'Failed' Service Dog Takes up Surfing

'Ricochet' is a Golden Retriever who is now better known as 'Rip Curl Ricki!"

She was born to lead a life of service.... but, despite receiving the best possible training from the Puppy Prodigies Neonatal & Early Learning Program in San Diego, California, her penchant for chasing birds resulted in elimination from the program.

Rather than focus on what this dog couldn't do.... her trainer decided to focus on the dog's strengths and turned disappointment into a new direction. Ricki is now a surfing dog who not only helps the disabled, she also helps raise money for charity!

If you need inspiration to help you set new directions for the New Year, this video of Ricki riding the waves in the California surf is sure to bring a smile to your face and tears to your eyes!

Salute to Soldiers Who Help Homeless Dogs

It's called "Operation Baghdad Pups" and it is a story sure to warm your heart!

A new show on the Military TV Channel highlights the efforts of American soldiers who have befriended homeless dogs in war zones. The program started after one soldier contacted SPCA International for help in bringing home a dog he had rescued in Baghdad.

Enjoy this 'Salute to Soldiers' on CNN!

Feral? Stray? Or new to the neighborhood?

How to determine if a wandering cat needs your help

In rural and suburban areas many people, unfortunately, allow their animals to roam free - especially cats.

Cats tend to wander a fair distance from their home, so do not be quick to assume a 'stray' cat is lost or abandoned. Most cats are also nonchalant when roaming free, whereas dogs tend to be focused on their guardian and are more distressed when lost.

Observe if the cat appears well cared for or is dirty, thin, hurt, ill or generally frightened. If the cat appears uncared for and thin, you need to intervene right away. For sick or injured cats, call your local humane society or animal control right away.

Be aware that a cat which has been on its own for a period of time or one that is hurt may not be approachable and could scratch or bite. Approach cautiously and wear gloves if you attempt to handle a lost cat.

If the cat looks healthy, you may want to take a 'wait and see' approach to determine if it is still around over a couple of days. During that time, ask some of your neighbours if they know who may own the cat.

If you suspect the cat is genuinely lost, post its description on PetLynx. (But be sure to go back into PetLynx and remove the 'found' report if the cat disappears or you discover it lives just a few doors away.)

PetLynx has a state-of-the-art program called AutoMatchTM, that matches lost and found pets based on a physical description. It works, even if you do not know the age or sex of an animal and if there is no visible pet identification.

Accolades for PetLynx AutoMatch™

Holly C and her family were concerned when a stray dog showed up their Edmonton-area acreage one day. Fearing that the stray dog might be chased onto the range road by the family's owned dogs and be hit by passing cars or, alternately, become coyote bait, they called the County Animal Control.

"After we had safely loaded 'Jack' into the Animal Control Van, I went online and checked [my lost dog listing on] Pet Lynx," said Holly. "Lo and behold, on my first look at my potential matches, there was a perfect picture of this dog! I phoned the owner and within an hour, Jack was HomeSafe™. My heart felt soooo good. I can not say enough what a great site Pet Lynx has been. Well done!!! I am off to the vets today and will be sure to pass on the website so that other lost souls can be as easily be returned to their families as Jack was!"

Matches like this happen hundreds of times a day, when the PetLynx AutoMatch™ search engine automatically finds matches for the lost and found pets admitted to shelters, clinics, emergency hospitals, pounds, the general public and pet families.

PetLynx is the only provider of an Automated Recovery System like this in the world. PetLynx provides lifetime protection for pets... and peace of mind for pet families for just pennies a day.

A heart-warming story for a cold winter night

'Buckley's Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher

In the spring of 2005, author Ingrid King met Buckley. All it took for King, a long-time veterinary hospital manager, was one look at the small homeless cat, and she fell in love. Hard.
And fast. Soon, her life was transformed. In King's warmhearted memoir, Buckley's Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher, she shares the story of how -- rather unexpectedly -- one tortoiseshell cat touched her life forever.

Buckley's presence in King's life leads the author to make major changes in her own life, inspired by the lessons this little cat taught through her joyful spirit and huge heart -- universal lessons that readers can apply to their own lives. But after only a few years, Buckley is diagnosed with
advanced cardiac disease.

In the following chapters of Buckley's Story, King tells of the sometimes heart-wrenching, sometimes joyous, final months of Buckley's life. The human-feline bond is an unbreakable one, and King retells the story with poetic grace. This book is a celebration of life and a reflection of the never-ending love that anyone who has ever loved and lost a pet can surely relate to.

When to Help a Stray Pet....

And when to call for back-up!

It is instinctive for most animal lovers to want to rush forward to help a stray pet. Sometimes, however, catching and transporting stray pets should be left to your local humane society or animal services provider.

Whenever you see a stray dog or cat in your neighborhood, THINK SAFETY FIRST! Never put the safety of you, your family or your own pets in jeopardy.

• If the animal is showing ANY signs of aggression, leave it alone. If there is imminent danger to people -- especially children -- call '9-1-1.' In most cases, however, you should contact your municipal animal control centre.

• If you can safely transport it, a sick or injured stray should be taken to your local animal shelter or a veterinary clinic right away. (You will not have to pay for its care.)

• Leave a mother cat or dog with a litter, or an orphaned litter, alone! (Unless they are in immediate danger.) Call your humane society for advice before taking action.

• If you have been able to safely contain the animal, check for any form of identification - PetLynx tag, city license, tattoo, rabies tag, personalized identification tag, or microchip. Call these contact numbers and, if you have no luck finding the owner, register a 'Found' report on PetLynx and call area service providers right away.

• Before taking healthy strays to an animal shelter or vet clinic, do a search on PetLynx. There may already be a record of the lost pet and you may be matched with the owners right away, saving the animal a trip to the shelter.

• If someone claims to be the animal's owner, insist on identification and proof of ownership before releasing him or her.

Photo published and HomeSafe in an hour!

Bugsy, a seven-year old Wheaton-Schnauzer mix, went on the lam (without his collar and ID on) after someone accidentally left the front door open. His guardians searched the neighborhood until dark but couldn't find him.

"It was the eve of the first day of school," says Joann, "and instead of excitement and anticipation, my three daughters were inconsolable!"

Joann called the City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services to report Bugsy missing and find out what to do. They took her information, and told her about the Calgary Humane Society website and Petlynx.

"The Petlynx website was great!" exclaimed Joann. "I especially liked the lost posters and the regular email updates when there are potential matches."

