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!

Fire Safety and Your Pet

Here's fuel for thought!

Did you know that an estimated 500,000 pets in the U.S.A. are affected by devastating home fires each year? While similar statistics for Canada are not available, this is still an alarming fact.

In order to address the issue of pet fire safety, the American Kennel Club and ADT Security Services partnered to create “National Pet Fire Safety Day.” (July 15, 2009.) The purpose of this nationwide campaign was to educate pet owners about potential risks when pets are left home alone, as well as provide proven prevention measures to ensure the pet safety.

According to a recent AKC study, 88 percent of pet owners consider their pets to be valued family members so it makes sense to include them in fire prevention plans and rescue alerts should a house fire strike.

“One of the hallmarks of responsible dog ownership is keeping pets safe and planning for unexpected emergencies, including house fires,” said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “Pet proofing the home, developing pet-friendly escape routes and alerting rescuers of your pets presence with ‘window clings’ is the best way to keep your four-legged family member from harm.”

That’s something Lia Wentworth of Maryland knows well. One Sunday morning she and her family left their Labrador Retriever “Justice” home alone. They didn't realize they left a pot of boiling water with plastic baby bottles on the stove. When the water evaporated, the bottles began to emit a toxic smoke. No one knew Justice was in trouble because there was no flame. Luckily, the Wentworth’s had a monitored smoke detector and the firefighters were alerted. Their prompt response saved Justice's life!

Tips to Keep Pets Safe from House Fires:

Use Monitored Smoke Detectors – Monitored detectors are connected to a monitoring center, providing an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms.

Affix a Pet Alert Window Cling or Sticker – Write down the number of pets inside your house and attach the static cling to a front window. This critical information saves rescuers time when locating your pets. Contact your location humane society or animal services centre... many distribute window clings or stickers free of charge or for a small donation.

Keep Your Information Updated - Firefighters are familiar with pet alert window clings so keep the number of pets listed on them updated. Knowing the accurate number of pets in the house aids rescuers in finding all of your pets.

Get a free "Pet in Home" window cling -- and other free stuff -- from the American SPCA by clicking on the "Fire Safety" heading above. (Yes, they will ship to Canada!) Or check with your local humane society or animal services centre. Many have window clings available free or for a small donation.

Play it Cool With Pets!

The heat is on, so the BC SPCA is urging pet guardians to play it cool.

In addition to not leaving pets in the car at this time of year, pet guardians should use caution when exercising their pets under the sweltering summer sun.

“A lot of dogs will run and play to the point of exhaustion, and it’s the guardian’s responsibility to make sure that doesn’t happen,” says Chortyk. “For example, if you play fetch with your dog, it’s a sure sign to stop when your dog isn’t retrieving the ball as fast as usual, when he refuses to drop the ball for the next throw, or when he tries to catch a break by lying down between throws.”

Chortyk also cautions against cycling with your dog, and if you run with your dog, try to run early in the morning or later in the evening when the sun is lower in the sky. Also, try to stay away from asphalt because it can burn your dog’s foot pads.

“Regardless of the activities you choose to do with your dog, always bring water and the number of a vet with you so that you’re prepared in case of an emergency.”

For signs of heat stroke and emergency first aid see the "Hot Dog!" blog post below.

Stolen Calgary Dog Back HomeSafe

5th August 2009 ~ Calgary Sun

Pinball the purloined Jack Russell Terrier has been returned to his owners safe and sound. The animal, allegedly stolen by a group of teens and beaten on Sunday night, was taken in by a young couple the same evening.

Pinball was stolen from his guardian's Calgary backyard at 9 p.m. Sunday and a short time later, a 15-year-old boy was beaten when he tried to stop a group of teens from tormenting the animal.

Minutes after that, two people out walking their dog found the Jack Russell running at large. They took the dog home then went door-to-door in an attempt to find his owners.

A story about Pinball's theft, on the front page of the Calgary Sun the next day, alerted the rescuers to the dog's plight and they immediately delivered the missing terrier to his grateful family.

Police have charged a 13-year-old with theft under $5,000 and assault, the latter charge stemming form the attack on the 15-year-old.

