There are a lot of animal rescue stories that end happily for the rescuer and the rescued. The stories encourage people to always help those animals in need, which are usually the strays. However, approaching a stray animal should be done with caution because a wrong move could end in harm for either the person or the stray.
The first thing one should do is assess the mood of the stray. If you are lucky enough to see it happy when it walks towards you, then you can calmly attach a leash and invite it to the backseat of your car, according to Rover.com
However, if you see fear in the dog's eyes and it acts panicky, the best approach would be to call a professional. You might not have the tool and the experience to handle how the stray would react when you try to get to close to it - which could sometimes end violently, according to Little Things.
This woman in the video below is a professional from "Pitbulls and Parolees" and she demonstrates the proper way to approach a stray.
Her strategies can be very helpful especially in emergency rescue situations and when you do not have the time to wait for a professional to get to your location.
If you know in your heart that you are someone who would not second guess saving a stray dog, it would also be best to keep an animal rescue kit in your car so that you are equipped when hero duty calls you.
Your kit should include the nearest animal shelter's phone number, a carrier or leash, a blanket and an animal first aid kit, according to The Humane Society of The United States.