At 5 pm the next day Bugsy's picture appeared on the PetLynx website! The family raced down to Animal Services right away. The staff were amazed to see them, since his photo had only been published an hour earlier!

"Fortunately, this was the first (and hopefully the last) time we have lost Bugsy," said Joann. "I was very impressed with how kind and concerned everyone was, and with the way Animal Services, the Humane Society and Petlynx work together to allow for such timely re-uniting of pets and their owners. It really works!

"Thanks again from our whole family, and as far as Bugsy is concerned, he is so grounded!"

Local Service Providers:
Calgary Humane Society
City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services

Stray Mittens

Mittens, a 16-year-old brown tabby, has always been an outdoor cat. She is much-loved by the neighbours on our quiet court in Hamilton, Ontario.

We were very surprised when she didn't come home one night, but it was not until the next morning that we began a search. We started by speaking to everyone on our court, asking them to check their garages and sheds, just in case she slipped in there out of curiosity.

On the second day, we registered Mittens with PetLynx and visited our local animal control centre. We also posted a large colour picture of Mittens throughout the neighbourhood.

On the third day, we received our first possible match on PetLynx, but it didn't have a picture, so we went to the animal shelter to check but it was not her.

On the fourth day we received two possible matches with PetLynx, this time with pictures so that we didn't have to go to the shelter. We could see that it wasn't our Mittens. We put up more posters, this time putting them up farther from our home.

On the 6th day, a local teacher came to our house and told us that the students were saying that the stray cat on the playground matched the cat in the posters. We went to the school and it was Mittens!!

We don't know what happened to her, but feel that she is too old to be wandering now. She now has supervised outside time and we have peace of mind.

Susan M.
Hamilton, Ontario

Local Service Provider: City of Hamilton Animal Control

Thank YOU for thanking us!

One most rewarding aspects of working with PetLynxTM is knowing that our efforts are making a positive impact in the community as a whole and in the lives of individuals and families and their companion animals!

In cyberspace, PetLynx and the AutoMatchTM program are a powerful computer system that help get lost pets HomeSafeTM... but behind the scenes, PetLynx is powered by people who care passionately about companion animals.

We love it when you share your 'Lost and Found' success stories with us. Whether PetLynx played a role in the pet recovery or not, we view every happy homecoming as a triumph.

Here are a couple of our most recent accolades:

Our valued dog disappeared the day my daughter moved into Edmonton. Thanks to a wonderful person who noticed the shy dog hanging around their yard, our dog was taken into their home and cared for. Our vet was notified and contacted us. Thanks for your service. It kept our hopes alive. After four days my daughter is reunited with her dog.
Ray P.

I would like to thank this network as it has helped find our missing cat. It was great to be reunited with 'Boots'. So once again a BIG THANK YOU.

Karen W.

Keep those cyber cards and letters coming!

Raising Funds for Cancer Research

Petsecure pet health insurance has declared November as Pet Cancer Awareness Month. The goal of this initiative is to raise funds for cancer in pets and was pioneered five years ago in the USA by Veterinary Pet Insurance.

"In 2009, we've paid out nearly $1,300,000 towards claims for the cost of veterinary treatment and care due to pet cancer," says Randy Valpy, President & CEO of Petsecure pet health insurance. "Although cancer is the leading cause of death among older pets, 50% of pet cancer is curable. Our goal for this month is to raise money for researching cancer in dogs and cats across the country and to educate Canadian pet parents on how to prevent and treat a disease that affects 1 in 3 household pets."

By raising funds for cancer research, Petsecure hopes to decrease the sad pet stories they hear by helping to find a cure for this deadly disease. Petsecure is encouraging pet owners to help 'FURther the Fight' by becoming a fan of their Facebook page. For every new fan they receive in November PetSecure will donate $1.00 to the Ontario Veterinary College Pet Trust Fund.

H1N1 and Your Pet

There have been two confirmed reports of the H1N1 virus infecting a family pet. One was a ferret in Nova Scotia. The other was a cat in Iowa.

While there is no reason for panic, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)has published guidelines to help pet owners better understand the H1N1 virus and how to protect both people and companion animals.

The CVMA warns that H1N1 may be transmitted to ferrets, birds and pot-bellied pigs. It is believed that the possibility of transmission to dogs, cats, rodents and rabbits is low.

To reduce the risk of infecting pets with the flu, use the same precautions you do to prevent human-to-human transmission:

• Cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Limit contact when you are sick.
• Avoid touching your pet's face, as germs can be transmitted through mouth and nose.

Signs of influenza in pets:

• Not eating or drinking.
• Not playing/active as usual.
• Coughing, sneezing.
• Fever.

If you think your pet is sick... especially if it has been in contact with someone who has a confirmed case of H1N1... contact your Veterinarian.

For more information, click here.

Cat Survives Two Mile Ride in Car Engine

A recent "good news" story captured the hearts of cat loving Americans.

TV viewers were mesmerized by the story of a cat from the Bronx, NY, who survived a two-mile drive through his northern NYC borough, while stuck inside the engine of an SUV. The stray was so severely wedged inside that the battery and other engine parts had to be removed in order to free him. Though the story has a happy ending, the incident points to a winter phenomenon that many felines do not survive.

During the winter, American SPCA experts explain, it’s common for outdoor cats to sleep under the hoods of cars for warmth and protection. Once the motor is started, however, the cat can be injured or killed by moving parts. One solution is for drivers to bang loudly on the vehicle hood before starting their car engines. This gives a sleeping cat the chance to escape or announce his presence by meowing or moving around.

Pet parents, be aware: there are many other dangers that our animal companions face during winter. Click the link for a list of essential cold weather tips to keep companion animals safe from winter threats.

Safe and Found in Regina

When Tyler saw a puppy narrowly miss being hit by a car, he pulled over, scooped it up and took it home.

"The puppy had a collar, but no tattoo or tag," explained Tyler. "He smelled like he'd just been bathed, so we knew he was being missed by someone."

Tyler and his family then drove around the neighborhood asking if anyone had lost a pup. They posted ads on UsedRegina.com and Kijiji. The next day they called the Regina Humane Society. They were directed to their website, to post a found report on PetLynx.

"I had never heard of PetLynx before," said Tyler, "but it looked like a great idea so we posted the information and my wife left to take the dog to the humane society. As soon as she walked out the door, I checked Petlynx again and, there was a match!"

Tyler immediately called the owner... then he called his wife to tell her to turn around and come home! The puppy's grateful owner had been 'matched' on PetLynx.

