PetLynx on Critter Care with Robert Church

Earlier this month, PetLynx production manager, Lisa Milton was featured on Critter Care with Robert Church to highlight the benefits and ease of using PetLynx.net to register pets and report lost and found episodes. 

Lost Dog Dora reunited with family after seven months!

Flood cat home safe and sound

An Alberta cat has been reunited with her family two months after devastating flood waters poured into the family home in downtown High River. 

Gil Tucker, Global News, reporting

Pets in a disaster

In light of recent disasters in Alberta and Lac Megantic, here are some useful tips for protecting your pets during a disaster: 

• Decide on a safe place to take yor pets and keep a list of “pet friendly” places, including phone numbers, with your disaster supplies
• Put together a pet emergency preparedness kit that includes a photo of your pet, leashes, medical records, food, water, bowls, litter box and litter
• Place a Rescue Alert Sticker on your front door to advise fire fighters, paramedics and police of the type and number of pets in your house

For more information on how to best prepare for an emergency and ensure your pets are protected, visit the ASPCA website.

Pitch's HomeSafe Story

We just love hearing the happy HomeSafe stories from PetLynx users. Enjoy this one! 

My cat Pitch came to my front door four days after he had disappeared.I was working around the house when, I suddenly heard what I thought to be a scratch on my front door.......opening the door and praying at the same time that it was Pitch..........there he was as large as life!! I cannot begin to tell you how shocked and delighted I was to see that  adorable black face looking up at me............I am so happy !!!! Thank you Petlynx for your lovelyemail. 

It takes a community to find a cat

This story came to us earlier this month and is a great example of how communicating with your community can keep pets safe. 

My cat went missing evening of July 30th.  We moved to a new community and have lived in this area 2.5 months.  The houses look very similar from the outside and would be difficult for him to find his home.  He is an indoor cat.  I posted posters in the neighbourhood, knocked on the doors of our neighbours, talked to dog walkers, joggers, people out walking to keep an eye out for Pedro.  I contacted an emergency animal hospital and gave them my poster.  On Aug. 3 my neighbour knocked on my door saying I think your cat is in the neighbour's yard.  He was meowing at their backdoor thinking it was his home.  I was so grateful when I looked over the fence to see my Pedro looking back at me.  Very thankful that I spread the word and spoke to my nearby neighbours.

Pumpkin's HomeSafe Story

Pumpkin has been found! A passerby saw our poster and had a cat at her restaurant hanging around and took it to a shelter...she hadn't made the connection till a few days later! Went to the shelter after calling them and it was Pumpkin! Such an amazing day! Gone 10 days in total!

How does PetLynx return lost animals without ID?

One of the most complex problems to solve for a recovery system is a lost animal that hasn't been registered or doesn't have identification. In this case, the animal can't speak and finding the owner has required manual searches of lost reports. PetLynx developed an 'Automatching' system to resolve this problem.

People have very different perceptions of how an animal looks. The PetLynx DataSketch(tm) allows an individual to provide the system with one of seven primary colors for each of twelve specific regions of the cat or dog.  This physical description is then automatically compared with information in the PetLynx Automated National Recovery service for found animals and for admissions to shelters, pounds, clinics and hospitals. That is how a physical description of a lost or found pet can bring a pet home!

PetLynx is often asked why or how the seven primary colors were selected.  The PetLynx Color Palette is constantly refined over the thousands of recoveries PetLynx serves up so that the relationship between colors is known. In the background, because the PetLynx system 'knows' the relationships between related colors like brown and tan, it can bring together matches based on similarities in markings and color pattern.  The PetLynx system then presents matches somewhat like Google.  The most likely matches are at the top of the list with a 100% rating and then continue downwards to those with fewer points for a match.  The PetLynx system is getting better every day but it still struggles with 'calico' or 'brindled' hair coats. In these tough cases PetLynx recommends looking at the overall image and selecting the one or two dominant colors for the most effective results.

For those who lose or find an animal, PetLynx is the most effective solution for recovery and it's provided in Canada free of charge by the IAMS company. Together with IAMS, the PetLynx recovery service has now recovered more than 245,000 cats and dogs in Canada and now contains more than 1.8 million registered animals and pet families.

Many service providers include the PetLynx lifetime recovery subscription at no charge with other services, those with pets can ask their veterinarian, shelter or licensing agency or go to the PetLynx online service where they can register their pet for a small charge.  Of course the Iams company ensures the PetLynx public recovery service is always available at no charge for those who lose or find a pet!

Access PetLynx Recovery Services

HomeSafe and Sound

"I just wanted to thank you for your incredible service. My dog went missing the evening of June 30th and he was home by 630 pm on July 1st. I adopted him from Thailand 2 years ago. He had been in a shelter for a number of years,someone tried to decapitate him and he has a slight disability. I love this little guy with all my heart and soul and without matching service that you provide I may never have seen him again so once again thank you from the bottom of my heart."

We just love hearing your HomeSafe stories, keep 'em coming! 

Charlie finds a new home

Petlynx recieved a message from Dana last week requesting we remove "Charlie" from our Lost Pet database. Looks like Charlie is in a much happier and healthier environment now, thanks to his rescuer! 

"I took him to the vet today. He is very malnourished (growth is stunted) and uncared for. He has a hematoma in his ear (which requires surgery), a broken tail and is blind in 1 eye. He also is not neutered and no tattoo. Either he has been abandoned or had neglectful owners.

We have decided to get Charlie his surgery, neutering and vaccinations. 

Charlie has been so grateful and has found his place among our 2 indoor cats and house rabbit (AKA the top cat 😏). He will be well cared for and will no longer have to suffer again. My 2 cats, rabbit and family have decided to make Charlie part of our family."

Free Lifetime Subscription for Alberta Floods pet families

Complimentary PetLynx Lifetime Subscriptions are being offered to pet families displaced as a result of the Alberta Floods. 

PetLynx is an automated Lost and Found recovery service based in Calgary. Our Found reports are always free but considering the current crisis in the province, industry allies have joined together to offer complimentary subscriptions to submit Lost reports and register animals in the system to keep them safe in the future. 

Courtesy of IAMS, Pets Plus Us and other partners, this coupon number can be used for the next 30 days to receive a FREE LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTION in the PetLynx database. 

Please go to www.petlynx.net and use the coupon number: IAMS-2013-YYC

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month