Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies find an isolated puppy in freezing temperatures and deliver him to the Lawrence Humane Society | News, sports, jobs

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Lt. Robert Berryman delivers a puppy found in freezing temperatures to the Lawrence Humane Society on Dec. 2, 2024.

Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies found an isolated puppy southeast of the city Monday morning and took him to the Lawrence Humane Society.

According to a post from the office on social media, the puppy was found at 1:20 a.m. when the temperature was about 26 degrees Fahrenheit at the intersection of North 1300 and East 1700 streets.

“It is not uncommon for officers to find loose adult dogs in the county, but it is rarer to find a puppy,” office spokesman George Diepenbrock said in an email to the Journal-World.

The office posts on social media when it finds a lost animal in hopes of reconnecting the animal with its owner. If an owner cannot be found, officials will contact the Lawrence Humane Society so the animal can be placed. Officials can contact the shelter in emergencies via an after-hours number, Diepenbrock said.

The Humane Society urges residents who have found a lost pet to take immediate action because, according to its website, “the first few hours can be crucial to reunification.”

Residents should first check for identification worn by the animal and then contact neighbors in the area to see if anyone is looking for the pet. Also check social media to see if anyone has posted anything about the animal.

Before calling animal control, take the animal for a walk around the area where it was found to see if anyone is looking for it. If the owner cannot be found, call the Pet Resource Center at 785-371-0473 to see if the animal is reported missing.

If the owner cannot be found, animals found in Lawrence and Douglas County can be brought to the shelter, 1805 E. 19th St., seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. to be scanned for a microchip.

If a resident cannot transport the animal themselves, they can call 785-832-7509 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. seven days a week to request assistance from an animal control officer, the Humane Society’s website says.