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New Help for Lost and Found Pets in Westchester and Putnam
 

OSSINING, NY ( Oct. 19 , 2006) – Getting the word out about lost & found pets in Westchester and Putnam just went high tech. Westchester’s Animal-Link.org is teaming with local humane organizations, pet rescues, veterinarians and animal control to help lost pets find their way home.  As a free service to Westchester and Putnam residents, photos and important lost & found pet information can now be posted online in a searchable lost & found pet database at http://www.animal-link.org.

63% of Westchester’s and Putnam’s 369,845 households include one or more pets*. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, 30% or 233,002 of Westchester and Putnam animal guardians will lose a pet at some time.  “Looking for a lost pet can be very challenging,” says Dana Rocco, manager of the New Rochelle Humane Society. “Shelters and pet rescue organizations can receive hundreds of lost animal reports. An online photo archive is a very useful tool in the identification of the lost and stray animals.” In addition to the lost and found pet database, visitors will find pet lost and found support and key contacts for their lost and found search in Westchester and Putnam Counties.

The posting of lost & found ads is limited to the animals of Westchester and Putnam Counties in an effort to make browsing the community database user friendly. It is strongly recommended that a photo be included when posting an ad if possible. A photograph greatly increases the likelihood lost & found pets will be identified by visitors searching the database. 

The construction of the www.Animal-Link.org web site was sponsored by the New York State Humane Association in 2001 as an easy-to-use source for comprehensive, helpful information for living with pets and wildlife in Westchester and Putnam Counties and is committed to supporting area humane organizations.  In addition to the Lost & Found Pet Program, visitors to the site can access information on:

·         Dog Parks, Pet Sitters and Trainers

·         Animals Available for Adoption

·         24/7 Animal Emergency Resources

·         Calendar of Mobile Adoption Days and Local Animal Events

·         Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Resources and Rabies Clinics

·         Board Certified Veterinary Specialists

·         Local Pet-Friendly Hotels

·         Volunteer Opportunities

·         Wildlife Rehabilitation

·         Animal Cruelty Hotline and District Attorney Contacts

·         Animal Shelter and Pet Rescue Fundraisers

·         Seminars and Workshops

·         Local Animal Shelter and Humane Organization Info

Animal-Link.org urges all animal guardians to talk with their veterinarians about microchip identification technology and to make sure their pet is wearing a collar and an ID tag at all times. These two measures will significantly improve the odds their pet will be returned to them in the event they become lost. It has been reported that 90% of pets with ID tags are returned to their families. Conversely, 90% of pets without ID tags do not get returned.

* Figures according to the 2000 census and American Pet Products Manufacturers Association

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