Little Bird Lost .... HomeSafe, Thanks to PetLynx Poster

Dear PetLynx;

My name is Jonas and I am a cockatiel. My family was heartbroken when I got scared and flew out the door ... and they couldn't find me. A pet is part of the family and they missed me so much!

The next day my guardians gave the City of Hamilton Animal Control a copy of the 'Lost Bird' poster that they printed using the PetLynx website.

The Cats Came Back!

More HomeSafe Success Stories:

I just wanted everyone to know, that if you have lost a pet…. don’t give up and prayer is always a great resource! I had lost my indoor cat, named Paws, for two and a half days. He had never been outside before and he is declawed from a previous owner so, needless to say, I was quite worried about him. But with a lot of prayers and searching, he came home! I had left food out for him on the back deck as well as his litter box. So my Paws is now home safe and very happy to be home!

Shannon B.

Edmonton, AB

I was moving and hadn't gotten settled enough to bring my cats, Milo and Cidney, to my new home. One day, Milo bolted past my ex-wife while she was leaving the house and ran down the street. I emailed a friend of mine a few pictures of Milo and she was kind enough to post lost cat ads on Kijiji, Craig's List, PetLynx, and the SPCA website.

Milo was gone for two weeks before someone saw his picture on Kijiji and contacted me. I rewarded the person for keeping Milo safe. Apparently the young man was learning how to drive with his father and just about hit Milo as he darted in front of the vehicle! When they stopped to check that the cat was okay, Milo jumped into the car!

After I picked Milo up from his rescuers, I made arrangements to pick up Cidney, so they could be together at my new home.  I thanked all my friends for supporting me and not letting me give up hope in finding him.

The End ;)

Help for Haiti's Animals

Photo: Copyright WSPA/FAW

With hearts and minds focused squarely on the devastating earthquake that occurred in Haiti on January 12, 2010, the world is extending its full support to those organizations providing humanitarian relief in the ravaged island nation. But the animal victims of this disaster need help, too!

In effort to help the animals in this time of crisis, the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) was created. The coalition is comprised of the following organizations:

• American Humane
• American SPCA
• Best Friends
• Humane Society of the United States
• Humane Society International
• International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
• World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)

These groups have banded together with the belief that partnering across organizations is the most effective way to address the serious and enormous problems facing animals in Haiti. There are an estimated 5 million head of livestock in the country (mostly goats), a large stray dog population, and an untold number of companion animals and native wildlife all adversely affected by the earthquake.

To donate to the coalition or sign up for updates, visit the Animals in Disasters blog set up by the WSPA.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Hamilton/Burlington SPCA Cat Crisis Update

Increased Adoptions Alleviate Crisis
But More Homes Are Still Needed

July 23, 2009 ~ Last week the Hamilton Burlington SPCA (HBSPCA) launched a public campaign to bring attention to the severe cat overpopulation crisis in our communities. “Since that time there has been a marked increase in the number of cat adoptions from our shelter” said Jim Sykes, CEO.

In the past week cat adoptions at the HBSPCA increased to 42, compared to 24 in the same period last year. There are, however, still dozens of healthy cats ready for adoption and the crisis continues. “The good news is that by having 42 cats adopted out, when typically we would only see 3 or 4 cats re-homed in a weekend, we have been able to save nearly twenty more lives by creating room for our adoptions team to rescue that many more cats,” added Sykes.

The Hamilton Burlington SPCA is a zero euthanasia shelter meaning that animals in its care are never euthanized due to a lack of space. Unfortunately with the sheer number of cats in the community that are not spayed or neutered, coping with the cat overpopulation crisis is an on-going challenge.

While some cats in animal shelters have been surrendered by their owners, many are strays that have no form of traceable identification, making it extremely difficult to contact their rightful owners. In addition to registering a lost pet on PetLynx , individuals who have lost a pet are urged to visit their local SPCA and/or animal control agency in person and view the cats currently in their care.