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He's been eyeing you for three days, darting under your car whenever you approach. He's scruffy, he's tired, and he's scared. He's definitely homeless.

When the stray pet who tugs at your heart is a dog or a cat, here are some tips to help your path to adoption easier:

1. Keep approaching until he no longer runs. Leave a little food such as tuna, always at the same time of day and in the same place. Eventually, he will let you approach. This is your chance to pick up your new friend.

2. Bring the pet inside your home. It's a good idea to keep initially house him in a small area such as a spare bedroom, especially if there are other pets in the home. Avoid letting him interact with other animals until he has a clean bill of health.

3. Try to find the prior owner. Your first step is to take a digital photo. Print some copies and post them on neighborhood light poles, community mail boxes, and in supermarkets. The little guy probably came from a home within a five-mile radius. Telephone all local veterinarians, emergency clinics, rescue groups, and animal shelters. Whenever possible, email them a photo. Check out a few of the dozens of lost-pet sites on the Internet and post pertinent information and any photos you've taken. If after a week, you cannot identify a prior owner, take the dog or cat to a vet to check for a microchip. Your local animal shelter can provide a list of those who treat strays or adopted pets for reduced fees or for free.

4. Obtain a health exam and treatment. Assuming you can't locate a current owner, take the animal to the vet for a complete health exam. You must use a collar and leash for a dog or a carrier if the pet is a cat. At the initial exam, the vet should give you a cost assessment for a treatment plan and discuss neutering. If you opt for vaccinations at your first visit, you will need to return in a few weeks for the next set. Ask the vet about the best way to clean up your stray if he looks scruffy and scratches a lot. Don't be horrified if your new pet has worms. Most strays who have been on the street for a while do.

5. Increase access at home. After the pet has been immunized and wormed, if necessary, it's safe to introduce him to any other pets in the home and to give him more access to the premises. However, you should never leave unfamiliar animals unattended until you're certain they won't harm each other. This can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Be prepared to take time off work if necessary. If he's the only

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