"I liked the ease of using PetLynx," said Tyler. "AutoMatch ™ is a WICKED idea! Thank you again for hosting such a great site!"

Tyler Regina, Saskatchewan

Local Service Provider: Regina Humane Society

Helpful Hint for Missing Cats

When Goliath went missing, his guardian went to her local SPCA to search for her lost cat. One of the employees suggested something different that she could do, in addition to registering with PetLynx and all of the other steps she was taking to find him.

She suggested putting something familiar to the cat outside to help lure him home -- such as his scratching post, litter tray or favorite cat bed. This can be especially helpful for indoor cats, not familiar with the sights and smells of the great outdoors.

"I put Goliath's scratching post outside as soon as I got home from the SPCA," explained Peggy. "Twenty minutes later I went outside to call Goliath and shake his bag of treats and I heard a faint meow... and there he was! He was in the backyard, hiding on the lower apartment's porch. I was ECSTATIC to see my baby boy back home."

"Thank you to PetLynx, the SPCA and everyone else who was concerned and helping me find my cat"

Peggy

Halloween Tips

Keep your four-legged friends safe this Halloween

Candy, costumes, trick-or-treating and frighteningly fun times are what most people think of around Halloween. But pets may find strangers coming to the door dressed as ghosts and goblins a little too scary. Here are some tips from the American Humane Association to help you and your pets have a fun and safe Halloween.

Safety first — If your pet is upset by the commotion at the front door, put her in a quiet room to reduce stress and chance of escape. Leave the TV or a radio playing as a distraction or have another member of the family stay with the pet.

Let your pets celebrate Halloween, too — If — and only if—your pet sits calmly while the door is opened repeatedly, let her help you greet the trick or treaters! Keep a supply of pet treats handy, and reach for one to give her before you open the door for trick-or-treaters.

Mr. Dress-up — Consider a Halloween-themed collar or bandanna to show your pet’s spirit, instead of a costume that may be constricting or unsafe.

Double-Check ID— Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with up-to-date ID, in case he does escape with the trick-or-treaters. Register your pet with PetLynx — just in case!

Pet-friendly Halloween decorations — Instead of an open flame in the jack-o’-lantern, opt for battery-powered, kid- and pet-friendly pumpkins. Open-flame candles and pumpkins with lit candles are especially dangerous because a pet’s fur can catch fire. Don’t let your pet chew or eat things like crepe-paper streamers; these are often colored with water-soluble dyes that will discolor your pet’s mouth and can cause an upset stomach.

Remember: No chocolate and candy! — Dogs love chocolate as much as humans do, but it is very dangerous for dogs and cats if ingested. Keep all chocolate and candy out of reach of your pets. Have healthy pet treats on hand for your pets, and enjoy the candy and chocolate yourself.

November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month

Cancer Among Most Common and Costly Pet Conditions

Cancer is not strictly a “human” condition. As the #1 disease-related killer of dogs and cats, cancer claims millions of pets each year. This November, Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI) will seek to increase awareness about the prevalence, detection and treatment of pet cancer during its fifth annual Pet Cancer Awareness Month.

VPI started Pet Cancer Awareness month in 2005 after noticing that cancer diagnoses often caught pet owners by surprise. Many either did not know their pets could develop cancer or underestimated the cost to treat cancerous conditions. In 2008, VPI received nearly 30,000 claims for pet cancer.

To raise funds for pet cancer research, VPI has partnered with the Animal Cancer Foundation and organized bi-coastal pet cancer awareness walks in Long Beach, Calif., and Brooklyn/Manhattan, NY.

VPI's website also provides pet cancer detection tips. To detect cancer early, pet owners should be attentive to any growing lump or sore that fails to heal, drastic changes in a pet’s appetite or weight, unusually strong odors coming from a pet, discharge or bleeding from any body opening, difficulty chewing or swallowing, or an unwillingness to exercise.

Overall, cancer claims were the sixth most common type of medical claim received by VPI in 2008. According to VPI’s claims data, which draws from a population of more than 450,000 insured pets, the following are the 10 most common types of cancer found in dogs and cats:

Top Pet Cancer Claims in 2008
1. Lymphosarcoma
6. Neoplasia - Liver
2. Mast Cell Tumor
7. Neoplasia – Thorax
3. Neoplasia – Spleen
8. Neoplasia – Brain or Spinal Cord
4. Neoplasia – Eyelid
9. Fibrosarcoma
5. Osteogenic Sarcoma
10. Hemangiopericytoma

Newspaper Carrier Delivers Really Good News!

Merlin is a seven-year-old Siamese/tabby cat who, his owners say, "is quite a character!"

"We all swear he can talk!" exclaims his guardian, Nella.

But when Merlin snuck into the garage late one Sunday evening, then ran out when the door was opened, he didn't stop to say where he was going!

"Normally, Merlin does a drop and roll in the grass and waits for you to pick him up," explains Nella. "But it was dark and by the time we got a flashlight, he was gone!"

Nella's youngest daughter made "Lost Cat" posters and put them them up in the community. Her husband suggested putting one on their own front door, with the hope that their newspaper carrier might spot the stray cat. (He's the only person around in the wee hours of the morning!)

After several nights of worry, Nella and her family were awakened by a 4:00 a.m. phone call. It was the newspaper carrier, calling to say he had their cat!

When asked where he was he replied, "At your front door. The red one."

"I went right down to get Merlin and, in my excitement, forgot to ask the man's name or give him the reward," exclaimed Nella. "No one complained when I woke the rest of the household to tell them Merlin was home!"

The newspaper carrier's identify and the reward got sorted out by calling the Hamilton Spectator office later that day. Turns out that the delivery man, Terran, had been keeping an eye out for Merlin since he saw the notice. He found Merlin quite a distance from home and carried him HomeSafe.

"We have one heck of good newspaper delivery man!" says Nella.

Local Service Providers: Hamilton/Burlington SPCA

Purr-fect Ending in Australia

A microchip helps another pet get HomeSafe

"Clyde", a Himalayan cat, was recently reunited with his owner after a mysterious three-year odyssey in which he strayed 2,400 miles (3,800 kilometres) into the Australian Outback.

Ashleigh Sullivan, 19, said she had given up hope of ever finding Clyde after he vanished from her family home near Hobart, Tasmania. A the time, he was about a year old.

"I'm positive he remembers [us]. He's not acting like he's suddenly appeared somewhere and is frantic," Sullivan said as she tearfully held her contented cat.

