What should I do if I find a pet?

Any domestic pet roaming the neighborhood is in danger. It is in danger of being hit by a car, of catching and spreading diseases, of being hurt by other people or animals, or of suffering due to the elements.

If the stray is approachable, look for license, rabies and other identification tags to find and contact an owner. If the animal does seem friendly and you feel comfortable, try to confine the stray. A cat can be contained in a safe, sturdy box with plenty of air holes. A dog can be shut in a fenced yard. Call your local animal control agency to pick the animal up, or take the stray to the shelter yourself. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the shelter in your jurisdiction.

Any animal wandering the neighborhood is likely to bark, hiss, bite or scratch if it feels threatened, nervous, or protective of it's territory. Call Animal Services if you are uncomfortable approaching an animal and teach children to NEVER approach animals roaming the neighborhood.

What can I do to help?

• Talk to people in the neighborhood where the animal was found to try to identify an owner.
• Look in the newspaper, on shelter bulletin boards, and in other places where people might list a lost pet.

Can I just keep him?

• In Salt Lake County and most other areas, keeping a stray animal is equivalent to stealing. County Ordinance states it is unlawful for any person to harbor or keep any lost or stray animal.
• Stray animals need to be turned in to your local animal control agency within 24 hours.
• The owner is more likely to look for their lost pet in a shelter then in your back yard.
• If an owner does not claim the animal and you are interested, you can become the legal owner by adopting the pet.

The shelter is the best place for an owner to find their lost pet.