Pinball’s collar and tag had been removed at the time he was taken from his backyard.

For the full story, click the heading above.

Seifer's Big Adventure

Lost Dog FOUND
Thanks to PetLynx

Seifer, a 13-month old Golden Retriever cross gave his guardians quite a scare last week! The dog was enjoying a run in an off-leash park in Calgary when two dogs began chasing him. When one of the dogs bit Seifer on the leg, he bolted across a busy main road and into a nearby community.

"We called everyone we could [think of]," relayed his distraught guardian, "and a team of ten people searched the community for hours. We reluctantly headed home about 2 a.m., just before a hail storm hit."

Having no luck finding Siefer on foot, they logged onto the Internet, as well as checking with City of Calgary Animal Services, the Calgary Humane Society, and every vet clinic in the city. Another day passed, and they continued to check the animal shelters and "found" ads on Petlynx.

The second day after Seifer ran off, there was a listing from a family saying they had found Seifer and had taken him to a nearby pet hospital. His owners hurried down to retrieve their run-away retriever.

"The moment Seifer came around the corner we all burst out crying tears of joy," recalls his guardian. "[We were so relieved to see] it was him; safe, healthy, and so happy! You never realize how much you miss something until it's gone, and how much joy an animal can bring you. Seifer is truly one of a kind. We cannot express our gratitude enough to Petlynx or the family who took care of him and brought him to the hospital. Thank you!"

HomeSafe for USA veterans

While most HomeSafe blog postings focus on humans keeping their companion animals safe, we know you'll love this story,... canines keeping people HomeSafe!

In February of 2005, a group of disabled veterans from the Dallas VA Hospital asked well-respected dog trainer, Lori Stevens, to assist them in training their own service dogs. This is where Lori learned about the plight of disabled veterans in need of service dogs.

In February of 2006, Patriot PAWS Service Dogs was established and now holds provisional membership in Assistance Dogs International (ADI). B the end of 2009, the association will have placed a dozen dogs with US veterans.

Most service dogs are initially selected from local animal shelters, rescue groups, and service dog puppy raisers. They are carefully evaluated prior to selection and only the best of the best become candidates, graduate, and are certified. It takes 12 to 18 months to properly train just one service dog. The cost of the care and training for that one service dog during these months is approximately $20,000.

To find out more about this amazing organization and the equally amazing dogs they work with, click on the heading above.

SPCA doesn't like "Hot Dogs!"

BC Heat Wave Could Prove Deadly for Pets!

The heat is on, so the BC SPCA is urging pet guardians to play it cool.

With scorching temperatures predicted throughout most of British Columbia this holiday weekend, the BC SPCA is offering tips on how to keep pets safe. The first and most obvious recommendation is not to leave your pet in the car.

According to an SPCA press release, the temperature inside a parked car at this time of year can rise alarmingly fast. Dogs can't withstand high temperatures for more than a few minutes before suffering irreparable brain damage or death!

If you see a dog languishing in a hot car, call the SPCA in your area or local police. Before the authorities arrive, the SPCA says, members of the public can help prevent a tragedy by attempting to find the animal’s guardian. If the car is in a mall or grocery store parking lot, for example, ask to have the owner paged over the building’s PA system. If a window on the vehicle is cracked open, try to increase the airflow inside by fanning the pet with a portable fan.

The BC SPCA also urges dog owners to use caution when exercising their pets under the sweltering summer sun. If you run with your dog, try to run early in the morning or later in the evening when the sun is lower in the sky.

You should also try to avoid walking your dog on asphalt because it can burn your dog’s foot pads.

Signs of heat stroke in pets:

• exaggerated panting (or the sudden stopping of panting);
• rapid or erratic pulse;
• salivation;
• weakness and muscle tremors;
• lack of co-ordination;
• convulsions or vomiting;
• collapse.

If your dog shows symptoms of heat stroke:
• Immediately move it to a cool, shady place.
• Wet the dog with cool water.
• Fan vigorously to promote evaporation (do not apply ice, which constricts blood flow.)
• Allow the dog to drink some cool water.
• Take the dog to a veterinarian.

For more information, click the heading above.