A nurse found Clyde wandering at a hospital in the remote Queensland state town of Cloncurry. She cared for him for four months before taking him to a local vet as she was leaving town and could not take the cat with her.

A vet traced Clyde's owner from the cat's microchip.

But no one has a clue how Clyde managed the 185-mile (300-kilometre) sea journey across the Bass Strait from Tasmania, off mainland Australia's southeast coast, and then about 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometres) overland to Cloncurry, deep in the arid interior of the Outback.

An animal transport company returned the cat to Hobart for free.

"It's pretty special to have him back." Sullivan said. "I'm overwhelmed."

Two Rats... HomeSafe with a Cat!

The cat is this video obviously never went to "mouser" school! He's not lost... but he has found a couple of pretty unusual companions! This is proof positive the love and acceptance is not species specific. Enjoy!

Kind-Hearted Neighbour Helps Lost Pup

When this little dog went missing her guardians feared they might never see her again. But thanks to a kind-hearted neighbour, this little ragamuffin is now HomeSafe!

Our six-month-old Cocker Spaniel X Bichon puppy, "Bella", loves to dig! A few weeks ago she dug an opening under the fence and decided to investigate what was on the other side. This led to another fence, which she also dug under to bring her to another neighbor. They were sitting at their table in the back porch overlooking the garden when they saw this white, dirty face pop up now and again. They investigated and found our Bella digging in their garden. Bella's collar didn't have a tag on it yet, so they kept her overnight. She got to enjoy their company and some steak, then slept at the foot of their bed. These kind neighbors also placed a "Found Dog" advertisement with the local newspaper. The next morning, they took her to the SPCA.

When my wife, Jane, arrived at the SPCA to look for Bella, the attendant exclaimed,"We have her here!" A very shaky and scared Bella was quickly brought out from the kennels. Once Bella spotted her "Momma," she lunged and jumped and climbed up to Jane's shoulders.

The reunion brought tears of joy to my wife and a lot of relief to Bella. With a name tag now and a renewed love for her momma, Bella headed home to the delight of the all the neighbors. Naturally, we were really pleased the way things turned out .

Later, when I was reading the paper, I spotted the "Lost dog" ad with a phone number. That is how we found the "the other side of the story" and the identity of our kind neighbors who took such good care of our little Bella during her adventure!

Bill C.
Hamilton, Ontario

Local Service Providers: Hamilton/Burlington SPCA

Vital Stats are Vitally Important

Can you hear me now?

Your dog or cat may have a wide repertoire of tricks, but no matter how smart they are they’ll never be able to tell a stranger their address and phone number. Ensuring our companion animals have traceable pet identification (I.D.) is one way that we can guarantee that they can "speak" for themselves should they become lost.

However, the most important thing to remember about any kind of pet I.D. is that it is completely useless if you fail to update your personal information when you move or change phone numbers.

Whenever you change any of your contact information, be sure to alert all organizations and agencies with your new details. Ensure your dog or cat has a "ticket home" by registering with PetLynx, too!

CITY LICENCES & OTHER TAGS
Even if your cat or dog is already tattooed and/or micro-chipped, a City licence tag is an excellent form of traceable identification.

• A collar with tags is an instant alert that an animal is owned and is not a stray.
• It provides instant contact information if a lost pet requires emergency medical care.
• Unfortunately, tags may be lost if an animal loses its collar.

TATTOOS
There are two types of tattoos for companion animals – breeder tattoos and pet identification program tattoos. Each serves an entirely different purpose.

Purebred dogs registered with the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) may have a registration tattoo on their belly or in an ear. This tattoo is applied when the puppy is just a few weeks old and identifies them as being a purebred from a specific breeder and litter. More recently, however, many breeders are opting for microchip I.D., so CKC tattoos are becoming less common. Purebred cats are never tattooed by the breeder.

Pet I.D. tattoos – which can be used for dogs, cats and rabbits – have been established in many communities across Canada. Ideally, the tattoo is put in an animal’s ear when it is spayed or neutered, because it has to be done under general anesthetic. The alphanumeric tattoo assigned to each animal is unique to them, identifying the year the tattoo was applied, the vet clinic that did the tattoo and the specific animal it is registered to.


MICROCHIPS
A microchip is a small coded device, about the size of a grain of rice. It’s inserted using a special syringe under the skin between your pet’s shoulder blades. All animal shelters and veterinary clinics in North America have special scanners that can ‘read’ the encrypted information on the microchip. The owner can be traced using this information.... if the information on file is correct!

Actress on a Mission to Help 1.5 Million Pets Find Homes

After 10 years of successfully helping millions of orphaned pets find homes, Iams Home 4 the Holidays announced that two-time Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank will serve as the drive's 2009 North American ambassador.

Swank will share her personal experience with adoption and rescue in an effort to help educate others about how they can make a positive impact on the lives of homeless pets. Along with founding partner Helen Woodward Animal Center and nearly 3,500 participating animal organizations from around the world, the program has set a goal to help 1.5 million pets across North American find homes.

The program runs October 1, 2009 - January 2, 2010 and is in partnership with the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies , Swiffer and Febreze.

"I'm so proud to be working with Iams Home 4 the Holidays to help raise awareness about the importance of pet adoption," said Swank. "Last year, the program's adoption goal was to get 1 million pets adopted in just three months, but this year the goal is even bigger - we're on a mission to find loving homes for 1.5 million orphaned pets during the campaign."

Swank has adopted many pets throughout her life, including her two dogs Karoo and Rumi. She rescued Karoo from the side of a road while filming in South Africa a few years ago and adopted Rumi last fall from a participating Homes 4 the Holidays shelter in Los Angeles.

Dogs & Cats Meet in Cyberspace!

New York, NY – Attention all dog and cat lovers, the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) – invite you to log on to www.meetthebreeds.com to learn more about dogs and cats.

The site is a comprehensive one-stop-shop for all things dog and cat, and is inspired by the upcoming Meet the Breeds™ event that will be held October 17 & 18, 2009 in New York City.

For those of us who can't be in New York for the main event, we can still participate in cyberspace!

The Meet The Breeds website features:

Meet the Dog and Cat Breeds – Learn about 160 dog breeds and 41 cat breeds.
Meet the Breeds Game from ZooToo – Test your breed knowledge and compete for the top score. Each round asks you to choose the correct dog breed from three choices.
Declare your Pet Preference! – Are you a doggy devotee or a feline follower? Weigh in on this centuries-old debate by taking our definitive one-question survey and tell us why dogs or cats are your preferred pet.
Virtual Sticker Downloads for your Social Media Pages – Choose your favorite breed and download a virtual sticker to your Facebook or MySpace page, Web site or blog.
Meet the Breeds Blog from AOL’s Paw Nation – Follow the latest news, learn about who will be attending and get in on all the behind-the-scenes action at the Meet the Breeds event.

