What to do with Lost or Stray Animals

If you ever find a stray dog or cat, here is a little guide as to what to do with them. 

There are different guidelines to determine if a dog or cat is a "stray" or "lost" animal. 

Any dog is considered a stray if it is wandering around without it's owner present, is in a prohibited area, or needs to be seized for the safety of the animal or nearby people. 

Cats on the other hand, are permitted to roam, which means that even if they are away from their home, they are not considered to be a stray. A cat is only to be seized if it they are in a prohibited area, such as a wildlife reserve, or in a place where seizing the animal is reasonable and necessary for the animal's welfare. 

If you find a stray animal, and it is injured, it should be taken immediately to the nearest vet for treatment. If the animal is not injured, the animal is then the responsibility of the local council. Though it is common practice to take strays to the vet to have them scanned for a microchip, the vet clinic is not obligated to accept the animal. It is however, the responsibility of the person who has seized the stray to return it to the owner or the council pound as soon as possible. Not complying with this can incur fines of up to $2200. 

If the stray is microchipped, authorised people within the clinic can look up the animal's owner and contact them directly. These details cannot be given to the finder, however if you bring a stray in we can collect your details so we can contact you with the result of finding the animal's owner. 

If the stray is not microchipped, or we are unable to contact the person listed on the microchip, we are under obligation to send the animal to the pound. 

Some people may be disinclined to take an animal to the pound for fear of what may happen to them, but sending the lost animal to the pound gives them the best chance of being reunited with their owner. The council pound must hold all non-microchipped animals for a minimum of 7 days, and all microchipped animals for 14 days. They also list the animal on their website and their Facebook page, and if they cannot find the owner of the cat or dog, the animal then becomes available for adoption, or can be taken in by rescue groups.

In case your own pet ever goes missing it is very important to ensure that they are microchipped, and that the microchip details are always kept up to date. Even if you have updated these details with the vet clinic you still need to update them with your local council. Animals can be microchipped from 8 weeks of age. 

You should also ensure your pet has a collar with a name tag with your contact number. Some people also put their vets contact number on the collar, in case your animal is injured it can be taken directly to your vet.