Springfield, Mo. – Animal control officers successfully trapped a Red Heeler that had been roaming near the Springfield Police Department on Monday, November 2. The dog was found wearing a high‑quality embossed leather collar, but the collar lacked identification tags and the animal is not microchipped.

Community effort leads to capture

Shelter coordinator Josh Doss explained that the dog appeared to be accustomed to the area around the police department, frequently circling a nearby location known as Veterans Coming Home, a facility that serves the unhoused population. \”She was pretty consistently running circles around that kind of area of town,\” Doss said. \”We ended up having to put a trap out because she didn’t want to be caught. She was looking for somebody but she just couldn’t find them.\”

Based on the dog’s behavior and the collar’s condition, Doss believes the Red Heeler may belong to a homeless individual who cares for the animal but lacks the resources to provide proper identification.

Dog’s condition and next steps

The animal is described as sweet and friendly, though understandably skittish after being without its owner for an unknown period. Animal control staff have placed the dog in a safe holding area while they continue to search for its rightful owner.

Anyone who recognizes the dog or knows who might have owned it is asked to contact Springfield Animal Control at 417‑833‑3592 or submit a tip online through the Leigh’s Lost and Found page.

How to report lost or found pets

Springfield residents are encouraged to use the Leigh’s Lost and Found portal for future lost‑or‑found pet reports. The portal helps streamline communication between animal control, shelters, and the community, increasing the chances of reuniting pets with their families.

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Original reporting: KY3 Springfield (local) — read the source article.