As of July 5, 2016, San Diego County Animal Services is showing the photos of 140 dogs on its lost dogs webpage. And that is just in the Southern Region at 5821 Sweetwater Road in Bonita. The San Diego Region shelter on Gaines Street is showing the photos of 99 dogs, and the Northern Region shelter in Carlsbad is showing 39 photos.
Many of those dogs ran away during the July 4 fireworks. Dogs get easily scared by the loud noise of fireworks, even if they took place a few miles away. Remember that dogs have an acute sense of hearing.
According to Animal Services Director Dawn Danielson, the photos of the scared dogs were posted as soon as each pet was kenneled at the shelter.
San Diego County Animal Services will contact the owners of dogs that have identification on them. If the owner does not pick the dog up by July 12, the animal will go up for adoption on July 13.
Dogs that do not have any identification will be available for adoption if the owner does not claim the animal within three days.
If you have lost your dog, please visit the San Diego Animal Services website and take a look at all the photos. Do not wait for the agency to contact you. A dog can easily drop his collar and ID while on the run. Keep checking the photos on a daily basis and call the agency to let them know that you lost your dog. Some dogs are still lost on the streets.
San Diego County Animal Services is providing a printable flyer for pet owners that can be distributed in the neighborhood. The flyer is available in English and in Spanish.
If you find a lost dog, the agency provides a webpage where you can type in the dog's ID tag number in order to find the dog's owner. If you choose to do so, you can contact the owner yourself.
If the lost dog does not wear a license, he might have a microchip. Call San Diego County Animal Services or take the dog to one of its three locations listed on the agency's website. Even if the dog is from out of state, the dog and the owner can be reunited.
If you do not want to take a dog to the shelter yourself, please try to get the animal to a safe place away from the street where it can be killed. If necessary, use a little treat like some meat to lure the dog to a safe area.
You can call Animal Services at (619) 767-2675. An officer will come out to pick up the dog. Once the animal has been checked for an ID and scanned for a microchip, you can always put a "first hold" on the dog -- if you would like to adopt him.
