Ask The Vet Radio

Show Notes

Show #: 06-124

Show Description: "Lost Pets "

Audio Files: ATVR-06-124.mp3, ATVR-06-124.wma

This week on Ask The Vet Radio we discussed tips for finding lost pets, tracking methods, and how to prevent your pets from getting lost! Stephanie Shain, Director of Outreach for the Companion Animals Division of the Humane Society of the United States, called in to talk about the most common ways people lose their pets and provided tips for finding them. Stephanie also spoke about the PETS Act that the President recently signed; the act requires states to incorporate pets into disaster plans which aids in the reduction of lost pets on a large scale. Jennifer Durst, CEO and co-founder of GlobalPetFinder, joined us via telephone to talk about her product and how it aids in finding lost pets. Taylor Slemmer, Humane Educator of Young-Williams Animal Center, stopped by the studio to discuss the number of lost pets reunited with owners through the Center annually, the types of resources the Center provides for finding lost pets, and prevention methods for keeping your pets from becoming lost.

Show Notes and Resources:

Call-In Guest: Stephanie Shain, Director of Outreach for the Companion Animals Division of the Humane Society of the United States

Stephanie manages all programs that aid in keeping pets and their owners together for the entire life of the pet. Programs include basic animal care, traveling tips, and behavioral problems.
Of all strays introduced into shelters nationwide, only 25-30% of dogs and a surprisingly low 3-5% of cats get returned to their owners. The numbers can increase greatly if pets were properly tagged with information. Cats are more difficult to reunite with owners because most do not usually wear collars. Be sure to attach proper identification to all pets and get each one licensed with the city. Keep animals up to date on rabies vaccinations. Failure to do so can result in the animal acquiring the disease or the animal becoming quarantined for 7-10 days, thus preventing the owner from taking the pet home once found.
Pets can get lost through a variety of causes. Many animals are lost by doors being left open. Before allowing service people or guests into your home, be sure to warn them about your pets’ tendency to run out. Another frequent cause for lost pets is the tendency for dogs to jump from moving vehicles. Even well-behaved animals that have never jumped out before can get overly excited and do so. Harness or strap animals in; this not only prevents them from leaping out of the vehicle but also prevents injury in case an accident should occur. To prevent your pet from wondering, make sure fences are adequate for specific breeds. Dogs that get overly excited, such as aggressive hunting breeds, may be able to break underground fence barriers. Outdoor systems are available for cats that prevent them from leaving the property, such as yard condos. Many animals become lost during the night; animals can get stolen or become frightened during evening hours. If possible, always bring pets in at night. For more tips from the Humane Society of the United States, visit www.hsus.org/pets.
When you have noticed a pet is missing, act immediately. Have pictures readily available of you and your pet together in case your pet turns up missing. These pictures present proof of ownership and are a resource for immediate flyers to be made. Contact a local shelter to report the incident and stop by daily to see if your pet has been turned in. Contact animal control and all shelters within a 60 mile radius because pets move fast. Post flyers in high traffic places. Look around the house and neighborhood for possible places they may have gotten stuck or hurt. Distribute flyers to all neighbors and place an ad in the local paper. Be creative. Sometimes it helps to place familiar worn clothing or a litter box outside to trigger an animal’s heightened sense of smell, thus leading them home. Other avenues include offering rewards (never specify an amount on a reward), hiring a pet detective, and placing your pet’s information on national databases. Most importantly, never give up! Animals have been reunited with their owners after extended periods of time and great distances.
If you have found a pet, contact your local shelter immediately. Many people are reluctant to take animals to shelters. If the found animal does not have identification, shelters may be able to detect a microchip (that gives owner information) or may have received a call from the owner about the missing animal. Shelters will know the best avenue available to handle the situation.
Also, the Humane Society of the United States works with Pets 911, an adoption assistance group. You can contact this group by calling 1-888-PETS-911 or visiting www.pets911.com. This resource will send out information about lost pets and will post the lost pet report on their website.
To aid in the reduction of lost pets on a larger scale, President Bush has signed a bill that requires communities to have an action plan for companion animals in disaster situations. Communities that fail to comply will receive no monetary assistance from FEMA. Monetary assistance from FEMA to implement this plan is also available. Hurricane Katrina and other disaster situations have made people realize that pet owners think of their animals as family members. Many deaths from Hurricane Katrina resulted from pet owners risking their own lives to stay with their animals. Always take animals with you in disaster situations; statistics are low for reuniting pets with owners once separated in these situations.

