Flying with your pet.

So much luggage! And a kennel!

Reading through the news this morning I came upon the sad story of a cat who escaped from it's kennel at an airport. It left me thinking about my own travel experience with Squish and how positive it was.

Squish generally travels with me every where I go in the car and when it came time for our cross Canada tour in April for the Urban Animal Regional Conferences I decided it was time to add air travel to our options. A great deal of planning and training started more than a month before the trip when I contacted Petland for recommendations on a proper kennel and spoke to the airline about their requirements. After finding the perfect kennel it was time to teach Squish that it was actually a good place to be with at first short and then longer naps in the kennel.

Chilling out in the kennel.

On the actual day of travel I was MUCH more nervous than Squish. To be sure she would be calm during the process we went for a long walk in the morning and arrived at the airport an extra hour early just so we could walk around outside to get used to the sights and sounds. As my vet had predicted, Squish breezed through check-in and the security process and suddenly I was leaving her with the staff and off to my gate. Again, I was more stressed than she ever was.

When you travel with your pet the airline typically comes to give you a 'boarding pass' for them after they have been loaded on the plane so I knew that she was safe up to that point. The flight I chose was a short hour-ish jump from Calgary to Vancouver specifically because it was a great introduction for both of us. When we landed in Vancouver I went down and gathered my luggage and just as I grabbed the last bag, out came Squish's kennel. She was calm and unconcerned with anything, my anxiety was certainly misplaced.

YVR has a great park system
running through the airport.

Our flight back to Calgary was a little more eventful given that her kennel ended up breaking but the airline was great about it and gave me full replacement cost for it with apologies and again, despite this, Squish couldn't have cared less. Obviously bad things can happen to anyone or anything when you travel but certainly in my experience if you are prepared and manage to calm yourself I would suggest you'll have a great experience and get to take your animal to some fun places along the way.

Checking in to the hotel.

Lisa Milton, Squish's Mom,
@summitLisa, lisa.miltonwork

Dog parks are a blessing

I grew up in Calgary and still consider it my home as I spend as much time there as possible. From my very first dog (20 some odd years ago) I can remember living beside an off-leash park and being able to take him there. I had NO idea what a privilege that is until this year's Regional Conferences tour. I was talking to a gentleman from Ontario and he was telling me how proud his city was to have just created their second off-leash dog park. "Second?!?!?!!!" I thought, this municipality he was taking about was huge, how did they only have two!? Even the actual small town of 12,000 people I live in has two!

So I went home and did a little research on how privileged I really am to consider Calgary my home. Calgary.ca has a webpage devoted to it, Dog off-leash areas in parks, and there are 28 parks with off-leash areas in the North West alone, most with more than one area per park! Talk about privileged!

In light of this I decided the best thing I could do is get out there and enjoy one of them while doing a little photo essay on the parts Squish and I loved. 

Please enjoy.

The road up the big hill, it stop there.
Nose Hill, Calgary, AB

Nose Hill, Calgary, AB

From the middle you can't even tell
you're in the city.
Nose Hill, Calgary, AB

Squish!
Nose Hill, Calgary, AB

Yes, the crocuses are JUST coming out here.
Nose Hill, Calgary, AB

Nose Hill, Calgary, AB

This pond is seasonal but after a long walk
it's a great break. Squish's first time playing
fetch in the water.
Nose Hill, Calgary, AB

Back at the start and you can tell there are
porcupines here.
Nose Hill, Calgary, AB

Lisa Milton, Squish's Mom,
@summitLisa, lisa.miltonwork

Look-a-Like Lost Cats Equals Double Trouble!

This unusual PetLynx HomeSafe story is an excellent example of why all companion animals  should have some form of permanent identification, such as a tattoo or microchip.

"We were elated when we thought we had found our domestic long-haired cat, Lulu, in a backyard just three houses down from ours," wrote Nina S. of Calgary "She appeared nervous, hungry and thirsty, but otherwise healthy. We considered that 'Lulu' may have became disorientated after being chased into a hiding spot and then had no idea how to get home again.

"But there was something in the shape of this cat's face,... the density of her coat and the way she reacted to our dog made us doubt ourselves. Was this really our Lulu, we wondered? It sure looked like her but...."

