1 - Befriend, put down food or what is necessary to keep the animal contained as you call Libby at 678-574-4006.

2 - Call our vet Virginia Towles # at left and make an appointment to have the animal checked out for common parasites etc. Senior Paws gets a discount and the cost will be quite minimal.

Use your good judgment: If it looks like the animal was well treated in the past mount a search for the original owner. If a good owner loses a pet they will also be frantically looking for their pet.

Meanwhile foster the animal in your home and start observing temperament and behaviors like: good around cats, doesn't like dogs, likes to sit in laps, that will be helpful in placing the animal if the original owners can not be found.

If it is a dog it should be somewhat easy to foster until a permanent adoption is arranged. (Talk to Libby as the writer of this is a "cat" person.)

A cat most likely should be introduced gradually if there are already cats in your household. Make the new cat comfortable in her own room for a while and see how the other cats react smelling under the door etc. See "solving animal problems " on the menu bar at right if things don't go well with your other cats.

If it is a nice pet with no obvious abuse make an effort at finding the original owner:

3 - Go to a nearby shelter, humane society or high-end vet and see if there is a microchip.

4 - Call or go to nearby shelters and humane societies to see if there are any posters from the owners looking for the animal with pictures.

5 - Place Free Ads for lost pets at the following:

6 - Take a photo and make a "lost and found" poster in your word program and post them in reasonable places several blocks around where the animal was found. Go armed with scotch tape, tacks and a staple gun. Print about twice the amount you think will be needed and put them all up.

7 - When it becomes reasonably evident that the original owners are not going to show up begin to use the following to find the animal a permanent home:

Don't worry! We will work with you until a home is found and the animal is living in kind circumstances!