How to Find a Lost Pet

This week’s Lost, Found and Looking column is from the desk of Events Coordinator Kasey Bielecki.

Has your cat or dog ever gone missing? If so, you know how horrible it feels when you can’t find your beloved pet. If not, are you prepared should it happen? Doors accidentally get left open; a screen falls out, a carrier breaks in the parking lot at the veterinarian, a collar slips loose, someone gets scared by fireworks and breaks through a gate; we have seen it all.

Hopefully, your pet will never get lost, but in case it happens, by making sure your pet has a microchip, you are giving yourself and your pet the best chance of a speedy, happy reunion.

If your pet needs a microchip, give Pope Memorial Humane Society a call at 594-2200. For a one-time fee of $25, we would be happy to microchip your pet.

Be prepared, Fourth of July is right around the corner!

Here are a few tips should your cat, dog, rabbit, bird or other beloved pet go missing:

• Contact your local animal shelters, animal control officers, veterinarians, emergency animal clinics and utilize local Facebook lost pet groups.
• Make posters, lots of them, and keep them simple.
• Get the word out to everyone!
• Don’t chase after a lost pet –they are much faster than we are, and you’ll only scare them more. Instead, sit on the ground; talk in normal tones, repeating their name and familiar phrases over and over again.
• Don’t give up!

Now, if you don’t have a pet, but you’re thinking about adopting, we have many amazing adoptable animals at Pope Memorial Humane Society. Martini, the rooster will be your morning alarm, Chicken or Nugget, a bonded pair of guinea pigs will keep you giggling for hours, and Plum, the cat (photo above), will keep you on your toes.

I’m sensing a theme on the names here. We don’t have any dogs with foodie names, but we have Ariel, a princess, Alexis, the superstar (photo at right) and Lassie, the dog with the best smile.

For more information, and to check out other adoptable animals of PMHS, visit popehumane.org.

Wish list: pate style chicken recipe canned cat food, paper towels, 8 1/2 by 11 copy paper, dry kitten chow, bleach and scrubby sponges.

Thank you.