Found a dog in trouble
Found a dog who needs help? Here's what to do.
This page is for Southern California. If the dog is badly hurt, getting them to an emergency vet comes before anything else on this page, including texting us.
Street-dog text line
(562) 201-5131Text a photo and the nearest cross streets. Our volunteers read messages as quickly as they can, but the line isn't staffed around the clock.
Step by step
You don't have to do all of these. Do what's safe, then text us.
- 01
Keep yourself safe first
An injured or frightened dog can bite the person trying to help them. Stay out of traffic, don't corner the dog, and don't reach for a dog who is growling or showing teeth. Crouch down sideways, speak quietly, and let the dog come to you if they're willing.
- 02
If the dog is badly hurt, get them to a vet
If the dog is bleeding, can't stand, has been hit by a car, or is struggling to breathe, they need an emergency vet right away. Most emergency animal hospitals will see a stray. Call ahead so they're ready when you arrive and can tell you about costs. Text us the details on the way, and we'll do what we can to help with what comes next.
- 03
Text our street-dog line
Send a photo, the nearest cross streets or an address, and a sentence about the dog's condition to (562) 201-5131. Let us know whether you've been able to contain the dog. A photo tells us the dog's size, breed, injuries and body language all at once, so please include one if you can.photo + cross streets
- 04
Contain the dog if you can do it safely
A slip lead, a leash looped into a collar, your car, a garage or a fenced yard all work. Offer water, but hold off on food in case the dog needs surgery. If you can't contain the dog, note which direction they're heading and the time, and text us that.
- 05
Report the dog to animal control as well
Los Angeles Animal Services, LA County Animal Care and Control, and the city shelters each cover their own areas. Reporting a stray or injured dog to them creates an official record and gives a lost dog's owner a chance to find them. We work alongside animal control, not in place of them.
- 06
What happens next
A volunteer reads your message and replies as soon as they're able. Depending on the dog, the location and how much foster space we have, we may come out ourselves, arrange transport, put out a call for a foster home, or connect you with a rescue closer to you. Sometimes the answer is that we're full, but we'll always try to point you to someone who can help.
Common questions
Not urgent? You can use our contact form instead.
Is this a 24-hour hotline?
No. It's a text line read by volunteers who also have jobs and dogs of their own. Messages are usually answered within a few hours, sometimes within minutes, and occasionally longer. If a dog is in immediate danger, an emergency vet or animal control should be your first call.
Do you take in every dog that's reported?
We wish we could, but foster space is our limit. We prioritize dogs who are injured, sick, abused or in immediate danger, and if we can't come ourselves, we'll do our best to point you toward someone who can.
What about dogs living near Skid Row and other encampments?
Many of those dogs have a person, and that person is often the reason the dog is alive. We do outreach in that area with supplies for both people and their dogs. If a dog there is hurt or in distress, please text us. If a dog simply has an owner who lives outside, that usually isn't a rescue situation.
How long before a found dog is legally mine in California?
That's a question for your local shelter or animal control, because the holding period and paperwork vary by jurisdiction. A found dog should always be reported to the shelter serving that area so the owner has a chance to claim them. The shelter can explain what happens after the hold period ends.
What if I can keep the dog for a few days?
That helps enormously. Please mention it in your text. A dog who is safe indoors gives us time to arrange a vet check and a foster home rather than scrambling in an emergency.
Can I bring a dog to you?
We don't have a facility. If we're able to take a dog, we'll arrange a hand-off with a foster family or a transport volunteer.
We can only take in a street dog when there's a foster home ready for them.
A dog picked up tonight needs somewhere to sleep tonight.