Three cheers for PetLynx!

Our goal at PetLynx is to provide pet families with the best possible chance for recovering lost pets by automating real-time searches of registered admissions at emergency hospitals, shelters, clinics, and pounds, and by providing important recovery tools the whole community can access with a simple web browser.

Whether it is PetLynx Automatch technology that helps bring a lost pet home or not ... we love a good HomeSafe story! Here are a few recent short and sweet accolades for PetLynx:

Thanks for the PetLynx Team, I found my cat Taddy. What a great use of the computer! He is so happy to be at home, his behavior has changed, he even sleeps with me and the dog now.

     Harry

Thanks to PetLynx I have found my pet. She was accidentally locked in my neighbor's garage.

     Sandra

Maggie has been found. Thank you, PetLynx, for this service.
     Cecil

I have Elli back ... thanks to the PetLynx website ... though it was a poster on a mailbox that ultimately resulted in her return. :) Please update my 'lost' pet to 'found!

    Thanks
    Gord

Do YOU have a HomeSafe story to share? Email us today!

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Lama's Lost & Found Tale

Lama is a middle-aged Shih Tzu. Her family left for a holiday in Europe, having made arrangements for the dog to have a holiday of her own with friends. The designated dog-sitters, however, were away for the first couple of days, so Lama went to another friend's home for the August long weekend. As luck would have it, when Lama was put outside for a few minutes on Friday night she squeezed under the fence and disappeared!

Mass hysteria amongst all family friends ensued. We called the Burlington Humane Society and Animal Rescue and put up posters, registered on PetLynx and called the local veterinary clinics. It was a holiday weekend, so mostly we had to leave messages, no comfort in that! We waited....

Happy Tails Are Home Again!

Lost your pet? Here are a couple of heart-warming HomeSafe stories to give you hope!

On Saturday February 27, 2010 we received a call from a family that they had found our dog, Coco. They had picked him up just minutes after he went missing but were heading out of town for the weekend, so Coco was taken -- safe and sound -- for a ride, too!

Petlynx made it possible for us to get Coco back and we want to thank you very much for helping us find our dog. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
        Sincerely,
        Susan H., Steve G. and Samantha H. (and Coco).

Our cat, Chopsticks, slipped out the door and disappeared. We spent hours looking for him -- rattling his favorite tin of treats as we went -- but had no luck in finding him.  We left the porch lights on and put some food at the front and back doors. An exhausting 13 hours after Chopsticks had been gone I finally decided to close the door for the night. There he was trotting up the steps as if nothing had happened!! We were so happy... and he was SO hungry! We don't think he'll be going outside again for a while. :)

Thank you for your service and support when we needed some comfort in knowing we were doing at least something proactive to find our cat.  Keep up the great work!
          Sue J. 

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

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

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 ;)

PetLynx HomeSafe Stories

PetLynx plays an important role in helping companion animals across Canada get HomeSafe! But whether PetLynx is the piece of the puzzle that helps a lost pet get HomeSafe or not, we are happy to share success stories!

Here are some comments from grateful people who wanted to share their pet recover experiences:

I did everything I could to find my cat... I had posters everywhere, went driving and walked in the neighborhood calling her name. On her 4th night missing, I decided to stay up and wait for her to come home. I wandered outside at 1:20 am and went to the back of the house. She came through the bushes, like an angel from heaven. She meowed with happiness and wouldn't stop purring. She is not normally is not a cuddly cat, but was so happy to be home. If you have lost your pet.... don't give up hope, they will come back!

Anonymous

SKY is ALIVE! She was hit by a car several kilometres from our home and has a badly broken back leg, cuts, bruises but most importantly non-life threatening injuries. We are ever so thankful for those loving friends that supported us in so many ways during the 48 hours of worry when she was lost. We are blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

      Sky's Mom

I am very thankful that the PetLynx website is available for anyone who loses or finds an animal. Just a reminder to anyone who see’s an animal wandering around their home.... remember that there is [very likely] a worried family somewhere. The pet just might need your help in finding its way home!

    Aileen,

    Hamilton, Ontario

Lost your pet? Don't give up hope!

We adopted "Haley" from the Arizona Humane Society last November. She soon became our much-loved little princess. Although she has been kept as an indoor cat, she managed to sneak outside one day and was missing for almost two weeks.

I never gave up hope that I would find my beloved little cat. I went to the Dog Pound and the Humane Society to check for her every day. I also continued to walk through our neighborhood, calling her name every night -- sometimes until 1:00 in the morning. (My friends and family thought I was crazy but I didn't care!) I also left my arcade door open a crack, just in case she came back on her own. Guess what?! She did come back!

