SPCA Procedures for Lost Pets
In 2008 the SPCA took in 1,052 lost dogs (representing about 41 percent of all dogs taken in).
On average, about 45 percent of lost dogs are claimed back by their owners. The majority of lost dogs SPCA take in do not have any identification on them such as collars with licences/owners’ particulars, or microchips. This means there is no way for SPCA to trace the owner.
All pets taken in by the SPCA that are deemed to be 'lost' will be scanned for a microchip, advertised in the 'found' column, Straits Times Classifieds for two consecutive days and kept for one day after that, to enable the owner to come forward to claim their pet. SPCA's Lost and Found service is also advertised in the Lianhe Zaobao twice monthly requesting that people who have lost their pets to call the SPCA.
If you find a lost animal, here's what you can do to help. Call the SPCA (6287 5355) and the AVA (1800-476-1600) to check if anyone has reported a missing pet matching the description. You can also place an advertisement in the Straits Times Classifieds 'Found' column and this service is free of charge.
Statistics of Lost Dogs
More than 10 million pets are reported lost every year. Preventative measures can be taken to eliminate the chances of your pet ever becoming one of these statistics, although it can still happen.
Dogs without collars have an even lesser chance of being reunited with their families. According to the American Humane Association, roughly 17% of lost dogs and 2% of lost cats ever find their owners.
Microchips will last for your pet’s lifetime, as there are no moving parts and nothing to replace. The procedure is simple, routine and painless, and it doesn't require an anesthetic. Much like a vaccination, your pet simply gets an injection just under the loose skin between the shoulder blades; most animals don't react at all. Long-term studies have shown the implantation causes no known medical complications.
Meet Buster, the lost dog that made an incredible 1,200 mile journey from Colorado to California
When Buster the dog disappeared from his home in Colorado, his owner spent hours agonising over his fate. But despite thinking about all different possibilities, including that the beloved Labrador had been stolen or eaten by a lion, Samantha Squires could never have imagined what really happened to him.
Six months after Buster Brown vanished from his home in Boulder he was found – an astonishing 1,200 miles away in Salinas, California.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1394207/Meet-Buster-lost-dog-1-200-mile-journey-Colorado-California.html#ixzz1nSM2JfD3