“If you’re crazy for cats or passionate about pooches you cannot miss Meet the Breeds both online or in person,” said AKC spokesperson Gina DiNardo. “Both meetthebreeds.com and the event itself present an entertaining way for friends and families to enjoy quality time together while learning how to become responsible pet owners.”

Dog Lost Near Airport is Found... by Another Dog

Two-year-old "Opal" -- a Maltese X Poodle -- was en route to a new home... but she had plans of her own. When the door to her kennel was opened, so her new owner could put her on a leash, the little white dog bolted.

After eight long and worrisome days looking for her new pet, the distraught pet guardian called in the big guns... or shall we say the big nose! "Heidi", a Labrador X who came to her rescue, is one of eight dogs in the USA who are part of an organization called "Dogs Finding Dogs."

Heidi lead them to a hole in a fence, that lead them to an airport, where the run-a-way was safely captured.

Dogs Finding Dogs is a group of highly trained handlers and dogs that can track and find a lost pet. The program has eight dog/handler teams that operate in three States.They charge a nominal fee, a portion of which is donated to charity.

The sole purpose of this amazing organization is to reunite people with their pets as soon as possible. More than just tracking teams, the association has been instrumental in reuniting dozens of pet using a variety of methods.

They also provide excellent advise you on what steps to find your lost pet.

Visit their Tale Wags pages to read some heartwarming success stories!

Siberian Husky HomeSafe

When I found my Siberian Husky's collar on the ground in the backyard my first thought was that she had been stolen... since 'Agusta' is a retired champion show dog! I soon discovered, however, that she had escaped by digging a hole under the fence.

Thankfully, Agusta was soon picked up by my local humane society and she was back home in less than 12 hours.

The PetLynx web site helped me not to worry so much because it was another venue to help find my lost dog. With the amount of people that use the Internet [and Petlynx] I was confident that she would be found... even if she had been stolen.

Jason P.
City unknown

Cat makes a break for it, then gets HomeSafe

Our cats are never aloud outside unless on harnesses, so we were very worried when our five-year-old cat, Diesel, bolted out the door when I wasn’t looking and he would not let me catch him! We live in a town house complex in Regina that is actually "cat heaven" for any cat that is on the loose…. It is surrounded by park, trees, lawn, birds, rabbits, bugs, tall grass and even a creek nearby, so we were even more surprised when Diesel chose to run across a busy street before he disappeared from sight!

The first day he was missing we biked and walked around the neighbourhood calling and looking for him and asking neighbors if he they had seen him. The next night a neighbor who remembered us looking and asking spotted Diesel. Because Diesel was were a collar and tag the neighbour was able to call us.... even though it was close to midnight! Without that collar and tag we definitely would not have gotten our cat back so quickly and things may have been very different!

Thank you very much for this site. It is well done and very user friendly. Keep up the good work and thank you again!

Alex K.
Regina

Local Service Providers: Regina Humane Society

Lost Dog.... Found in Five Minutes! Really!

Here is an amazing story of how PetLynx helped our family find our two-year-old Labrador cross, "Otis."

On August 19^th Otis escaped out of a partially opened gate and was gone about 10 minutes before we noticed he was missing. We had just moved to our house the weekend before, so we knew that he would not know how to find his way home.

Everyone was in a panic, my son drove around the area looking for him and his son rode around on his bike. I went inside and had just finished putting Otis’s profile on Petlynx and was printing out the lost posters when the phone rang. Much to my surprise, it was a women who saw the profile on Petlynx!

I couldn’t believe it only took less than five minutes from posting Otis as LOST to having him FOUND! I can't put into words my family's appreciation to PetLynx for helping us get Otis back -- he is one of the family.

You truly are guardian angels to lost pets.

Thank you so much!

Kim B.
Edmonton, Alberta

Area Service Providers: Edmonton Animal Control

Kudos for Heping Reunite a Lost Cat!

"I am impressed by PetLynx! What a terrific way to reunite lost pets with their people -- thank you for this service!" wrote Demerse C. from Calgary.

"I found 'Leo' in SW Calgary one evening when returning home from walking my dog," she explained. "The cat's friendliness and desire to be around people really made me think that he wanted his family, so that was a big reason why I pursued finding his people so vigorously."

Demerese took pictures of the cat she would later learn was named 'Leo.' She made up “Found Cat” posters and put them on several of the lamp posts in the area, as well as the local grocery store. She emailed the posters to several vets, put the information on Kijiji, and filed a PetLynx report out that same evening.

Although there has been several close matches on PetLynx, the pet family was not located. Demerese then decided to take the cat to the vet to check out his tattoo and see if he had a microchip. The vet was able to identify him through the tattoo in his ear, and found his owners that way. The owners had given up hope of ever finding their beloved Leo again, since he had been missing for about six months.

"I really appreciate the PetLynx website, and will definitely use it in the future," concluded Demerese. "It’s nice to know that there’s a place to [help] reunite people with their pets."

Local Service Providers: Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services, Calgary Humane Society

Post-Summer Seperation Anxiety

The end of summer can be tough for dogs and cats

SAN ANTONIO, TX /PRNewswire/ Fall 2009 - Back to school time creates a dramatic shift in family schedules, which can have a devastating impact on companion animals that have spent more time with their owners over the summer vacation season. PurinaCare(R) Pet Health Insurance is urging all pet owners to be aware of the signs of post-summer separation anxiety in both dogs and cats.

Signs of Post-Summer Separation Anxiety include:

• Hyper-salivation or drooling.
• Soiling the pet owner's belongings.
• Chewing or scratching at doors or crate.
• Non-stop howling, barking, meowing.
• Compulsive grooming or licking.
• Tearing up furniture or pushing items off counters.

"Dogs are naturally social animals and are especially sensitive to loneliness this time of year. The family fills the role of 'the pack' and in their absence; dogs can feel abandoned and become quite destructive," says Dr. Bill Craig, DVM, Chief Medical and Underwriting Director of PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance. "Teaching dogs that their owners will return and the 'pack' will be reunited is the key to alleviating the stress of post-summer separation anxiety."

Ensure your pets are HomeSafe by preparing your Pet for Post-Summer Routines:

• Wean them into new post-summer schedule. Give positive reinforcement with praise and treats for appropriate behavior.
• Resume normal leash/walking schedules.
• Take the drama out of leaving - grab your coat and keys at times when you are not leaving so your pet doesn't connect the action with being left alone.
• Create a pet safe haven - a well-lit area where the family "pack" normally gathers, keep the TV or radio running, leave plenty of toys and safe clothing/items with family scents on them
• Don't punish bad behavior related to anxiety; it will only reinforce the stress
• For pets with severe stress, medications are available. They will rarely work alone without a behavior modification regimen. A veterinarian must prescribe these drugs

The Search for the Top Ten Dog-Friendly Cities in America

To celebrate the joyful life people share with their dogs, Beneful(R) Brand Dog Food recently launched an interactive, online destination where dog lovers can find and share everyday adventures with their dogs. WagWorld.com

WagWorld offers visitors the opportunity to find new dog-friendly places to visit, add their favorite places to go with their dogs, write reviews, upload pictures of themselves with their dog and pass along their favorite posts to friends and family.

In celebration of the WagWorld launch, Beneful announced its search for the Top 10 Togetherful Cities in America, the dog-friendly locations where dog owners and their dogs can enjoy daily adventures together.

Dog owners are invited to visit WagWorld to "buzz" about their favorite dog-friendly places. The 10 cities with the most activity on WagWorld.com, including postings, reviews and photo uploads, between July 27 and September 27 will make the list of Top 10 Togetherful Cities in America that will be announced in October 2009.

"Dog lovers know that life truly is better together with their four-legged friends. Our dogs are our best friends and help make every day full of play and adventure," said Matt Ferch, Beneful(R) assistant brand manager. "We created WagWorld to celebrate the relationship between dog owners and their best buddies and to provide them with a place where they can discover and
share dog-friendly places wherever their adventures may take them."

North America-Wide Animal Adoption Event

"Second Chance for Love"
Fall National Adoption Event
September 11-13 in all PetSmart Stores

PetSmart Charities(R) invites you to fall in love with a new pet this September 11-13 during the PetSmart Charities "Second Chance for Love" Fall National Adoption Event, sponsored by Hill's(TM) Science Diet(R) Brand and PetSmart(R).

The event will take place in all 1,137 PetSmart stores in the United States and Canada with a
goal of finding a lifelong, loving home for more than 18,800 companion animals.

More than 2,000 animal-welfare agencies in North America are expected to participate and will showcase adoptable pets at every PetSmart Charities in-store adoption center.

"Our vision is a lifelong, loving home for every pet," said Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities. "This event will give prospective Pet Parents the opportunity to find a great pet who will complete their families and bring them unconditional love."

In the U.S. alone, an estimated 6 to 8 million dogs and cats enter animal shelters each year, but 3 to 4 million never find homes.

"PetSmart Charities is a strong advocate for adoption when choosing to bring a new pet into your home," Della Maddalena added. "We strive to bring the needs of homeless pets into focus and remind everyone about the benefits of choosing adoption during our national adoption events, and we also give our animal-welfare partners a chance to showcase the pets in their care who are waiting for a forever home."

Hill's Science Diet Brand has donated $100,000 for the event to help save the lives of homeless pets. Plus, not only will prospective Pet Parents get a new family member during this event, but they will also receive valuable offers from Hill's.

"We are extremely proud and excited to be a part of this event," said Neil Thompson, Hill's president and CEO. "Hill's is committed to helping homeless cats and dogs find a loving, caring home to enjoy for the rest of their lives. To that end, we will donate to PetSmart Charities $10 per pet for the first 10,000 adoptions."

To find the PetSmart Charities' Adoption Center nearest you, visit www.PetSmart.com or call 1-800-423-PETS.

Tabby or Not Tabby?

Confusion over cat colours and coat patterns

Do you know what colour your cat is? You may think you do.... but if it's a tabby, is it a speckled, mackerel or striped tabby?

What if you find a lost cat. Are you sure you would know how to describe it?

There is a wide array of coat patterns in cats and you'd be surprised at how many cat owners don't know a tabby from a tortoiseshell! Sadly, this confusion over coat patterns and colours may lead to some lost cats never being returned to their rightful owners!

Thankfully, Petlynx's DataSketch™ takes the guess work out of identifying lost and found pets. It is especially helpful in describing cats, where there is often much confusion over colours and coat patterns.

Since two people will likely not describe an animal the same way DataSketch™ technology reduces the number of possible descriptors and colors for a pet to a defined number. By reducing the descriptors, we have increased the possibility that people will describe the animal in a similar fashion. An animal's DataSketch™ is compared to other sketches and 'scored' during the AutoMatch™ process. Those matches with the highest scores are then presented to both parties as the most likely matches.

Although DataSketch™ is a real help, here are some things you should know about cats:

Your Average House Cat
Cats of unknown parentage are referred to ‘domestic short-, medium- or long-hairs.’ This is an all-encompassing term used to describe your average house cat, not a purebred designation. However, you should know that the American Shorthair, American Wirehair, British Shorthair, Exotic Shorthair, and Oriental Short- and Longhairs are all distinct and well-established breeds.

A Purebred Tabby? There's No Such thing!
Some people mistakenly refer to their cats as a purebred tabbies. But that’s like saying you have a purebred black dog! Tabby is a coat pattern, not a breed, and therefore tabbies can be found in almost all breeds of cats. Even Siamese cats can have tabby markings. These cats are exceptionally beautiful and are described as having lynx- or tabby-points rather than the usual solid-colored markings on the legs, tail, ears and muzzle.

Tortoiseshells and Torbis
‘Torti’ or ‘Tortoiseshell’ is a color, not a breed. These cats have black coats with patches of cream and red. A calico is a torti with white. A tortoiseshell with tabby patches is called a ‘torbi.’ These cats are almost always female. Male tortis or calicos are very rare and are usually born sterile.

Cat Organizations:
The Canadian Cat Association, The Cat Fanciers Association of Canada, The International Cat Association, The American Cat Fanciers Association:

DNA My Dog Event

Trace Your Dog's Family Tree

Although all dogs are descended from common wolf ancestors, each breed has specific genetic markers that uniquely identify it. Now there’s an affordable test to reveal all of the breeds contained in a dog through that unique genetic makeup.

