photo by: Contributed

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 a puppy by itself Monday morning southeast of town and took it to the Lawrence Humane Society.

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 roads, according to a post from the office on social media.

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

The office posts on social media when they find a lost animal in hopes that they can reconnect the animal with its owner. If an owner cannot be found, deputies contact the Lawrence Humane Society so the animal can be sheltered. Deputies can use an after-hours number to contact the shelter in case of emergencies, Diepenbrock said.

The humane society encourages residents who have found a lost pet to take action right away, because the “first few hours can be critical for reunification”, according to the its website.

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

Before calling the humane society, take the animal for a walk around the area where it was found to see if anyone is out 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., between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. seven days a week 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 contact an animal control officer for assistance, according to the humane society’s website.