Not sure what to do if you come across a lost or stray animal? Here are some important things to know:
When you find a lost or stray animal it is important to consider the safety of the animal, as well as your safety and the safety of others.
The animal may be scared, injured, feral or rabid. If the animal poses a threat to your safety do not approach it, rather, call a local animal shelter or animal control. If possible, stay at the scene until they arrive.
If the animal is friendly, carefully approach them. Speak calmly and make sure he or she can see you at all times. If you believe you can take the animal with you, try to direct them into your vehicle.
Please note: it can be dangerous to attempt to drive somewhere with an unfamiliar and unsecured animal in your car, as they may become frantic or aggressive. Be very cautious and call or consult a shelter if you are not comfortable with the situation. In the case that you are not able to safely secure the animal while transporting them, contact your local animal shelter or animal control for assistance. Please stay with the animal until they arrive. Try to keep the animal from leaving the area by creating a barrier or using a carrier, leash, etc. Finding a lost or stray animal near traffic can be especially dangerous. Try not to spook the animal, as this may cause them to dart into oncoming traffic.
If you’re in a vehicle
If you notice a lost or stray animal while in your vehicle it is important to stay calm. Pull over safely, in order to avoid causing an accident or scaring the animal into traffic. If you aren’t able to pull over safely, take note of the location so that you can return or alert animal control to the area once you are able to safely pull over. You may be asked to describe the animal, the location and the time at which you saw the animal.
Once the animal is safely secure
Once the animal is safely secured, you can either take him or her to your home or to an animal shelter. If you take the animal to a shelter please ensure that it is a no kill shelter. If you decide to take the animal home, be sure to contact your local animal control office or shelter. It is important to let the appropriate agency know that you have the animal and to provide a description, in case the owner contacts them. Having the animal scanned for a microchip at your local veterinarian or shelter will also help you find the owner. Please note: be sure to keep identification tags or collars in case any questions should arise later.
Before bringing the new rescue home, make sure that you are able to keep your other animals separate. It can be dangerous to introduce the new animal to your pets right away, as he or she could be sick or fearful and become aggressive towards your animals. It is also a good idea to have the animal checked out by a veterinarian.
If you plan on keeping the animal, in the case that the owner is not found, it is important that you check your local laws and contact your local animal control agency, Humane Society or SPCA. Even if you are unable to find the animal’s family, this does not necessarily mean that you become his or her new owner. Particular requirements may need to be fulfilled. This includes a holding period during which you must attempt to locate the animal’s family.
How to find the animal’s family
“Found Pet” flyers posted in the area where the animal was found are often helpful in locating an animal’s family. Notices posted at your local veterinary hospitals and on websites such as Petfinder and social media are also useful.
For more information on helping lost or stray animals or reuniting an animal with his or her family, please check out the following sites:
SPCA / Humane Society Canada
British Columbia – BC SPCA
Alberta – Alberta SPCA
Saskatchewan – Saskatchewan SPCA
Manitoba – Brandon Humane Society
Ontario – Ontario SPCA and Humane Society
New Brunswick – New Brunswick SPCA
Nova Scotia – Nova Scotia SPCA
