If you find a kitten or a stray dog, first check whether it really needs help (a kitten's mother may be nearby). Then, depending on the situation, keep it warm and take it to a vet for a check-up and a microchip scan. If it has a microchip, the owner can be contacted. If not, decide whether to care for it yourself, find a foster, or contact the local animal protection office.
This article is general information. A kitten's or an injured animal's condition can change quickly — always follow a vet's advice on care.
1. Observe first — don't rush to take it (kittens)
When you see a kitten on its own, the mother may simply be out looking for food. If the kitten looks clean, calm and uninjured, and is in a safe place, many animal welfare groups and fosters recommend watching from a distance for a while to see whether the mother comes back.
Don't wait — help immediately if:
- It's clearly injured, bleeding, or has heavy eye discharge
- It's wet and cold, weak, or too weak to cry
- It's in a dangerous spot (a road, a drain, heavy rain)
- You've watched for a long time and the mother hasn't appeared
2. Keep it warm and safe
- Use a cardboard box or carrier lined with a towel or old clothes
- Keeping kittens warm is very important. You can place a hand warmer or warm water bottle wrapped in a towel on one side of the box — never let it touch the skin directly, and leave space so the kitten can move away, to avoid burns
- Put it somewhere quiet, and avoid holding or petting it constantly
3. Don't feed it just anything
- Don't give regular cow's milk — it can upset the stomach
- Kittens need kitten milk replacer. Ask a vet how to feed, how much and how often
- Don't give dogs human food either, especially anything containing onions, chocolate or grapes
4. Take it to a vet for a check-up and microchip scan
Most vet clinics can scan for a microchip.
- If there's a microchip: the animal has a registered owner, and the clinic or animal protection office can help contact them
- If there's no microchip: ask the vet for a basic health check to estimate age and check for infectious diseases or parasites
If you already have other cats or dogs at home, keep the new animal separate from your pets until the vet has confirmed its health, to avoid spreading disease.
5. Decide what happens next
| Option | Notes |
|---|---|
| Look for the owner | Put up "found" notices near where you found it, post on social media and platforms, and contact the local animal protection office |
| Keep it yourself | Make sure you have the time and ability, and remember to register it |
| Foster, then rehome | Care for it until it's healthy and stable, then find it a home responsibly — see our guide to rehoming responsibly |
| Contact the animal protection office | City and county shelters have limited capacity, so call first |
On Ashera Pet, you can create a profile for an animal you've found and list it for rehoming, so people nearby who want to adopt can see it.
Common mistakes
- Taking a kitten straight away when the mother was actually nearby
- Feeding regular cow's milk
- Letting it meet your pets before it's been separated and checked
- Giving it away without first looking for the owner
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just keep a dog I've found?
First take it to a vet to scan for a microchip and look for the owner nearby, to make sure it isn't someone's lost pet. If you confirm it has no owner and decide to keep it, register it as required.
What if the kitten I found won't eat?
A kitten that isn't eating can quickly be in danger, especially a very young one. Take it to a vet as soon as possible so they can assess it and show you how to feed it.
Can I take an animal I've found to a shelter?
You can contact the local animal protection office first to ask, but shelter capacity is limited and procedures vary by city and county. If you're able to, caring for the animal yourself and then rehoming it is usually better for the animal.
References
Find your new family member on Ashera Pet
Browse cats, dogs and rabbits waiting for a home across Taiwan, or create a profile for your pet and list it for rehoming. Free to download.