What should I do if I find a stray animal ?
We arrived, almost all, to cross one day on our way a stray.
Whether it is a wild animal, a pet that escaped its owner or voluntarily filed on the public highway by the latter, what if I meet an animal wandering on the road ?
What procedures should I respect ?
Ensure there is indeed a stray !
For dogs and cats, I check first if the animal is identified : either by tattoo, either by microchip.
- The tattoo is usually in the right ear of the animal, but it can also be left in the ear or in the groin area.
- The chip is not directly visible. It is implanted in the animal's neck, on the left side. To read an electronic chip, a specific drive is necessary. Veterinarians and shelters and pounds are equipped with these drives.
If the animal is actually identified, it must then contact the company ICAD (0810 778 778) which manages all pets identifications in France.
They will trace the owner of the animal with their national file.
Preventing town hall
If the animal is not identified, the first thing to do is contact the town hall of the municipality where the animal was found.
The mayor has to organize the management and care of stray animals on its common. Contact information for support services must be displayed in the town hall, whether during or outside the opening hours to the public. The collected stray animals are placed in municipal pound.
Contact my vet
It can provide me guidance on how to proceed, dialing numbers.
It can intervene to check if the animal is identified or not and help me find the owner of the animal.
In some cases, if an agreement was reached between the municipality and the vet, it will ensure the care of a sick or injured animal until its management by the pound.
failing, the nearest veterinarian from home can make me sign a deposit form and provide first aid to a wounded animal.
But beware !
- If there is a wild animal, I take precautions and be careful not to me or scratch, nor bite.
- Be careful not to manipulate hairless mice : they can be rabies carriers and could contaminate me !
- The chicks fallen from the nest should not be handled unless they are in danger (eg for shelter from predators).
The management of wild animals takes place in a care center for wildlife.
The organizations to contact are :
- For the game : the town hall or the National Office of Hunting and Wildlife.
- Protected species : the National Office of Hunting and Wildlife
- For bats and exotic wildlife : the Departmental Directorate of Population Protection
- For the others : care center for wildlife nearest by clicking here
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Whatever it is, stray animals are in the commune mayor's responsibility where they wander. The municipality must organize their care and their care and should always display the coordinates of the pound or the pickup service (either during or outside hours). At night or on weekends, an emergency phone number to be displayed.
We remind you that the identification of pets is mandatory (for dogs born after 6 January 1999, cats over 7 months born after 1ER January 2012 and all dogs and cats prior to their disposal, be it a sale or a gift). And even without any legal obligation, identification is, in case of loss of a pet, essential to find his owner !
Author : Dr. Magali Pernot. Illustrator : Dr. Caroline Allard – Vetup®