| A Note from Not Home Alone |
| pets on the loose - pets in the "pound" | May 14. 2011 |
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Greetings!
Even with the best of intentions, even with the most responsible, caring human companions, pets sometimes get out of their yards or off their leashes and find themselves running loose, maybe even getting picked up by the local animal control officer. Once upon a time, friends were helping us move and someone accidentally left the gate open. All four of our dogs took the opportunity to go for a run - and three came home after a short jaunt. The English bulldog didn't. About a month later, after posting notices everywhere we could think of and visiting the local shelter regularly, I got a call from a woman who said a strange dog had turned up at her front door. When she opened the door, the dog strolled in, hopped up on her couch, and made herself at home - I knew right then it was Sweetpea! Because she couldn't keep Sweetpea, the woman had taken her to the local shelter, where she saw our posted "lost dog" note with photo. As we waited in line to pick Sweetpea up, we heard four more persons signing up to take her home as soon as she could be released. If your pet were picked up by animal control, would you know what you need to get her back? Christina |
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| Contact Us | | PO Box 145
San Dimas, CA 91773-0145
714-501-5330
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Good Intentions...
...sometimes they just aren't enough.
 Coming back from running some errands, I had just turned onto the street where I was caring for a lovely Dobie when a blue-gray flash dashed across the street a few yards in front of my van. I thought, "Isn't that...?"
Fortunately, the dog-on-the-loose sometimes came to visit for play dates with the dog at the house where I was sitting. I also had taken care of him at his home a few times, and he greeted me happily at the backyard gate.
Just about then, a woman pulled up in front of the house, frantically calliing out, "Did you see a dog?" She had picked him up from the kennel for her friends. She thought that he would be happy to be home and to run around in his own yard. She opened the gate and took off his leash...
Fortunately, this story had a happy ending.
Among the advantages of hiring a proessional pet sitter is not having to impose on a friend, neighbor, or relative to care for your pet. Instead, you can rely on a pet care professional who knows and understands animals and who will put your pet's needs first. |
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What If Your Pet Gets Lost?
A sobering thought - Of the millions of pets who enter shelters each year, only 30% of dogs and less than 5% of cats are returned to their owners.
Click here for good ideas from the HSUS on how to make your pet one of the lucky ones.
One of my clients added my name and phone number to her escape-artist pet's name tag. While I was sitting for someone else, I got a call about "my" loose dog. When her owners were out running errands, the determined  beagle had somehow managed to get out of her extremely secure back yard. (We still haven't figured out how she did it.) Another happy ending - I was able to pick her up and keep her with me until her owners got home.
If your pet is picked up by animal control, keep in mind that different municipalities have varying requirements for releasing a lost pet back to either his owner or his pet sitter. Some examples:
- proof of rabies vaccination
- photo ID of owner
- written authorization from owner to release the pet to her pet sitter
Some licensing agencies allow you to list your pet sitter's information as a secondary contact. Locate your local shelter at Pets911 or in the phone book and find out what you might need to get your pet back home with you.
If your pet is microchipped, ask the registering agency if you can list your pet sitter as a contact in case you can't be reached. |
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Before I sign off, I have a favor to ask of you - if you're so inclined,
please "like" my Not Home Alone page on FaceBook.
(Find the page by going to FaceBook and searching for
"Not Home Alone..." or clicking on
Not Home Alone Pet, Livestock, & House Sitting
at the top of my wall page to get there.)
Between newsletters, the FB page is where I'll post links
and other information about pets and their care.
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Mark your calendars - Friday, June 24, 2011, is Take Your Dog to Work Day - A day to celebrate our bond with dogs and to encourage their adoption. Learn more about the day and how to get involved at TYDTW.
Christina Dunlap
Not Home Alone Pet, Livestock, & House Sitting |
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