If You Have Found a Stray Dog

--  Call your county animal services facility and report the dog "found, but not turned over."  This way if an owner calls the county looking for they pet, they can give the owner your contact information.

 

--  Contact local vets to list the dog in their lost/found books.

--  Post flyers in your neighborhood stating only "FOUND DOG" with your contact information.  Do not include a picture of the dog.

--  List the dog as found on Craig's list.  State only general terms describing the dog (i.e., large dog, small dog, older dog) and your contact information.

--  The Tampa Tribune will place a no-cost ad for one week.  Their number is (813) 259-7500.  Again, only list "FOUND DOG" with your contact information.

 

Anybody who contacts you in regards to the dog you found, make them describe the dog to you.

 

If the owner is not located and you are not able to foster the dog, we suggest the following steps:

 

-- If the dog is a pure breed dog, contact breed-specific rescues

-- Contact rescues that have their own facility

Typically, Dogma is only able to accept dogs when the dogs are 30 lbs and under, 5-6 years and under, and the dog must be  healthy.  Dogma is an in-home rescue organization only and is not able to accept medically needy dogs or dogs that require long-term care.  At this time, Dogma is not accepting pit bulls.  Hillsborough County Animal Services has a nationally recognized pit bull program, and for information on this program, please call HCAS at (813) 744-5660.

 

If you are able to foster the dog, then Dogma could possibly help you.  You would have to agree to commit to keeping the dog until a permanent home was found by Dogma's Co-Directors.  You must be capable of fostering the dog and you must agree to attend at least two adoption events per month.  

 

If you are interested in this option, please go to the Volunteer section of Dogma's website and fill out a Foster Application and email it to All@DogmaRescue.org and we will send you a contract which outlines what Dogma will do to assist you (such as pay for certain veterinary bills, food, monthly heartworm and flea prevention, etc.) and Dogma's expectations of you.  Before Dogma will agree to accept the dog into our foster program, Dogma's Co-Directors need to meet you and the dog at an adoption event.  At no time will another volunteer be able to house your foster dog and we are not able to predict how long you may have your foster dog before an approved home is found.