June 14, 2024, 7:48 am | Read time: 6 minutes
Suddenly, there is a dog, seemingly abandoned, in the middle of the street. Has someone lost it, or has it even been abandoned? Especially during the vacation season, once-loved pets suddenly become a burden for some people. Is it better to take the pet with you for the time being? PETBOOK explains what to do in a situation like that.
Pets without their owner, in the middle of the road are a rather rare sighting in Germany during broad daylight. This is why many people are taken aback when they suddenly come across a dog or a cat that seems to be lost. According to the animal welfare organization Peta, around 80,000 dogs, cats, rodents, exotic animals and other pets are abandoned in Germany every year. 1
Often, abandoned pets are being tied up at highway service stations. Or they are left in transport boxes or simple cardboard boxes in lonely places, such as a remote wooded area. Particularly heartless people simply dispose of their pets’ offspring in the garbage. Thanks to attentive animal lovers, many of these animals can be rescued and, with luck, find a new home. But am I allowed to simply take an animal off the street that has obviously been left behind and is in need of help? PETBOOK explains how you can help in this situation.
Overview
How can you tell if a pet has been abandoned?
There are different situations in which you may find an abandoned pet. It is not always immediately obvious whether it is a stray animal or simply a free-roaming pet. Especially during the vacation season, you should take a close look if you notice a dog sitting alone for a long time or wandering around looking for something.
A pretty sure sign that the pet has been abandoned on the street is if it is in a transport box, a cardboard box, or a tied-up garbage bag. Such pets have obviously been “dumped”. This is because the probability that an owner has simply forgotten their pet is rather low.
On the other hand, if an ornamental bird such as a budgerigar gets lost in your kitchen, it will probably not have been abandoned but will have escaped. Even if a cat regularly comes by your home and meows loudly for entry or food, it is most likely either an outdoor cat or one of the many stray cats that live on Germany’s streets.
Also interesting: Lost cat – what to do, can I keep it?
What should you do if you find a pet?
In Germany, abandoned or stray animals are legally treated as lost property. According to § 965 of the German Civil Code, the finder must act accordingly and is obliged to report the “lost property”. So if you see an animal sitting on the street, you are not allowed to simply take it with you.
Depending on the condition of the animal, you should take the following steps to avoid making yourself liable to prosecution:
The pet is without its owner
If no owner appears after a certain period of time, you should inform the police or the local animal shelter. If the dog or cat is trusting, you can first take it out of the sun and give it water. You can then take it to the nearest police station or local animal shelter yourself as soon as possible. If the pet is registered, a vet can identify the owner via a chip or tattoo using the Tasso pet register. 2
Even if the animal is scared, aggressive, or needs to be caught, you can offer it water and, at the same time, inform the police, as well as asking the relevant animal shelter or a local animal welfare organization for help with catching it. If you find a cat, its teats may give you an indication whether the animal has kittens. If this is the case, you should definitely search the area for the kittens before leaving the area with the mother.
The abandoned pet is locked in a box
If you find a pet, such as a hamster or guinea pig, locked in a cardboard box, there may be a risk of dehydration. In this case, you can take it to a vet immediately. After that contact the police or animal shelter as soon as possible.
The pet is injured
If the pet is obviously injured or its bodily functions are severely impaired, you should call a mobile animal emergency service immediately. It is better not to touch an injured animal. It could bite because it is in pain. If you think you can secure it, wear gloves if possible and wrap it in a blanket. A box or carton is recommended for transportation to the vet.
Never feed it!
No matter what kind of animal it is, it is better not to give them any food. It could have allergies or illnesses, and feeding could be harmful to its health.
Our tip: It is best to save the telephone number of an animal rescue service in your region on your cell phone. This way you are always prepared for a situation like this.
This is why you should call the police if you find a stray animal
If you find a stray dog, you should not only inform the animal shelter or vet, but also the police. Although found animals are not the officers’ number one priority, it can be worthwhile, as a case from Berlin shows. A dog escaped almost 100 kilometers away from home. Two weeks later, a passerby discovered the emaciated pet in the middle of Berlin. He informed the local police, and shortly afterward, the officers reunited the dog and owner.
In other major cities, such as Frankfurt am Main and Düsseldorf, officers are also expressly in favor of calling 110 when lost pets are found. The latter even work closely with animal emergency services. The police channels also often reach a wider audience and can help to clarify the case more quickly. You can read more about this in our PETBOOK article.
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What happens to an abandoned or stray animal?
As a rule, the animals are taken to the local animal shelter. If no owner comes forward within six months, the shelter can place the pet with a new owner. If you have immediately taken the little puppy, dog, or pretty cat that you found and rescued to heart, you will have to wait at least six months. However, think carefully about whether you can offer the pet a species-appropriate home. After all, losing their home for the second time is traumatic for many previously abandoned animals.
By the way, abandoning animals is prohibited under Section 3 of the Animal Welfare Act and can be a criminal offense under Section 17 of the Animal Welfare Act. Anyone who abandons animals can be punished with a fine or imprisonment for up to three years.