Stray Dobermans

Thank you so much for contacting us about this stray Doberman and for helping this dog during a scary time. Due to relevant legal restrictions, we are not permitted to accept strays directly into the rescue. Significant disinformation exists regarding stray animals. Below is information on what you can do, and how DHDR may be able to take in the dog at the right time.

Attempt to Find the Owner

If you can, attempt to find the owner. If you can’t keep the dog for any length of time, then surrender the dog to your local county shelter or Humane Society*. Rehoming to a private individual without a strong attempt to find the owner could expose you to legal ramifications if an owner turns up. Regardless of the dog’s condition, a loving owner may be looking for the dog. Tips:

1. Take the dog to a local vet or PetSmart and have it scanned for a microchip
2. Post the dog on https://www.lostdogsarizona.org/, the Straydar Facebook Group, and lovelost
3. Post the dog on NextDoor and put up physical signs in the area
4. Check Lost Pets on Craigslist and NextDoor
5. Report the dog to your county shelter (even if you don’t physically take it there, they can create a found dog listing)
6. Provide DHDR details on where you found the dog, photos, anything it was wearing (in case the owner contacts us)

*If the dog is injured, call AHS’s EMAT 602.997.7585 ex2073 line and let them know. They will often come get the dog as soon as possible.

Surrender to the County Shelter / Get the Dog to DHDR

Whether you surrender the dog immediately, or after some time, having the dog go through the physical 72-hour county stray hold is the best way to protect yourself from future legal action. Some rescues believe a public 6-day hold in the rescue is valid, however this is misinformation. We know, it is really frustrating – we all want to keep dogs out of the shelters, but legally the only way to protect ourselves from possible lawsuits, is to have the dog go through the physical 72-hour stray hold. Hopefully, some day, legislation will change/become more clear.

If you decide to keep the dog or re-home it without completing the shelter hold, you may do so at your own risk. If you do surrender the dog to the shelter, let DHDR know. We will follow up to either cross-post the dog or pull it ourselves. If you have any questions or have trouble surrendering to Maricopa County – see the FAQ below.

Please reach out to us if you have any other questions or need support in any way. If you would like clarification or support, we can give you a call.

Thank you!

MCACC FAQ

The following info was provided by MCACC:

1. Can finders bring a dog to the shelter without an appointment?
We are asking everyone to make an appointment due to high capacity. That said, if someone truly cannot continue holding a found dog, we will take the dog in. This policy does not change around holidays or weekends. If someone is told otherwise or turned away despite being unable to keep the dog, please pass along their contact information so we can follow up directly and address any training gaps. We also offer support through our Stray Finder Support program, and our Shelter Diversion Navigators can assist with supplies like food, leashes, or collars — tools that can make it easier for someone to temporarily house a stray.
 
2. Is MCACC picking up contained strays?
Yes, we still pick up contained strays. However, if a finder is able to bring the dog to us, that’s our preferred option — it frees up Field Officers to focus on investigations, public safety issues, and time-sensitive calls. But if someone truly can’t transport the dog, pickup remains an option.
 
3. How long can a finder hold a dog before becoming the owner?
We assess this based not just on time, but on the finder’s intent and actions. There is not a set number of days after which we definitively say a dog is owned.
For example:
  • If someone finds a dog and is clearly trying to locate the owner — maybe they’ve posted it online, called us, or submitted a found report — even if they’ve had the dog for several weeks, we would still consider that a stray intake appointment.
  • On the other hand, if someone intended to keep the dog from the beginning but later learns they can’t (e.g., due to landlord restrictions), that would be an owner surrender.
Waiting for a scheduled appointment does not disqualify someone from making a stray intake — we will never penalize someone for waiting for an appointment. And importantly, regardless of how long a dog has been with a finder, all strays will still go through the standard stray hold period in our care to ensure due diligence in case the owner is still searching.