Green Guidelines for Dog Parks

It’s a hot topic for many an urban dog owners: Do dogs have the right to explore parks to their hearts’ content? To sniff, jump, dig, chase, swim and run amok the way nature intended?

Yes, leash-free time is important, but running wild in nature parks is not the answer, especially when they can disturb ecologically sensitive areas.

Being a responsible dog owner means more than ensuring your pet is spayed or neutered, has a license and is registered with PetLynx! It means taking responsibility for natural parks, too.

Learn more in this Dogs in Canada Magazine article and then share this information with friends, family and colleagues!

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

If Only Pets Could Talk!

Your dog (or cat) may have a wide repertoire of tricks, but no matter how smart you think she is, she will never be able to tell a stranger your 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! Even in the absence of any form of traceable identification. the PetLynx Automatch system can help you recover your lost pet based on a physical description alone!

Sophie's Great Escape...

...And Safe Return

Sophie, an 18-month-old Lhasa Apso, must have felt she was getting too many baths because she dug a hole under the fence of her guardian's back yard and made a break for it. (She wasn't wearing a collar and tag because she had just been bathed again, after playing in the melting snow and resulting muddy yard.)

The little dog was found several blocks away and dropped her off at a nearby veterinarian's office. The vet assistant called the City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services and they came and picked her up. They also kindly gave her another bath, as she was really dirty by this time.

According to her guardian, Lorrie K., Sophie was away two sleepless nights. When she went to the City of Calgary to claim her lost pet, she was very impressed with how clean the facility -- and Sophie -- both were

"As for PetLynx," wrote Lorri. "Thank you so much for letting me use your website to post her picture and information. You have a very good service for all of us pet owners. The PetLynx website was so easy to use! I highly recommend PetLynx to anyone who is looking for his or her lost pet.

Sophie and I would like to thank everyone involved with her return home. She is a special little gift from God to me.

Lorri R., Calgary

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Missing Molly Home Again

Glenda W., of Brantford, Ontario, was devastated when she was told that her much-loved 10-year Australian Shepherd had a massive tumor in her stomach. Soon after the diagnosis, the dog had to be put to sleep.

"I missed my dog very, very much and I wanted to get another one," said Glenda. "I had the idea that I would adopt a smaller, less hairy dog. Considering that I spend a lot of time with my young niece and nephew, I knew I needed a dog that was well-mannered. I found Molly, a Great Pyrenees cross, at the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA." 

Despite the fact that Molly was NOT small, she was very friendly and gentle with the kids, who had accompanied their Aunt to the SPCA.  Glenda says she just had to adopt her. Just days after going to her new home, the dog slipped out an open gate and took herself for a walk!

"I felt so bad that I had cared for my other dog for 10 years and never lost her!" explained Glenda. "To have Molly only a week and then have her gone was awful. Fortunately, however, I had read the information I had received from the SPCA and I registered her with PetLynx soon after I  brought her home."

As soon as Gelnda noticed Molly was gone, she made a couple of quick phone calls and then sat at her computer to log in to Petlynx and flag Molly as being lost. Her phone rang almost immediately! It was a woman six blocks away saying she had found Molly.

"I had put the PetLynx ID tag -- which contains the Petlynx website -- on Molly's collar ," explained Glenda. "The lady saw the tag, logged into the site and got my phone number. Needless to say.... Petlynx works!  Molly was only missing about three hours but thanks to Petlynx I have my new dog back."   

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor