Lost Dog? Stray Dog?
How do you know ... What do you do ...

Rescuer Behaviors That Create Problems: People who find stray dogs often misinterpret the dog's behavior: they assume that the cowering, fearful dog was "abused" when in fact the dog has a xenophobic temperament and has been shy and fearful since it was a puppy, due to genetics and puppy hood experiences. Dogs found in rural areas are often assumed to be "dumped" and homeless; many rescuers never think this could be a dog that was lost .

For more information about "lost dog behavoir" and for a list of professional pet detectives, click here. -Contributed by LostAPet.org