One morning I woke up to a familiar meow. It was Haley! My family and I were thrilled that she had returned on her own! Although it was not a factor in her recovery, we were certain we would eventually get Haley back because she has a pet identification microchip that was implanted by the Humane Society. Please ,if you every adopt a pet, make sure you get the chip put in or, if they don't offer it to you, ask for one. This chip provided us some peace of mind.

If you have lost your pet.... I hope that our story helps give you hope!

Thank you,

Cammie Lynn H.

Step by Step to Help a Lost Pet

Found a pet? Here help:

Be safe! Not Sorry! If the animal is aggressive or you fear for your safety, call your local animal control centre for assistance.



If the animal is manageable, check for identification and record this information on a sheet of paper.



Once you have written down all of this information, register the animal as "Found" on PetLynx. Don't worry if you can't find any form of I.D.! PetLynx's AutoMatch system can make matches based on physical description alone! 

Look for ID on collars: If there are no visible tags, take the collar off and check for a hand-written phone on the underside o the collar

Check for tattoos: Look inside both ears, on the inside hind legs and on the abdomen. Don't worry if you can't decipher the tattoo, PetLynx can search for AutoMatches even with a partial tattoo number.

Check for a Microchip: This form of "electronic identification" is smaller than a grain of rice and is inserted under the animal's skin. You can't actually see or feel a microchip, so will have to take the animal to a veterinary clinic or animal shelter to have the animal "scanned" for a microchip.

In addition to adding the pet to the lost and found network, PetLynx enables you to easily create and print posters to distribute around your neighbourhood.

You should also:

• Contact your local SPCA and Animal Control Centre. 
• Contact local veterinary clinics, pet groomers and pet supply stores. 
• Check the "Lost and Found" column of your local paper. 
• Place an ad in your local paper -- this ad space is generally offered free of charge.  
• Ask neighbours if they recognize the animal. 
• If you have found a purebred animal, contact a breed organization. 

When you find the guardian, don't forget to contact the various groups keeping records -- including PetLynx -- and let them know the animal is HomeSafe so they can take the animal off their records.

Lost Your Cat? Search From a Cat's Point of View

The Davies family were concerned when Boots, their eight-month old kitten, was recovering from spay surgery because she seemed to be experiencing some discomfort. Needless to say, they were frantic when they couldn't find her a few hours after they had brought her home from the vet!
After a quick search of the house, they registered Boots as “lost” on PetLynx™.


Thankfully, Boots was not really missing, she had just decided to curl up in a little ball and sleep for a few hours! The kitten reappeared when she was hungry.


“Although we know she likes warm and hidden away places, we failed to check a little crawl space under the stairwell!” explained Mr. Davies. “We had turned the house upside down looking for her, but didn't look there.”

The Davies’ say they learned a valuable lesson; one that they’ll be sure to use the next time kitty pulls a disappearing act! They suggest you look through your home from a cat’s point-of-view. Even get down on your hands and knees to search!

“Be sure you check hidden away places,” said Mr. Davies. “Look through the whole house room by room, closing each door behind you as you go.”

AutoMatch Methodology Explained

After placing a lost cat report on PetLynx, one confused cat owner emailed to ask why she was getting potential 'matches' for cats that were tabby or black and white... when the photo of her cat clearly showed it was a Siamese.

Here is why:
Potential matches that may appear to be 'mistakes' are provided because the PetLynx AutoMatch™ system takes into account the fact that not all members of the public describe a lost/found animal the same way.

We don't want to miss a chance at getting a lost pet HomeSafe™ simply because the 'finder' can't tell a tabby from a Siamese! So, all potential matches are provided, taking into account a variety of factors, such as sex, coat length, etc.

AutoMatch™ is a service exclusive to the PetLynx system that can search for matches for a pet using either an identifier such as a tattoo, microchip or PetLynx visual tag, and/or based on only a physical description of the animal using a PetLynx technology called DataSketch™. The AutoMatch™ system then serves up all potential matches and notifies both parties involved. The parties can then retrieve the matches and physically follow up to see if it is the correct pet.

AutoMatch™ is unique because:

1. The system makes matches based on identifiers such as microchip and tattoos. Our system is not proprietary to any microchip manufacturer, so all microchip types are accepted.
2. AutoMatch can also make matches on a pet based on only a physical description, using our unique DataSketch™ technology.
3. Unlike other systems, AutoMatch™ is an automatic system so there is no need to manually search through reports.
4. AutoMatch™ sends out possible matches to other animals that are similar to your description -- no other pet lost and found search engine does this!

