How to help a stray animal, safely

Stay safe first

Even a gentle animal can bite when it is frightened, cornered or in pain. Move slowly, approach from the side rather than head-on, and crouch so you look smaller. With dogs, avoid staring and don't reach over their head; let them sniff the back of your hand. With cats, offer a slow blink and let them decide whether to come closer.

Never corner an animal or try to grab it. If it backs away, growls, hisses or flattens its ears, give it space. In many parts of the world rabies is present in street animals, so any bite or scratch from an unknown animal should be washed thoroughly with soap and water and checked by a doctor promptly.

Is the animal hurt or in danger?

Signs that an animal needs help quickly include bleeding, limping badly or not putting weight on a leg, trouble breathing, being unable to stand, very weak or very thin, and any animal that has been hit by a car. Call a vet, a local rescue group or animal services and describe what you see.

If you need to move an injured animal, a thick towel or blanket protects both of you. Lift it gently with its body supported, and use a carrier, a sturdy box with air holes, or a flat board for a large dog. Keep it warm, quiet and dark on the way to help. Don't give food to a badly injured animal; a vet may need to sedate it.

Water, food, and what to avoid

Fresh water in a shallow bowl is always a kind and safe thing to offer. If the animal is hungry and not badly hurt, pet food is best: cat food for cats, dog food for dogs. Plain cooked chicken or rice in small amounts is fine in a pinch.

Some common foods are harmful to cats and dogs. Avoid:

• Milk and cream, which upset many adult cats' and dogs' stomachs
• Onions, garlic and chives, raw or cooked
• Chocolate, grapes and raisins
• Cooked bones, which can splinter
• Anything sweetened with xylitol, such as some gum and baked goods
• Salty, spicy or fatty leftovers

Lost pet or street animal?

A collar or tag is the clearest sign of an owner. Without one, look at condition and behavior: a clean, well-fed, friendly animal that seems confused may be a pet that got out. An animal that is wary of people and comfortable outdoors is more likely to live on the street. A cat with a flat-topped or notched ear has usually been neutered through a TNR program and lives outdoors with people looking after it.

If there is any chance the animal is lost, take it to a vet or shelter to be scanned for a microchip; most do this for free. Post a photo as a sighting in StraySync: it is shown on the map to people nearby and automatically compared with lost-pet posts in the area. Also ask the neighbors closest to where you found it, since owners usually start searching close to home.

Who can help next

Local rescue groups, animal shelters, vet clinics and municipal animal services are the usual places to turn. Many rescues and community groups also run trap-neuter-return programs for street cats. Policies differ a lot from place to place, so ask what will happen to the animal before handing it over, and whether they can help you foster it instead if you are able.

If you can't take the animal in, you can still help: keep an eye on it, offer water, share its photo and location with a rescue, and update the sighting in StraySync so others know what has been done.

Community animals and TNR

In many cities, cats and dogs live outdoors as part of the neighborhood. Trap-neuter-return means humanely trapping community cats, having them neutered, vaccinated and ear-tipped by a vet, and returning them to their territory. Over time it reduces the number of kittens born outside and the fighting and yowling that come with mating, and it lets the cats live out their lives where they already have food and shelter.

If you want to help a group of street cats, get in touch with a local TNR program or rescue first. They can lend traps, book low-cost neuter appointments and show you how to trap safely. Trapping without a vet appointment lined up can leave a cat stressed in a trap for too long.

If you see cruelty

If you see an animal being hurt, neglected or poisoned, don't confront the person yourself. Note the date, time and place, take photos or video from a safe distance if you can, and report it to the police or your local animal welfare authority. Rescue groups can often tell you who to contact where you live.

When it's kinder to leave an animal be

Not every animal outside needs rescuing. Moving a healthy street animal far from its territory can separate it from the food, shelter and people it relies on. It is usually kinder to leave it where it is in these cases, and to ask a local rescue for advice when in doubt:

• A healthy, ear-tipped community cat that has a territory and people feeding it
• Kittens that look clean and healthy with their mother likely nearby (see the found kittens guide)
• Wild animals, including baby birds and foxes: contact a wildlife rehabilitator instead
• Any healthy animal you would have to move far from where it lives