How to Help a Street Dog

Thank you for helping street dogs! We receive a lot of intake requests from folks who’ve found dogs on the streets of Dallas-Fort Worth. Here are a few suggestions for those of you kindhearted individuals trying to help.

If the Dog is Still on the Streets

  • Check for an Owner: Check sites like NextDoor or local lost/found pet Facebook pages to see if anyone posted them as lost.

  • Give Food and Water: Ideally do this at the same location and time of day. This is especially important for shy dogs, as it’ll build trust and a routine.

  • Get Content: Take pics and videos of the dog. If they’re friendly and come up to you, videos will often tug at heartstrings to find a foster.

If You’ve Caught a Street Dog

  • Moving to a New Space: If transferring the dog from a trap to a crate, open the trap door near the crate's entrance. Food can help encourage the dog to walk in. Never release the dog from a trap in an unsecured area. Even calm-looking dogs can bolt unexpectedly. Move the dog indoors (like a garage or spare room) before attempting to remove it from the trap. If the dog is scared or aggressive, leave it in the trap with a blanket to calm down.

  • Keep the Dog Secure: Keep the dog on a leash even in a fenced yard to prevent escapes. Consider using two leashes until you’re confident in the dog’s behavior. It’s also a good idea to wait a week before introducing the new dog to your other pets.

  • Decompression: Provide food and water, but don't worry if the dog doesn’t eat or drink for the first 24-48 hours. It may take time for them to feel safe.

  • Scan for a Microchip: Take the dog to a vet to be scanned for a microchip and make a found report.

  • Network: If the dog turns out to be homeless, ask everyone you know if they can foster and/or pledge money towards vet care. Dog rescues get a lot of requests to take dogs in, so most will be more likely to help if the dog comes with a foster and/or donations.

  • Contact Rescues: If you reach out to rescues asking for help, keep in mind that most are comprised entirely of volunteers. They are doing the best they can to respond in a timely manner, but there may be a delay in response. Include as much detail as possible in your request, including the efforts that have been made to try and locate an owner, the dog’s personality, if there is a committed foster, and how much has been gathered in pledges.

Nicole Bush