The pet family is ultimately responsible for managing their information, however, the system allows for the finder to engage themselves as well if they choose to.

Dog-napping has a Happy Ending Thanks to PetLynx

If Chloe, could talk, she would have quite a story to tell!

According to her Calgary guardians, the American Eskimo X Sheltie, was dog-napped when she was left tied up outside a medical office. A witness saw two women pick up the tethered dog, unclip her leash and walk away.

"I was pretty naive," said Alessandro. "I never thought someone would just steal someone else's dog. I had been warned about it, but I just didn't think it would happen to us!"

Alessandro said that during the five days Chloe was missing, the guilt and stress played heavily on him. He tried to funnel all the negativity into positive actions by putting up posters, calling local radio and TV stations and the newspaper. He put announcements on the Internet, including PetLynx, and contacted the police.

It was the posting on Petlynx that helped get Chloe home!

The family received a call from a man who had found a dog in Airdrie, a city a few kilometers north of Calgary. He had posted the dog's information Petlynx which resulted in an Automatch!

"Our life was indescribably painful during the five days Chloe was gone ," concluded Alessandro. "We are all so thankful to have her back and feel blessed to be given this second chance. I don't think this story would have such a happy ending if it wasn't for Petlynx. Thank you!"

P.S. Alessandro says that he won't be tying up his dog and leaving her unattended in a public place ever again!

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

Dog gone it! What can I do?

Found a stray dog? (Or cat.)
Use common sense to determine if he or she is genuinely homeless and in need of rescue, or is a neighborhood pet... out for an unauthorized walk in the park!

Is the dog well cared for?
If the animal appears healthy, well-groomed and approachable - chances are he or she is merely lost and not abandoned. If it is friendly, you can take him or her in and help find the guardian.

If the animal is thin, with a matted and dirty coat or it appears injured -- it has very likely been lost for a long time or abandoned. (It is very unusual for a dog to become feral.) If the pet is approachable, try to catch it and take it to an animal shelter or vet clinic for medical treatment.

Check for pet identification
A collar and tags are obvious forms of pet ID. But many pets also have tattoos and/or microchips. You can take the pet to a vet clinic and they will help you check for tattoos or microchips.

Whether the dog has any identification or not, you can still register it with PetLynx!

PetLynx has a special program called AutoMatch
Normal.dotm 0 0 1 1 RTPerrin Consulting Services 1 1 1 12.0 that considers physical characteristics. It searches for lost and found matches even in the absence of any pet identification. 

Know Your Neighbours 
Remember that most animals that are lost, belong in the neighbourhood where they are wandering. Their guardians are probably frantically looking for them. Taking the animal to your local animal shelter is an option, but moving the animal from the neighbourhood reduces the chances that the pet will be reunited with its guardian. At least for a couple of days -- if you are able -- try to find the guardian yourself.

Feral? Stray? Or new to the neighborhood?

How to determine if a wandering cat needs your help

In rural and suburban areas many people, unfortunately, allow their animals to roam free - especially cats.

Cats tend to wander a fair distance from their home, so do not be quick to assume a 'stray' cat is lost or abandoned. Most cats are also nonchalant when roaming free, whereas dogs tend to be focused on their guardian and are more distressed when lost.

Observe if the cat appears well cared for or is dirty, thin, hurt, ill or generally frightened. If the cat appears uncared for and thin, you need to intervene right away. For sick or injured cats, call your local humane society or animal control right away.

Be aware that a cat which has been on its own for a period of time or one that is hurt may not be approachable and could scratch or bite. Approach cautiously and wear gloves if you attempt to handle a lost cat.

If the cat looks healthy, you may want to take a 'wait and see' approach to determine if it is still around over a couple of days. During that time, ask some of your neighbours if they know who may own the cat.

If you suspect the cat is genuinely lost, post its description on PetLynx. (But be sure to go back into PetLynx and remove the 'found' report if the cat disappears or you discover it lives just a few doors away.)

PetLynx has a state-of-the-art program called AutoMatchTM, that matches lost and found pets based on a physical description. It works, even if you do not know the age or sex of an animal and if there is no visible pet identification.

When to Help a Stray Pet....

And when to call for back-up!

It is instinctive for most animal lovers to want to rush forward to help a stray pet. Sometimes, however, catching and transporting stray pets should be left to your local humane society or animal services provider.

