Injured Dog Struggles to Raise Litter of Five: Four Puppies and One Kitten!

At  PetLynx  Corporation we LOVE happy endings! So we are thrilled to share this amazing story from Edmonton, Alberta, of how love and family are important .... especially at Christmas!

She was a young, homeless single mom trying to raise her puppies, but true to the spirit of the season there was room for one more...

The badly injured  German Shepherd-cross was caring for her newborn puppies — and a kitten — on a central Alberta reserve when she was found by rescue volunteer Criss Gerwin.

Gerwing took the entire family to the Edmonton Humane Society, where veterinarians thought they'd have to amputate the mother dog's bad leg. But local vet, Dr. Milton Ness, Capilano Veterinary Clinic, volunteered to do a special surgery that saved her hind quarter.

The dog is expected to fully recover.  She, her puppies and her kitten may soon be available for adoption. Her new name -- Esperanza -- bodes well for her and her furry family's future — it means "hope" in Spanish.

Check out this amazing rescue story in the Winnipeg Free Press

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

'Toast' Pops Up to Enjoy Some Iams Cat Food!

'Toast' is the epitome of the ideal cat – pleasant, affectionate, patient and quiet,  with an expression of satisfied contentment 24/7. She pops in and out all day, but one afternoon earlier this summer, I got concerned when I hadn’t seen her in a few hours.  I called her name and my son and I walked the neighbourhood looking for her. There was no sign of her anywhere!

I went on the Parkland County Animal Control website. They have a link to the PetLynx website and I registered Toast as missing. In the meantime, we also placed ads in the newspaper and put up posters in the neighborhood. After seven days, Toast returned. She looked relaxed and somewhat mystified by the elated reaction of my son and I! To celebrate her safe return we opened a can of tuna fish and I went out and got a bag of IAMS (her favourite cat food).

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

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

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

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!

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!"

The Cat Came Back

"The Cat Came Back" is no longer just the title of a folk song... it's a true story with a happy ending for one grateful pet family living in Edmonton, Alberta.

"We are so happy to announce that 'The Cat Came Back'," wrote the N family in a recent HomeSafe blog posting. "Although it took three days, we are delighted to say that Trixi arrived home in the middle of the third night [after she went] missing. We are overjoyed! Thanks for all your help and good luck to all who are looking for their little loved ones."

At PetLynx, we were happy to hear that Trixi arrived HomeSafe! We are pleased when pet families take the time to share their happy tales with us. 'Found' pet stories like this provide inspiration and hope to others who are waiting for news of their missing animal companions.


Welcome back home Trixi!

Local Service Providers: Edmonton Animal Services, Parkland Animal Services

Ella is Back!!

I just want to thank you for all that you have done. Your website ROCKS! I was able to make up an amazing lost ad, and distribute it all around our neighborhood. Ella was gone a nail-biting 4 days - but we now have her home. I truly believe that this website was instrumental in her safe return. THANKS PETLYNX!

Sincerely, TK in Calgary

Local Service Providers: Calgary Humane Society, Calgary Animal Services, Animal Clinic West, Animal Clinic 9th Ave, Calgary Cat Clinic, Shawnessy South Pet Hospital

Microchip saved the day!

Just wanted to say thank you for having this site. Even though Migdon was found due to his microchip, it felt so nice to be able to check my computer instead of phoning all the shelters, etc. Thank you for doing a great job.

- R in Calgary

Local Service Providers: Calgary Humane Society, Calgary Animal Services, Animal Clinic West, Animal Clinic 9th Ave, Calgary Cat Clinic, Shaunessy South Pet Hospital

Easter Bunny Gets Saved!

After receiving AutoMatches and prayers for Bugsy who went missing on Easter Sunday we were blessed enough to come home from work on Monday and low and behold he was sitting on the back steps cold and hungry in his own back yard. Thank you PetLynx and all concerned for this wonderful service.
- CB