What to Do If You Find a Lost or Stray Dog in Australia

Quick answer: approach slowly and calmly, check for a collar tag or visible ID, get them somewhere safe and contained, and get them scanned for a microchip as soon as possible — a vet clinic, council ranger, or shelter can all do this, usually for free or a small fee. Post in local lost-pet groups with a photo and the location found. Most of the process is about acting promptly and calmly, not doing anything complicated.

Step 1: Approach safely

A loose dog, even a friendly one, can be stressed, disoriented, and unpredictable — approach slowly, at an angle rather than head-on, and avoid direct eye contact or looming over them, which can read as threatening. Crouching side-on and speaking in a calm, low voice is generally less intimidating than approaching upright and fast. If the dog shows clear signs of fear or aggression (growling, backing away, hackles up), don't force contact — call your local council ranger or the RSPCA instead of approaching further, particularly if there's any risk to yourself, children, or other pets nearby.

Step 2: Check for ID

If the dog is wearing a collar, check for a tag with a phone number — this is the fastest possible reunion if it's there and current. Some dogs also wear AirTag or GPS tracker holders; if you find one, the owner may already be actively searching and tracking, so getting the dog somewhere safe quickly matters even more, since they may be close by.

Step 3: Contain them safely

If you can safely do so, get the dog into a secure space — your own fenced yard, on a lead if you have a spare, or in your car with windows appropriately ventilated — rather than trying to walk alongside a loose dog through traffic or busy areas. If the dog seems distressed or unwell, keep them calm and quiet rather than exposing them to more stimulation while you sort out next steps.

Step 4: Get them scanned for a microchip

This is the single most useful thing you can do. Around 87% of Australian dogs are microchipped, according to the Animal Medicines Australia Pets in Australia 2025 survey, so there's a good chance a scan will identify the owner directly. You can get a dog scanned at:

• Any local vet clinic — most will scan a found dog for free or a nominal fee, even if you're not an existing client
• Your local council's ranger service — councils are set up specifically to handle found and stray animals
• An RSPCA shelter or branch, if there's one nearby

If the microchip is registered and the details are current, this is often the fastest possible way to reunite a dog with their owner — sometimes within the hour.

Step 5: Report it properly

Alongside getting them scanned, it's worth doing a few other things in parallel, since not every dog is microchipped or has current details:

• Call your local council — in most states, councils have a legal obligation to handle stray and found dogs, and reporting it to them means an official record exists even if you're also caring for the dog temporarily.
• Post in local suburb and lost-pet Facebook groups with a clear photo, the exact location and time found, and a description — owners searching for a missing dog are very likely to be checking exactly these groups.
• Check community noticeboards, local vet clinic windows, and any "lost dog" posts already up in the area — the owner may already be actively searching and posting.

What if you can't find the owner quickly?

If the microchip isn't registered, is out of date, or the dog isn't chipped at all, your local council or the RSPCA is legally set up to take custody of the dog and hold them for a set statutory period (which varies by state and council) to give an owner time to come forward, before the dog becomes available for rehoming. If you're willing and able to care for the dog temporarily while this process happens, let the council know — many are open to a found dog staying with the finder rather than going straight into a shelter, provided it's properly reported.

A few things worth knowing

• You're not obligated to keep a found dog indefinitely, and you're not obligated to adopt them — reporting them properly and handing them to your council or the RSPCA if you can't keep searching is a completely reasonable outcome.
• Legally, a genuinely lost dog (as opposed to an abandoned one) remains the property of its owner, so "finders keepers" isn't how this works — the goal is reunification, not rehoming, unless a proper statutory process concludes no owner can be found.
• If the dog seems injured or unwell, prioritise getting them to a vet over anything else — most vets will treat a found stray in urgent need and sort out payment/ownership questions afterward.

FAQs

Can I just keep a dog I found if no one claims it? Not immediately — there's a proper legal process (reporting to council, a statutory holding period) that needs to happen first. Skipping this can create real problems if an owner does turn up later.

Do vets charge to scan a found dog for a microchip? Many vets will do this for free or a small fee as a community service, even if you're not an existing client — it's worth calling ahead, but don't assume it'll be expensive.

What if the dog seems aggressive or I don't feel safe approaching it? Don't force it — call your local council ranger or the RSPCA and let them handle it. Your safety and the safety of others nearby comes first.

Should I feed and water a dog I've found while sorting this out? Yes, fresh water especially, once they're safely contained — just don't overfeed an unfamiliar dog's stomach, since you don't know their normal diet or any health conditions.

If you're a dog owner reading this hoping it never has to apply to you: a properly secured, waterproof AirTag holder is a simple way to shorten the search if your own dog ever goes missing. See how Pawfetchers works.