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I found a dog or cat: what to do

Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.

Contact your local shelter for guidance, the ASPCA says. Have the animal scanned for a microchip (a vet or shelter can do it), then use the AAHA microchip lookup to find which company holds the number. Children should never grab a strange animal: ask a grown-up to help.

Checked October 29, 2026.

By Peabody editors. How we write and check.

Steps

  1. Ask a grown-up. Stay calm and don't chase. An unfamiliar scared animal can bite or scratch.
  2. Call your local shelter or animal control for guidance (ASPCA).
  3. Get a microchip scan. AAHA says the first step is to scan the animal. Then enter the number at the lookup to get a list of registries to contact.
  4. Look for a tag with a phone number.
  5. Found kittens outside? A mother cat may be caring for them, and moving them can orphan them. The ASPCA has a page to check first.

Sources