‘DNA My Dog’ have been offering pet owners a special kit that involves a one minute cheek swab. The swab is then sent away and in just over a week a full analysis is returned that includes your dog’s dominant breeds, personality traits and health concerns. The Canine Breed Test was developed and validated using U.S. dog populations and will show all popular breeds in Canadian and U.S. dogs. (95% of all breeds). The test has been popular in the U.S. for years and is catching on with curious Canadians.

‘DNA My Dog’ will be on hand at the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA's premier pet event -- the Wiggle Waggle Walk-a-thon -- on Sunday September 13th with registration beginning at 9am.

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer this service to everyone participating in the walk,” said Jacqueline Roth, VP at the HBSPCA. “All proceeds from pledges raised and a portion of the ‘DNA My Dog’ fees will go to support our protection and adoption departments as well as the educational programs offered by the Hamilton/ Burlington SPCA.

Local Service Providers: Hamilton Burlington SPCA

Finding My Molly - A kid's book about a lost cat!

What is the worst thing that could possibly happen when your cat steps outside for the very first time? As Peggy Krause tells us in Finding My Molly, lots of things can go wrong!

Written for children age 8-12, Finding My Molly is great for young readers who are making the transition between being read to and reading for themselves.

The story follows "Soupy," a tabby cat that ventures outside one day only to be chased by dogs, get lost in the forest, and find himself as the foster father for a stray raccoon. But none of these roadblocks can keep him from searching for "his Molly," the little girl who owns him, and is "the most beautimous human-kitten in the world."

The story is broken into short, easily tackled chapters, and Krause uses a perfect blend of familiar and new words to add a little challenge for slightly older readers. The book uses the animal stars to teach little safety lessons, but the cat perspective--the drama, turns of fortune, and heartfelt concerns of this special feline--is irresistible, and the message of conscientious involvement in immediate social issues is appropriate for the upcoming generation.

Finding My Molly is even on the National Humane Education Society's recommended reading list. All this mixed with a lighthearted story and a sweet, witty style, makes it a hit.

Geriatric Cat Makes a Great Escape!

When Norma K. discovered that her 21-year-old cat, Skeezix, had escaped from the safety of her back yard she was frantic with worry.

"There is a cat control bylaw in Edmonton, so Skeezix and my other cats are only allowed to go into the secured back yard," explains this Edmonton resident. "Somehow, he managed to dig a hole under the fence and escape. I think he was unhappy because we had just taken in a third rescue cat."

To add to Norma's distress, she lives on the edge of a ravine and says that she can hear coyotes and foxes at night. "I was afraid that Skeezix would make easy prey," she said. "He is old and doesn't move so quickly any more. I was also worried because he needs daily medication and I knew that he would get sick very quickly without it."

Norma says that she discovered PetLynx when she went to the Edmonton Animal Control website and they had a link to our site.

"It was a huge relief for me to have something to turn to so quickly," says Norma. "Petlynx helped me get information out, create posters, search my local animal shelter. As importantly, it helped me feel like I was doing something proactive, other than fretting and wandering the streets calling for him. I truly appreciate your service!

Norma added that using the Petlynx service reminded her just how important it is to have up to date, close up pictures of animal companions - just in case they get lost!
"Skeezix" Age 21. Photo by Norma K.

Local Service Providers: Edmonton Animal Control

Hurricane Ike Miracle

Dog lost after Hurricane Ike found 10 months later!

Daizy, a 4-year-old Blue Lacy dog, is a survivor. Lost for 10 long months, she's now HomeSafe with her family in Clear Lake, Texas. (Daizy is pictured here, before she was lost.)

The story began in September 2009, when Daizy and her canine companion, Hank, escaped from a boarding facility. They had been taken there for safekeeping after Hurricane Ike blew down the fence in their guardian’ back yard.

According to the kennel operators, Daizy and Hank made Herculean efforts to escape. Hank was found that same day, but Daizy was gone.

On the evening of July 16, Leanna LaRocca spotted a yellow dog near her home, and she recalled Daizy's story. She tried to follow with her car but lost sight in the dark.

Three days later, she saw the same dog again. Apparently, Daizy had been hiding out in an overgrown easement around electrical towers about a mile from the kennel.

LaRocca alerted the Bauer family.

On July 23, just before midnight, the Bauers caught sight of Daizy for themselves. When Kathy called her name, the dog hesitated and trotted away. Kathy followed and continued to call.

“Here it is 11:30 at night and I'm in the middle of the street,” Kathy Bauer says, “and I don't know how many people I'm waking up, but I really don't care.”

She whistled, and Daizy came running to her.

Considering all she'd been through, Daizy was in good shape after spending most of a year on the run, according to the veterinarian who examined her the next day.

As a Matter of Fact:
Never heard of a “Blue Lacy” dog before. Then you are obviously not from Texas!
The Blue Lacy is the official state dog breed of Texas. The breed was developed in the Texas Hill Country and is reportedly a mix of Greyhound, scent hound and coyote. It's a breed that dog experts predict would be able to fend well for itself if lost or abandoned.

Supersized cat gets a second chance

Killing with kindness?

Like many dogs and cats who are surrendered to shelters across North America each year, Alice, an eight-year-old domestic short-haired cat, was given up because her owners could no longer give her the care she needed.

Unlike a family move, financial constraints or allergies, however, Alice's owners were not prepared to combat the effects of obesity... the cat weighed an alarming 24 pounds! In their effort to care for Alice they were overfeeding her... to the point where they were practically killing her with kindness.

Alice was surrendered to the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(RISPCA) by her owners, who said they felt it was cute to have a cat that was so large – until she became unable to care for herself.

Because of Alice's obesity, she had difficulty moving and began excessively soiling her surroundings. She had a loving and caring demeanor but found it difficult to walk more than three feet at a time before she would need to stop and rest. Because of her lack of mobility, she was also fearful of other cats and tried to hide if she felt scared. In addition to her lack of casual movement, Alice required extra grooming maintenance because she could not reach many areas to clean herself.

Watch a video about Alice's ordeal.

Safe and Found

Found a Dog?
Think Safety First!

If you see a stray dog in your neighborhood, your first concern should be for your own safety. If, for any reason, you suspect the animal may bite or it is acting aggressively, contact your local Humane Society or Animal Control Centre. They have the proper equipment and skill to get the dog safely under control without harm to man or beast.

If the pet is manageable, you may choose to put him (or her) in your fenced back yard or in a room in your home.

Safe and Found
Before you log onto the Internet or begin phoning in an effort to locate the dog’s owner, make sure it cannot escape from your home or yard. Put it in a bathroom or other small room where it can’t hurt itself or anything around it.

