What You Should Do If You Take In An Abandoned Pet

You're scrolling down a picturesque path, ladened with vibrant colored flowers, surrounded with greenery and shrubs galore. Then you gaze upon an dog or cat, scraggly and skinny and cowering alongside the lane.

Many people abandon their once-beloved pets. If you're an animal lover like me, your heart goes out to this poor baby and you want more than anything to take him home, love him and care for him.

So you pick him up, hold him tight and take him home to love and coddle him forever. But is this a wise decision?

Many people abandon their once-beloved pets. But what should you do if you find an abandoned or lost pet? Read on to learn what to do.

Take Hold Of It

Of course you can't leave him there, so taking him home IS a wise decision. But keeping him may not be. He may be lost and someone is probably searching for him.

Approach the pet calmly and avoid sudden movements or loud noises, especially if it seems frightened or aggressive. Be gentle with that baby.

Ensure Their Safety And Care

The first thing you should do when you get him home is ensure their safety by giving them food, water and shelter.

Offer a safe, dry, and comfortable space for the pet. Check for injuries: Look for any signs of injury or illness and seek veterinary care if needed.

Search For The Owner

Check for identification: Look for tags, collars, or any other form of identification on the pet.

Scan for microchip: Take the pet to a veterinary clinic to have it scanned for a microchip, which can help identify the owner.

Contact local shelters and rescue organizations: Inform them about the pet and provide details like the location where it was found. They have resources and networks to help reunite pets with their owner.

Reach Out: Post flyers with a picture of him around the area he was found. Put an add on social media with information and photos. Call your local newspaper and place an ad (some let you post lost pets for free).

If The Owner's Not Found

Now you're delighted to have that baby to care for and love. But are you really ready for that?

The first thing you need to do is take your new pet in for a wellness exam at the veterinarian. In addition, if your pet isn't spayed or neutered set up an appointment right away if he's 5 months or older.

Can You Afford A Pet?

Cost Of Having A Pet

Routine care, such as checkups, vaccinations, dental care, and lab tests typically cost between $800 and $1,500 per year. Then they need toys, a litter box for a cat, food, flea medicine, and dogs need heartworm medicine.

What about sickness, for instance, look what happened to my Peaches with liver disease. It cost thousands of dollars. Could you afford to pay those costs?

Or would you put him/her down? Think on this: if your child were sick and needed expensive medications, or surgery but the cost was too high, would you have that precious child euthanized. No you wouldn't. You would do everything in your power to help them regain their health.

Pets are family, our cherished babies, we must provide for them the necessary treatments to make them well again. If a vet can't do anymore for them and they're suffering, and you think they should be put down, before you do, ask your vet if that were his pet what he would do in that case. Mine always let me know.

Time And Energy

Do you have the time to take proper care of your pet? Do you work long hours? Do you cage them up or put them in the bathroom when you're gone? How would you like it if happened to you? They feel the same way.

Are you healthy enough to take care of your pet? Dog's take a lot of work; walking, exercise, playing, training, talking to them, grooming, feeding, taking them out to relieve themselves, then picking up their poop.

I had a friend that was crippled up with rheumatoid arthritis. She had the cuties doggie, her name was Sophie, but she couldn't really take care of her. She no longer could walk her, take her out (Sophie had a pee pad), play with her, etc. That doggie just sat on her lap, and did nothing.

A dog that lacks exercise and mental stimulation becomes withdrawn, depressed, they lose muscle mass, their joints become weak and shortens their lifespan.

That is definitely something to think about if you want to keep that beloved pet.

What To Do If You Can't Keep Your New Pet?

Don't drop him off at a shelter, instead try to find him a good home. Ask your animal loving friends, put an add in your local newspaper, or a local classified ad.

Don't just give them to anyone, not even your family or friends, unless you know for certain they are a responsible pet owner; one would love and take care of it properly.

But beware. Many people out there are in search of animals for product testing. So you have to be very careful. When someone calls, ask questions - and lots of them.

For instance:

"Will he be a house pet?" "Will he be able to sleep in your bed?" "Do you have a fenced in yard?" "How many people live in the home?" Do they like pets?"

If they sound like they really want the pet, tell them they must come and visit him, then watch carefully how they interact with the pet, and how the pet reacts.

If they seem like they would be a good pet parent, and they want him, let the person know that if they change their mind, please bring him back.

Also, call them in a few days to see how their new pet is doing. If they don't want him, don't hesitate to go and get him.

If All Else Fails

Certainly, with your efforts, your quest will not fail. But if it does, contact no-kill shelter or animal rescue organizations that specialize in finding new homes for abandoned animals.

Shelters and rescue groups have specific procedures for accepting new animals, so be sure to follow their instructions.

Conclusion:

Finding an abandoned or lost pet is a serious situation that requires patience, compassion, and responsibility. They are not just animals; they are loyal companions who deserve your unwavering love, attention, and responsibility.

Whatever you do, if you find an abandoned or lost pet, ensure that what you do is best for the animal, and not just for you.