Animal Shelter Offers Advice for Dealing With Lost and Found Pets this Weekend

For Immediate Release: Thursday, July 03, 2014

The Fourth of July holiday is the number one time of year for pets to go missing. This year, animal advocates worry that it may be a record year because the Fourth is the beginning of a long weekend.

Here is advice for people who have lost a pet – and for people who might find them:

Lost a pet?

• Check with your local county animal shelter – those are the organizations that take in stray animals. In Washington County, that is the Bonnie Hays Small Animal Shelter. “Every stray animal in our shelter is on our website within an hour,” says Deborah Wood, manager of Animal Services for Washington County. To see lost pets, go to www.WashingtonCountyPets.com and click on “Lost and Found” then “View Lost Pets.” Other local county shelters have similar information about lost pets in their shelters at their websites.
• Also check shelters throughout the metropolitan area. “Sometimes animals that started out miles away end up being found in our County – and animals who live in Washington County find their way to other communities,” says Wood.
• Scour your neighborhood as soon as you know your pet is missing. “Ask your neighbor if they’ve seen your dog or cat. Children often know everything that’s going on, and may know exactly where your lost pet is hanging out,” says Wood. Make flyers with your pet’s photo and your phone number on them. Put them up in the neighborhood and go door-to-door in the area the pet was last seen. Also check with your local pet-related businesses, such as veterinarians, pet supply companies, and other local places where people might take a pet. 
• Make it inviting for your pet to return home. Immediately put out tasty treats, water and your pet’s bed or an item with your smell on it. Your pet may return once it calms down, especially if it senses a piece of home.
  

Found a pet?

If you find a stray dog or cat, especially around the 4th of July, assume that it is someone’s beloved pet that has accidentally gotten away and not a dumped or neglected animal. A few easy steps can help reunite people and their pets:

• Bring the pet to your local county shelter, or call and make a found pet report. In Washington County, that’s the Bonnie L. Hays Shelter in Hillsboro. “This is the place that people come to find their lost pets. It’s the best bet for reuniting an animal with its owner,” says Wood. Shelter staff can scan pets for microchips and they actively look for owners.
• If a dog has a Washington County license, you can look up the owner on your home computer. Just go to www.WashingtonCountyPets.com, click on “Lost and Found” and click on “License Look-Up.” When you type in the dog’s license number, you’ll get the phone number of the owner. Multnomah County has a similar service. This can save you (and the dog) a trip to the shelter.
• Talk to your neighbors. Kids are especially likely to know where a lost pet lives. You can also put up a “Found Pet” sign in your own front yard, where an owner might see it if they are out searching.
  

The Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter will be open on July 4th to intake stray animals and reunite lost pets with their owners. Hours will be 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter is located at 1901 SE 24th Avenue in Hillsboro. It’s just off TV Highway by Lowe’s and Home Depot. Their phone number is 503-846-7041.

Other helpful websites:

Washington County Animal Services: www.WashingtonCountyPets.com
Multnomah County Animal Services: www.multcopets.org
Clackamas County Dog Services: www.clackamas.us/dogs

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