep the dog yourself?

If you’re interested in keeping the stray dog, don’t skip the above steps. Let animal control know about your interest in adoption when you turn them over.

Typically, they are required to hold a found pet for up to two weeks to give the pet parents a chance to come forward. If that doesn’t happen, they can sometimes put you first in line to adopt them. It’s not guaranteed, but it’s worth asking.

Commonly asked questions

Does animal control come at night?

Most animal control agencies don’t operate after hours. If you spot a stray dog at night, you can call and leave a message. If you’re able to safely catch them yourself, some shelters and rescues have drop-box-style sites available around the clock.

What if no one comes?

Animal control prioritizes injured or dangerous situations, so a stray dog who seems otherwise okay may not get an immediate response. If no one shows, try calling again. Consider reaching out to a local rescue or shelter directly for backup options and sharing photos of the dog on social media sites where their pet parent might be looking.