…A Stray

If your own pet has ever gone missing, you know what a relief it is to get the phone call from someone who’s dialed the number on your dog’s collar, seen one of your lost animal flyers around town, or to find your missing pet at the animal shelter. Critical in many of these owner-pet reunions is that a Good Samaritan found your pet. Knowing how grateful we were or would be to them, we naturally want to do our part if we ever find a lost pet.

Once a stray pet is turned in at the animal shelter, he or she will be scanned for a microchip or examined for other forms of identification. Unless the animal is severely injured or sick, he or she will be held for minimum of 72 hours awaiting the reunion with his or her owner(s). If no one claims him or her after the holding period, he/she will receive a placement evaluation.

Don’t assume that just because you found a dog or cat wandering the streets that he or she was abandoned or unwanted. As any of us who own pets can attest, it’s very easy for the most beloved pets to go astray. You know you’d want whoever found your pet to make every effort to find you, so return the favor, even if it feels like love at first sight or fate that you found this new friend.

Dogs may be man’s best friend, but they and other pets sometimes need to rely on the kindness of strangers. Today, you can be the one who helps them out in their time of need and tomorrow, hopefully their owners will pay it forward, so that someday if your pet ever needs a helping hand, someone will be there for them.