When anyone finds a Wayward Pet, the course of action is straightforward:
Part One: Finding the Pet's Owner:
1- Secure &
safely isolate the animal. Provide a quiet warm location with Bedding,
Water, something to chew on, and basic food.
2- Call, Text, AND Email the Contacts on the Tags. (Do all 3!)
3-
Visit any vet clinic;Scan for a Microchip. (If there is a MicroChip,
the Vet will often secure the pet until it's owner arrives. Your work is
done!)
Note: In ITP Atlanta, PetSmart is open on Saturdays. Pets Are People Too behind Ansley Mall is open 24/7.
4- Take Some Pictures and then
Empower Your Posts! 15 minute Social Media Primer for Pet Rescuers:
http://bit.ly/ngw1c5
5- Post the pictures to a Public Album. (Note: FB requires a user login even if the Album is Public. Google+ is truly public, not requiring a login. Hence, post the photos to G+. )
If all these efforts fail:
Eventually, you will have to take your Wayward Pet to Animal Services. When doing so, Stress to Intake Personnel the Pet is a Stray and NOT "Owner Turn In"
Want to know more?
Owner Turn-In's can be Euthanized the same day. Strays have a 7 Day
hold / owner recovery period. After which time, the animal is "reviewed"
(the "Review Date") given a list of circumstances that may or may have
anything at all to do with the disposition or health of the pet, the pet
can then be euthanized on or after the Review Date. Groups like BHVF
raise money so the Pets can be held for adoption after the Review Date
has passed, however there is a finite number of pets that can be held
for an extended period of time, and the number varies based upon
available resources of money, space, fosters, and volunteers. So
fostering is a good way to help these pets live and find a home. Usually
all the pets need is a bit of extra time to find a home. Policies can
and do vary over time.
Part Two: Rescuing the Pet after surrender to Animal Services:
- Promote the Pet to find a Rescue or Foster: Use this article to empower your Social Media reach and save your new Furry Friend!
Want to know more? Rescue
groups focus their efforts on homeless pets on death row in Kill
Shelters. While Atlanta Humane Society does kill some pets during the
intake process, it is not considered a Kill Shelter. The difference is
simply the level of killing that takes place. View 2009 Animal Control Statistics for GA here.
Even with so-called No Kill Shelters, consider the fate of a pet that
arrives after the No Kill Shelter is full? That animal will likely be
redirected to a "Kill Shelter" unless immediate fostering/rescue
resources can be secured.
Suffice it to say, that given limited resources of rescues, if the pet is not already on death row, a rescue will not be able to bring (or "pull") the pet into their network without you personally stepping up to foster the pet.
Simply opening your home to the pet as a foster parent and shuttling them to/from adoption events is sufficient.
Find a pet rescue near you: For your own sanity, find a rescue with pet adoption events close to your home. Visit
the larger pet stores near your home and ask the store manager for the
rescue groups contact info that hold events at that store. Then apply
directly to those groups, then pull the dog yourself as a qualified
foster into the rescue. Make sure they have frequent adoption events so you can show off your foster!
When Apply to become a Foster, ask the Rescue for all the items the pet will need: A
kennel, animal ID#, a supply of food, existing health records,
medications, leashes, the direct link on the website where the pet is
listed (petfinder.com/petharbor.com etc), schedule of remaining vet
appointments, location of the vet, and a list of upcoming adoption
events.
--
For our Furry Friends!
Bryan "Beau" Grant
Co-Founder,
Fix Georgia Pets
#PetRescueTwitter Admin: @FCASPets @SEPRR @ANGELSRESCUE @FIXGAPETS @DOGBITECON @TRIBEDOGS