Call-In Guest: Jennifer Durst, CEO and co-founder of GlobalPetFinder

GlobalPetFinder is the world’s first patented GPS system for pets and can be strapped to collars of animals weighing 11 pounds or more. The system allows pet owners to set up virtual boundaries. Once the pet crosses the virtual boundary, the system will immediately call and text your cell phone with your pet’s exact location. Most boundaries are set for 150-200 feet. Until you notify the system to quit, you will receive an updated text message every 3 minutes with your pet’s location. Animals can move quickly and this device allows you to have all access through your cell phone. This feature enables you to drive around looking for your pet while getting updates. You can also access your pet’s location through the website. The device is very intelligent and can have up to 5 different virtual fence locations stored in the memory. This feature is important when taking animals on vacation. At the push of a button, you can switch to a different virtual boundary. The system also allows you to set the perimeter by hand if computer access in unavailable.
An alternative way to use the system is to dial FOUND on your cell phone. This action allows you to receive your pet’s location upon request. For people who prefer not to set virtual boundaries, they can dial FOUND once they recognize their pet is missing. The device will continue to respond with location information until notified to stop. The GPS system provides nationwide coverage through space satellites and can track animals in most situations including moving vehicles, warehouses, etc. For more information, visit www.globalpetfinder.com.
Another pet technological feature is temperature alert. By setting temperature boundaries, you can detect whether your pet’s temperature is reaching extreme levels. This is good for pets that are left outside during the day. Even though pets should never be left in an unattended vehicle, incidents do occur. By setting a temperature alert, death could be prevented in this potentially hazardous situation.

In-Studio Guest: Taylor Slemmer, Humane Educator of Young-Williams Animal Center

Less than ½ of stray animals that come to the Center are reunited with owners. Pet owners frequently call with descriptions of lost pets. Since the Center holds around 475 animals at one time, the best way to check to see if your pet has been turned into the Center is to stop by and walk through daily (multiple times a day if possible). Pets with identification enable immediate contact to their owners. Be sure to keep all contact information current! If the owner does not come by the Center to identify the animal in 3 days, the animal becomes property of the Center and is put up for adoption. People who find animals that are reluctant to turn them over to the Center can foster the animal. This program enables a picture and description to be placed in the Found Animal Log at the Center. Pet owners looking for their lost pets are encouraged to look through the logs in addition to walking through the facility.
Microchipping is a painless procedure that involves a small permanent chip with a unique ID number to be inserted in the fat of your pet’s neck. All adopted animals from Young-Williams Animal Center are microchipped ensuring permanent identification. The Center holds several microchipping clinics throughout the year; the next clinic will be from 11-3 on November 4. Once an animal is taken to the vet or a shelter, a scanning device detects the chip that produces owner information. Though microchipping is an excellent resource, it should not be the only identification for your pet. If your pet is never taken in to a shelter or veterinarian, the chip will not help reunite you with your lost pet.
Many animals become lost because they are not neutered or spayed. The biological urge to reproduce is hard to restrain with common fences; even underground fencing can prove ineffective with unaltered dogs. Once an animal is spayed or neutered, the tendency to roam reduces significantly. Spaying and neutering your animal can also reduce cancer in your pets. For affordable spay/neuter clinics in your area, call 974-6464. To learn more about Young-Williams Animal Center or find additional tips for finding lost pets, visit http://www.knoxpets.org/.

Rescue of the Week: Poodle’s P.E.A.R.L.S.

06-124: “Poodle’s P.E.A.R.L.S., a division of the Wolf Run Wildlife Refuge and Educational Facility, is a non-profit organization that specializes in saving the lives of elder and handicapped animals that have been abandoned. The PEARLS mission is to Promise Every Animal Rescued Lifelong Sanctuary and was founded for and dedicated to the memory of “Poodle”, the original PEARLS senior. Currently there are 25 dogs in the PEARLS’ program that need some love and assistance with medical care. To sponsor an elderly or handicapped rescue or to adopt one of these special animals, please visit http://www.wolfrun.org/dogs/about_us.html.”