Prince Edward Island – PEI Humane Society
Nunavut – Iqaluit Humane Society
Yukon – Humane Society Yukon
SPCA / Humane Society US
Image by Nakae
Je, unajua nini cha kufanya ikiwa unapata mnyama aliyepotea au aliyepotea? Wakati wa kupata mnyama aliyepotea au aliyepotea, ni muhimu kuzingatia usalama wa mnyama, pamoja na usalama wako na usalama wa wengine. Mnyama huyo anaweza kuwa ameogopa, amejeruhiwa, ni mwitu au ana ugonjwa wa kimbunga. Ikiwa mnyama huyo ni hatari kwa usalama wako, usimkaribie, badala yake, piga simu kwenye makao ya wanyama au kituo cha kudhibiti wanyama. Ikiwa inawezekana, kaa mahali hapo hadi wawasiliwe. Ikiwa mnyama huyo ni mwenye urafiki, mkaribie kwa uangalifu. Zungumza kwa utulivu na hakikisha kwamba anaweza kukuona wakati wote. Ikiwa unaamini unaweza kuchukua mnyama huyo pamoja nawe, jaribu kumwongoza ndani ya gari lako. Kumbuka: Ni hatari kuendesha gari na mnyama asiyejulikana au asiye salama katika gari lako, kwani anaweza kuwa mjeuri au mkali. Kuwa mwangalifu sana na piga simu au wasiliana na makao ya wageni ikiwa huoni vizuri na hali hiyo. Ikiwa huwezi kuhifadhi mnyama kwa usalama wakati wa usafirishaji, wasiliana na makao ya wanyama ya karibu au udhibiti wa wanyama kwa msaada. Tafadhali kaa na mnyama huyo hadi watakapofika. Jaribu kuzuia mnyama huyo asiondoke katika eneo hilo kwa kujenga kizuizi au kutumia chombo cha kubeba, mkanda, na kadhalika. Kupata mnyama aliyepotea au aliyepotea karibu na magari kunaweza kuwa hatari hasa. Jaribu kutomwogopesha mnyama huyo, kwa kuwa hilo laweza kumfanya aruke kwenye magari yanayokuja. Ikiwa uko katika gari Ikiwa unaona mnyama aliyepotea au aliyepotea wakati uko katika gari lako ni muhimu kubaki utulivu. Simama kando kwa usalama, ili kuepuka kusababisha aksidenti au kuogopesha mnyama huyo kwenye trafiki. Kama wewe si uwezo wa kuvuta juu salama, kuchunguza eneo hivyo unaweza kurudi au kuonya kudhibiti wanyama kwa eneo hilo mara moja wewe ni uwezo wa kuvuta juu salama. Unaweza kuombwa kuelezea mnyama, mahali na wakati ulipoona mnyama. Baada ya mnyama kuwa salama, unaweza kumpeleka nyumbani kwako au kwenye makao ya wanyama. Ikiwa unachukua mnyama kwenye makao ya wanyama tafadhali hakikisha kuwa ni makao ya wanyama yasiyo na mauaji. Ikiwa unaamua kuchukua mnyama nyumbani, hakikisha kuwasiliana na ofisi yako ya kudhibiti wanyama au makazi. Ni muhimu kuwa na taarifa ya kwamba wewe ni na mnyama na kutoa maelezo, katika kesi ya mmiliki anawasiliana nao. Kuchukua kipande cha microchip kutoka kwa daktari wa wanyama au mkoba wa karibu pia kutakusaidia kupata mmiliki. Tafadhali kumbuka: kuwa na uhakika wa kuweka vitambulisho tags au collars katika kesi yoyote inapaswa kutokea maswali baadaye. Kabla ya kumleta mnyama huyo nyumbani, hakikisha kwamba una uwezo wa kumweka mnyama mwingine mbali na mnyama huyo. Ni hatari kumjulisha mnyama wako mara moja, kwa kuwa anaweza kuwa mgonjwa au mwenye hofu na kuwa mkali kwa wanyama wako. Pia ni jambo zuri kumchunguza daktari wa mifugo. Ikiwa una mpango wa kuweka mnyama, ikiwa mmiliki haupatikani, ni muhimu kuangalia sheria zako za mitaa na kuwasiliana na shirika lako la kudhibiti wanyama, Jumuiya ya Humane au SPCA. Hata kama huwezi kupata familia ya mnyama huyo, hilo halimaanishi kwamba wewe ni mmiliki wake mpya. Huenda ikawa ni lazima matakwa fulani yatimizwe. Hii ni pamoja na kipindi cha kushikilia wakati ambao lazima kujaribu kupata familia ya mnyama. Jinsi ya kupata familia ya mnyama <unk> Found Pet <unk> flyers posted katika eneo ambapo mnyama alipatikana ni mara nyingi kusaidia katika kupata familia ya mnyama. Pia, taarifa zilizowekwa katika hospitali za wanyama za karibu na kwenye tovuti kama vile Petfinder na mitandao ya kijamii ni muhimu. Kwa habari zaidi juu ya kusaidia wanyama waliopotea au waliopotea au kuungana tena na familia yao, tafadhali angalia tovuti zifuatazo: SPCA Humane Society Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Ontario, Canada.