Kitty HomeSafe After Three Weeks

I had noticed a very pretty, long-haired cat wandering in our neighbourhood for a few weeks and no-one seemed to know whom she belonged to. One day, I reached down to pet the cat and discovered that -- underneath all of that hair -- she was very thin. She acted like she was starving so I gave her some fish and she gobbled it up. I knew then the cat was genuinely lost.

I bought some cat food and continued feeding kitty for a few days. Eventually, I posted a "Found Cat" report on PetLynx and made a poster. Soon after, I received a call from a woman saying it was her teenaged daughter's 12-year-old cat. She had been checking PetLynx regularly and was trilled to find my posting. Their cat had been missing for three weeks!

It was a very emotional experience when they came to get their cat. The girl was so relieved that she had finally found her life-long friend she cried tears of joy! She was so thankful that she sent me flowers.
 

Thank you PetLynx for providing this service. I felt so sorry for the cat and it was helpful to have somewhere to turn to for assistance in locating her owners.

Evelyn K.,

Calgary, AB

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Accolades for PetLynx

I found my cat after three months looking for her -- thanks to PetLynx. I checked the website repeatedly and was thrilled to see her posting there. What an awesome web site!

     A Grateful Cat Owner

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, our cat Sammy is back home!
     Bonnie M.

Thank you for providing this service. A PetLynx AutoMatch was dispatched on our computer this morning and it indeed was a match. Thanks to PetLynx and the animal shelter here in Calgary, my dog is at home safe and sound where he belongs.

      Tony M.

Thank you for your help PetLynx! The cat I had found is now back with its owners. The owner is a teenage girl and the cat had been missing for two weeks. She is so happy to be reunited with her life long friend! PetLynx is a good web site.
     Evelyn K.

Thanks to PetLynx, I was able to find my dog in less than two days. You are AWESOME and I can't thank you enough!

     Christine M.

It has been a very good morning! My cat Buttons came home after being missing for four days. I was so worried about him because he is old and not very well. On Tuesday I opened the door to let the dog in and in walked Buttons, too... acting as if he was very angry with me! With a little pampering he was right back in my arms and happily purring away.

     Linda C.

I just wanted to let you know that I was successfully matched with my lost dog today. I go to the pound to pick her up tomorrow. Thank you for this service... my experience is proof that it works.

     D.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

More HomeSafe Success Stories

Chopsticks, our ten month old Manx cat, was "missing in action" for 13 hours. (I know that's not very long but it was a very cold night and it seemed like forever to us!)  Even though Chopsticks was not missing for long, being able to contact PetLynx was a big comfort to us.  It gave us hope and was something productive to do while we anxiously awaited his return. Thanks again for your great website! I've told everyone about you!

Sue J.

Chilliwack, B.C.

Max is an 18-month old domestic short hair cat. He went missing December 14-28th, after we had let him out. At first, we didn't worry too much, considering that Max is very friendly and has done the occasional sleep over at our neighbors. 

Someone eventually picked him up and took him to their local veterinary clinic and they called the Humane Society. About the same time, I heard about PetLyx and, as soon as I registered him on line, I discovered he was at the shelter. Max is now HomeSafe... and is now has a microchip and always wears a collar with ID!
Bonnie H.

Calgary, AB

Photo published and HomeSafe in an hour!

Bugsy, a seven-year old Wheaton-Schnauzer mix, went on the lam (without his collar and ID on) after someone accidentally left the front door open. His guardians searched the neighborhood until dark but couldn't find him.

"It was the eve of the first day of school," says Joann, "and instead of excitement and anticipation, my three daughters were inconsolable!"

Joann called the City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services to report Bugsy missing and find out what to do. They took her information, and told her about the Calgary Humane Society website and Petlynx.

"The Petlynx website was great!" exclaimed Joann. "I especially liked the lost posters and the regular email updates when there are potential matches."

At 5 pm the next day Bugsy's picture appeared on the PetLynx website! The family raced down to Animal Services right away. The staff were amazed to see them, since his photo had only been published an hour earlier!

"Fortunately, this was the first (and hopefully the last) time we have lost Bugsy," said Joann. "I was very impressed with how kind and concerned everyone was, and with the way Animal Services, the Humane Society and Petlynx work together to allow for such timely re-uniting of pets and their owners. It really works!

"Thanks again from our whole family, and as far as Bugsy is concerned, he is so grounded!"

Local Service Providers:
Calgary Humane Society
City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services

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

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!

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!"

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