Whenever you see a stray dog or cat in your neighborhood, THINK SAFETY FIRST! Never put the safety of you, your family or your own pets in jeopardy.

• If the animal is showing ANY signs of aggression, leave it alone. If there is imminent danger to people -- especially children -- call '9-1-1.' In most cases, however, you should contact your municipal animal control centre.

• If you can safely transport it, a sick or injured stray should be taken to your local animal shelter or a veterinary clinic right away. (You will not have to pay for its care.)

• Leave a mother cat or dog with a litter, or an orphaned litter, alone! (Unless they are in immediate danger.) Call your humane society for advice before taking action.

• If you have been able to safely contain the animal, check for any form of identification - PetLynx tag, city license, tattoo, rabies tag, personalized identification tag, or microchip. Call these contact numbers and, if you have no luck finding the owner, register a 'Found' report on PetLynx and call area service providers right away.

• Before taking healthy strays to an animal shelter or vet clinic, do a search on PetLynx. There may already be a record of the lost pet and you may be matched with the owners right away, saving the animal a trip to the shelter.

• If someone claims to be the animal's owner, insist on identification and proof of ownership before releasing him or her.

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

Stray Mittens

Mittens, a 16-year-old brown tabby, has always been an outdoor cat. She is much-loved by the neighbours on our quiet court in Hamilton, Ontario.

We were very surprised when she didn't come home one night, but it was not until the next morning that we began a search. We started by speaking to everyone on our court, asking them to check their garages and sheds, just in case she slipped in there out of curiosity.

On the second day, we registered Mittens with PetLynx and visited our local animal control centre. We also posted a large colour picture of Mittens throughout the neighbourhood.

On the third day, we received our first possible match on PetLynx, but it didn't have a picture, so we went to the animal shelter to check but it was not her.

On the fourth day we received two possible matches with PetLynx, this time with pictures so that we didn't have to go to the shelter. We could see that it wasn't our Mittens. We put up more posters, this time putting them up farther from our home.

On the 6th day, a local teacher came to our house and told us that the students were saying that the stray cat on the playground matched the cat in the posters. We went to the school and it was Mittens!!

We don't know what happened to her, but feel that she is too old to be wandering now. She now has supervised outside time and we have peace of mind.

Susan M.
Hamilton, Ontario

Local Service Provider: City of Hamilton Animal Control

Thank YOU for thanking us!

One most rewarding aspects of working with PetLynxTM is knowing that our efforts are making a positive impact in the community as a whole and in the lives of individuals and families and their companion animals!

In cyberspace, PetLynx and the AutoMatchTM program are a powerful computer system that help get lost pets HomeSafeTM... but behind the scenes, PetLynx is powered by people who care passionately about companion animals.

We love it when you share your 'Lost and Found' success stories with us. Whether PetLynx played a role in the pet recovery or not, we view every happy homecoming as a triumph.

Here are a couple of our most recent accolades:

Our valued dog disappeared the day my daughter moved into Edmonton. Thanks to a wonderful person who noticed the shy dog hanging around their yard, our dog was taken into their home and cared for. Our vet was notified and contacted us. Thanks for your service. It kept our hopes alive. After four days my daughter is reunited with her dog.
Ray P.

I would like to thank this network as it has helped find our missing cat. It was great to be reunited with 'Boots'. So once again a BIG THANK YOU.

Karen W.

Keep those cyber cards and letters coming!

Safe and Found in Regina

When Tyler saw a puppy narrowly miss being hit by a car, he pulled over, scooped it up and took it home.

"The puppy had a collar, but no tattoo or tag," explained Tyler. "He smelled like he'd just been bathed, so we knew he was being missed by someone."

Tyler and his family then drove around the neighborhood asking if anyone had lost a pup. They posted ads on UsedRegina.com and Kijiji. The next day they called the Regina Humane Society. They were directed to their website, to post a found report on PetLynx.

"I had never heard of PetLynx before," said Tyler, "but it looked like a great idea so we posted the information and my wife left to take the dog to the humane society. As soon as she walked out the door, I checked Petlynx again and, there was a match!"

Tyler immediately called the owner... then he called his wife to tell her to turn around and come home! The puppy's grateful owner had been 'matched' on PetLynx.

"I liked the ease of using PetLynx," said Tyler. "AutoMatch ™ is a WICKED idea! Thank you again for hosting such a great site!"

Tyler Regina, Saskatchewan

Local Service Provider: Regina Humane Society

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