Is it cruel to have animal control pick up a stray dog?

I can never decide on this. I think it depends on the area and the likelihood of the animal being euthanized. Like in TX after a week in some shelters down you go, even baby bitty puppies. So I won't call. I would rather let them have a chance of a kind stranger or someone setting them up on craigslist. In no kill area shelters or shelter areas where I know they work directly with rescues I will call.

Also, many places will charge you for calling animal control. Watch that, it may cost you.

That is mean, only because those kind of dogs getting euthanized quicker than others....you put him in the back yard to keep him safe, and you turn around and call the people who will kill him anyway....yes, I think it is cruel.....

You did what you could.

Poor little guy. I would've surrendered him to the Animal Humane Society.

He's only gonna have a few days before they off him, poor puppy:(

Yes! They will kill him! Can you call them back and tell them to forget about it and call the humane socitey? Or is there a Paws in your area? They try vry hard to find homes for animals and have foster programs ..grrr....

No.

That was better than letting the poor dog get hit by a car. Didn't he have a collar with a tag? Then you don't even know if he has had his Rabies vaccination and that could be dangerous. What else could you do? I think you did the right thing. If he had an ID tag, you could have called the owner. But I guess he didn't.right? Don't worry--you were right.

I don't think calling the pound was cruel, but I do think locking it up in your back yard was. If the owners were driving around looking for it there would be almost no possibility of them finding it. Did you put out fliers? An ad on craigslist? Contact your neighbors to see if it was thiers?
If it was an honest to god stray dog, then yes, the dog pound is best. They have the best chances of finding the owners, re-homing the animal or if need be, putting it down. Not fun, but much better then starving to death on the streets.

You can pretty much guarantee that they will respond to the call by killing him. I would have tried to find him a home.