Ruff House Animal Rescue 

If you are able to catch the dog: 

• Notify the police (non-emergency) and contact local animal control immediately

• If you are in a safe area, and happen to have a leash/collar available, try walking around with the dog to see if they lead you to their home, or if someone is out looking for them

• There are many local pages on Facebook and Nextdoor where you can also post a found dog; Sam the Parrot is a great place to start

• Any local veterinarian should be able to check the dog for a microchip

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DO NOT REMOVE THE DOG FROM THE AREA, AND DO NOT (we repeat: DO NOT) TAKE THE ANIMAL TO A SHELTER OR FACILITY IN ANOTHER COUNTY. How will an owner in Cuyahoga County know to check shelters in Summit County, etc?

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DO NOT give the animal to someone else to "foster until the owner is found"; the further away the animal gets from where they were found, the less likely they will be reunited with their owner. 

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DO NOT take the animal home with you "to look for their owner"; it is required by law that stray dogs be held by local animal control for three business days in order to legally terminate ownership. 

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DO NOT rehome an animal you just found or that you have not allowed to be held for the mandatory time by animal control!! The animal is not your legal property, and you don't know the circumstances around which they may be loose. You are not only preventing their owner from being reunited with them, but setting yourself up for legal ramifications. Animal shelters are not the enemy. If you want to rehome the animal, claim it from animal control once their legal hold is up.