The Way Back Home: The Problem. Reuniting Pets with Their People. The Way Back Home: Reuniting Lost Pets with Their People (Susan Taney)

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Colleen Hall
5 years ago
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1 The Way Back Home: Reuniting Pets with Their People The Problem An estimated 40 to 60 percent of shelter animals are lost pets. Lost dogs take up shelter space required by truly needy animals. Average national reclaim rates for dogs is 20%. There is minimal crosscommunication between shelters and Animal Control facilities. 1

2 Our Mission Reunite lost dogs with their owners by educating owners and the public on effective methods of finding lost dogs. Provide finders of lost dogs with tools to facilitate more reunions with their owners. Reduce the number of strays in shelters and animal control facilities. Protect lost dogs and the public from injury in traffic accidents caused by loose dogs. Educate the public on keeping their dogs safe. Why Do We Focus On Dogs We needed to focus on one portion of the problem to make an impact. Cats have very different behavior when they are lost. (Difficult to train new volunteers to both) 2

3 Why Are There More Lost Dogs More rescues and puppy mill dogs. More undersocialized pet store dogs 3

4 More vulnerable moments transfers, fosters, transports, adoptions.. This all adds up to HIGH FLIGHT RISK dogs Adoptions are increasing but many of the dogs are flight risks. For many dog owners it is their first experience owning a high flight risk dog. 4

5 The greatest risk to shy lost dogs is that they will be chased into traffic and injured or killed The greatest risk to lost friendly dogs is that they will be adopted out or euthanized at a shelter before the owner can locate them. 5

6 Not All Stray Dogs Are Homeless By making a paradigm shift from strays to lostpets we can change the way the public and shelter staff approach the problem. How we perceive something influences our behavior. 6

7 Why Do Strays Go Unclaimed? Strays in Animal Shelters are usually the lost dogs that Have been given up on too soon Have wandered across jurisdiction borders or have been taken to the wrong shelter Are shy and finally wander into a farmyard thin and hungry (maybe months after being lost) Or fall into the multitude of cracks caused by the following problems - 7

8 Lack of Central Clearing House No 911 for pets like when a child goes missing Confusing array of shelters/rescues/animal control facilities Do you know where a lost dog would be taken by animal control in your neighborhood? Shelter Policies & Logistics Hours & location Fines & fees Must come in person to view Different staff members may say different things 8

9 Physical Limitations Disabled Elderly No computer No internet No telephone No transportation It s hard to take Fido home on the bus. Emotional Limitations Grief avoidance Shelter phobic Hopeless despair Discouragement from untrained people, family and friends 9

Cultural Limitations Language barriers Cultural differences Fear of uniforms and government agencies Why Should a Shelter Want to Improve Return-to-Owner Rates?

10 Cultural Limitations Language barriers Cultural differences Fear of uniforms and government agencies Why Should a Shelter Want to Improve Return-to-Owner Rates? Decrease shelter population Decrease stress and sickness in shelter population Increase goodwill in the community Increase donations Increased staff and volunteer morale 10

11 By returning the dog home, we don t stress the dog, we don t stress the dog s owner, we don t stress the staff at the shelter, and we don t stress the other dogs in the shelter. Everyone wins. Even the taxpayers win: we spend less of their money. Mitch Schneider, Washoe County Animal Services Former Director, Nevada When we posted on our Facebook pages in early December that Lost Dogs of Wisconsin and Lost Dogs Illinois had helped reunite 968 dogs safely in late 2011(an additional 57 deceased), a clever fan commented: Then you have really saved over 1900 dogs. The ones that went back home and the ones that were able to get adopted because there was room for them. - A Facebook fan 11

12 HELP Your Community Make a Paradigm Shift These two pages have changed my view completely of 'stray' dogs. I always thought that dogs who came in as strays to local animal control and shelters were dumped, forgotten, left behind dogs. To see how many of the dogs who have made it home on these two pages alone proves how changing our views of this issue makes all the difference in keeping families together and eliminating dogs from being killed by shelters. A Facebook fan Increased Goodwill Everybody loves a happy reunion. Posting a picture like this on your Facebook page will tug at heartstrings and give your fans a good feeling about your shelter. A 17 year old dog successfully recovered. 12

Use Every Opportunity to Educate and to Celebrate! Include details of what worked and what didn t work when you post a happy reunion story. This is a great opportunity to educate your fans.

13 Use Every Opportunity to Educate and to Celebrate! Include details of what worked and what didn t work when you post a happy reunion story. This is a great opportunity to educate your fans. A Shelter Typically Has Two Windows of Opportunity to Help People Find Their Lost Pet. 1. When a person who has lost a pet comes in or calls to file a report. 2. When stray dogs and cats are picked up and impounded at the facility. 13

14 Posting Photos and Description on a National Map-Based Website Post Photos and Resources to Website 14

15 Scan for Microchips Properly Reduce or Negotiate Fees 15

16 Use Volunteers Pet Detectives Matchers Door Greeters Track Chips Five Things to Do in Different Languages 16

17 Dead End Microchips & Tags How To Trace Dead End Microchips and Tag Information on Found Pets Located on the Lost Dogs of America website. We would like to thank Marilyn Knapp Litt, the Director of Lost Dogs of Texas for the information in this article. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Marilyn formed a group of volunteers which successfully reunited animals that had been displaced by the storm with their families. Field Redemptions Franklin County, Ohio impounds fewer stray dogs and reduces euthanasia. Each van outfitted with: an Ipad that can connect to the county databases And there is mobile microchip scanner. Free Ticket Ride Home 17

18 Dedicated Address ID Engraving Machine Joliet Township Animal Control makes an ID Tag for every claimed and adopted animal 18

19 Proactive Signage 19

20 Events Free Scanning Manage The Microchip 20

21 Washoe County Animal Services has seen its return to owner rate increase 30 % the past two years due to microchips. A grant covered the costs. Free Microchips License Look Up 21

22 Large Screen TV Goodwill, positive press and donations are generated when an animal control agency or shelter takes a proactive approach to reuniting lost pets with their families. 22

Heartwarming stories and photos (easily posted on Facebook) elevate the reputation of the facility from dog catcher to compassionate lifesavers.

23 Heartwarming stories and photos (easily posted on Facebook) elevate the reputation of the facility from dog catcher to compassionate lifesavers. Co Directors Lost Dogs Of America Susan Taney Director Lost Dogs Illinois Kathy Pobloskie Director Lost Dogs Of Wisconsin 23

Rethinking RTOs: Identifying and Removing Barriers to Owner Reclaim, Part Two

Rethinking RTOs: Identifying and Removing Barriers to Owner Reclaim, Part Two Brigid Wasson Head Consultant The Path Ahead Animal Shelter Consulting Board Member Missing Pet Partnership Intro & Review