I Found a Dog—Can The Love Pit Help?

You've found a dog and want to help, but you're not sure what your next steps should be. While we'd love to help every dog that needs it, there's a specific process that works best for everyone involved—including the dog.

Start with Your Local Municipal Shelter

The first step is taking the dog to your local municipal shelter. This might seem counterintuitive, but here's why it's important: municipal shelters will generally only take dogs found within their city limits. This creates an official record in the right location and gives families the best chance of finding their missing pet.

Local shelters are also the first place most people call when their dog goes missing, so getting the dog into the system where they belong geographically is crucial for reunification.

Get the Dog's A# (Shelter ID)

When you bring the dog to the municipal shelter, they'll assign an identification number called an A#. This is the dog's official ID within the shelter system. Make sure to write this number down—you'll need it for the next step.

Email Us with the Details

Once the dog is at the municipal shelter and has an A#, email us at intake@thelovepitrescue.org. Include:

• The dog's A# (shelter ID number)

• Which shelter the dog is at

• Any details about where and when you found them

• Photos if you have them

Our Team Will Evaluate

After you email us, our team will decide if the dog is a good fit for our program medically and behaviorally. Not every dog will be a match for our program, and that's okay. Municipal shelters work with multiple rescue organizations, so there are often other options available.

Why This Process Works

This approach might seem like extra steps, but it's designed to:

• Give families the best chance to find their missing pet

• Create proper documentation and legal compliance

• Ensure dogs get appropriate medical evaluation

• Match dogs with the right rescue organization for their needs

• Prevent overcrowding in any one facility

You're Still Making a Difference

Even if we can't take the dog you found, you've already done something incredible by stopping to help. Getting them to the municipal shelter, following the proper process, and reaching out to rescues shows you care about doing right by that dog.

Remember, every dog deserves a chance, and by following these steps, you're giving them the best shot at finding their way home—or finding a new one.