What to do if you find a stray animal — step-by-step guide
A stray turned up at your doorstep? Seven steps to save its life and find it a home without hurting your own family along the way.
People in Uzbekistan run into abandoned dogs and cats every day. Without help most of them die within the first weeks — from starvation, disease, or road accidents. This step-by-step guide will help you act calmly and effectively.
The pointOne rescued animal is one life. If you can’t keep it — the whole Zoojoy platform will help: shelters, foster care, finding adopters.
1. Assess the animal
Approach slowly, no sudden moves. If the animal is aggressive, growling, or showing teeth — step back and call professionals. If it’s weak, lying down, unresponsive to your voice — this is a veterinary emergency.
2. Catch it safely
Use a carrier, a thick towel, or a large box. Never grab by the scruff or pull the tail. A healthy adult dog can bite a rescuer out of pure fear.
3. Get it to a vet within 24 hours
Tashkent has round-the-clock clinics — see the list in the Zoojoy directory. A basic exam costs 100–200 thousand sums, but it’s critical: fleas, ticks, viruses.
ImportantDon’t give a found animal chocolate, ground meat, bones, or milk. Until you see the vet — only clean water and a watery rice porridge.
4. Check for a microchip
The vet scans for a chip for free. If there is one — the animal is lost, not abandoned. Its owner will be found within hours.
5. Post on Zoojoy
Open “Lost & Found” — the section with photos of found pets. Add three photos, your district and a contact. The algorithm pushes notifications to people who lost a pet nearby.
6. Find temporary foster care
If you can’t keep it at home, reach out to the nearest shelter. Zoojoy’s Tashkent shelter catalog shows which shelters have free spots.
7. Help find permanent owners
Once the animal is healthy, vaccinated and its temperament is clear — publish an adoption listing. A good photo and an honest description (pros and cons) double your chances.
What NOT to do
- Don’t dump the animal back outside “because it didn’t fit” — it already trusted you.
- Don’t feed chocolate, ground meat, or bones. Clean water + rice porridge until the vet visit.
- Don’t leave it unsupervised with small children for the first days — stress can trigger unexpected reactions.