Creature Comforts
Provide the dog with an old towel or blanket to lie on and a bowl of water to drink. But don’t feed it right away! Give the dog an hour or so to settle down first and then feed small quantities of dog food over a period of a few hours. A ravenous dog may overeat and then become sick. Or it may have dietary restrictions that you are not aware of and certain foods could be harmful. If you don’t have any pet food, offer a bowl of plain cooked rice—or nothing at all for the time being.

Never, EVER, feed milk to a stray dog (or cat) of any age. Milk can cause severe digestive upset and diarrhea, especially in puppies and geriatric pets.

Start your search to get the lost dog HomeSafe by registering it with Petlynx.

Microchip Miracle "Down Under"

Lost Australian dog found alive and well....
Nine years later and 1,900 km away

SYDNEY - If "Muffy" could talk, she would have some pretty amazing stories to tell.
Thanks to a microchip, this little dog's story is amazing!

Inspectors with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) were investigating a possible animal cruelty case at a home in the southern city of Melbourne when they found the fluffy white mutt sleeping outside on a scrap of cardboard.

A microchip identified Muffy's rightful owners, and, after a few days of searching for a current phone number, officials tracked down Natalie Lampard. She hadn't seen Muffy since the pooch disappeared from her backyard in the eastern city of Brisbane nine years ago.

"When the RSPCA described her, I told them her name; I knew immediately it was our Muffy," Lampard said. "It was totally out of the blue - after nine years, I thought she was long gone."

Muffy was suffering from a severe allergic reaction to fleas and has been under treatment since the RSPCA removed her from the Melbourne home, Pilgrim said. The dog, which the Lampards originally adopted from an RSPCA shelter near Brisbane, is recovering well and will soon be reunited with her long-lost family.

Help Find Tommy

Owners spare no expense in attempt to find beloved dog

"Tommy" was entrusted to the care of a dog walker in Toronto, Ontario when he bolted on May 24, 2009. Despite Herculean efforts to find their lost dog, the 18-pound, [then] 18-month-old Bichon/Poodle is still missing in action.

Tommy's pet family is reported to have spent over $10,000 on newspaper ads in the Toronto Star and National Post, as well as being featured on CTV News. They're even gone so far as to hire a tracking dog and post a $3,000 reward for Tommy's safe return.

Tommy's case is also prominently featured on Petsecure's website with the following message: "It's for situations like these that Petsecure provides Lost Pet Advertising as one of our member benefits when you enroll - we offer up to $1,000 to help get your lost pet home. We are also big fans of PetLynx - a great service that helps reunite lost pets and their people."

If you have seen Tommy or know where he is, call (416) 606-4349,
(416) 580-3699 or HelpFindTommy.com.

Calgary Shelters at Full Capacity

Vacationing owners and the recession result in kennels being filled to capacity

CALGARY, August 12, 2009 ~ A story published in today's Calgary Herald revealed that Calgary's two largest animal shelters are in crisis.

The City's shelter is getting close to capacity, with 70 cats and 44 dogs waiting to be claimed by their owners or be adopted into new homes.

Similarly, the Calgary Humane Society is overrun with 484 cats and 95 dogs.

"We always get a bit of a spike in our numbers in August," said Bill Bruce, The City's director of Animal & Bylaw Services. "But it's our return-to-owner statistics that really slump out on us because of [the fact that people are on] vacations. We have trouble reaching the owners to let them know their pet is here. At some point--after 10 to 14 days of trying to reach them and getting no response to our calls -- we have to act in the animal's best interests, which is not to keep it languishing in a shelter forever and it gets adopted."

"[Capacity] is usually high this time of year," said Calgary Humane Society spokeswoman Pamela Amos, noting it is kitten season so some owners are surrendering the mother cat and her entire litter. The shelter has also noticed an increasing number of owners turning over their pets due to the recession.

Local Service Providers: City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services, Calgary Humane Society

Cat Licence Does Double Duty

A camera is lost, then found,
thanks to kitty’s new licence

The employees at The City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services have helped re-unite thousands of lost pets with their owners. Despite the fact that they have the highest return to owner statistics of any animal shelter in North America, every single reunion is something special. A recent very unique case, however, put a new spin on the power of a pet licence.

Excited about the new cat they had adopted from Animal & Bylaw Services, a Calgary family went snap happy, taking several digital photographs of their new fur family member. A few weeks later, before they had downloaded these and other precious memories, the camera was lost while the family was on a ski trip in Fernie, British Columbia. Naturally, they were upset, not only because the camera was expensive but also because the photographs were irreplaceable.

Here’s where the story takes a positive twist. A Good Samaritan found the camera and, after inquiring at the ski lodge if anyone had reported it missing, decides to take it home. In an effort to find any clue that would link the camera to its rightful owner, the Good Samaritan scrolled through all of the photos. The only possible lead was the photos of the cat, wearing a City of Calgary cat licence. By zooming in on the photo, our Samaritan was able to write down the tag number and call ‘3-1-1’ for assistance. A city employee then contacted the cat’s owners and provided them with the name of the individual who had found their camera. Within a few hours, the camera was safely returned to the family – all because of a cat licence!

While this is one of the most unusual lost and found cases The City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services has been involved in, it’s proof that a pet licence can bring about many happy endings.

Local Service Providers: City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services, Calgary Humane Society

Finders, Keepers?

Found a pet?
Considering keeping it? Think again!

The Calgary Humane Society warns that if you choose to keep a stray pet, rather than make every attempt to find its rightful owner, you are vulnerable to legal action if the pet family comes forward to claim the animal.

Please don't make the assumption that the pet has been abandoned. Very likely someone, somewhere is frantically looking for it!

Take the steps under "Locating the Owner" on the PetLynx website before deciding you want the animal and make sure you register the animal as "Found" on PetLynx.

Every province (and state) has legislation relating to the length of time stray animals are held before they become the property of the animal shelter and can legally be adopted. Calgary animal shelters, for example, operate according to the laws set out in the Animal Protection Act of Alberta.

If you find a stray pet -- regardless of how cute and lovable it is -- take it to your local animal services centre where it can be cared for the appropriate legal holding period. This gives the pet family a fair chance at claiming their pet. Most shelters will give the individuals who bring in a stray pet the "first right of refusal" to adopt the animal. Waiting out the obligatory holding period gives you the peace-of-mind that the animal will legally be yours.

If a pet family comes forward to claim the pet, don't be disappointed! If you really want a new animal companion there are always dozens more willing to steal your heart at your local animal shelter!