Texas Border Business
Edinburg, TX– More dogs and cats get lost around July fourth than any other time of year. The vast majority will be picked up less than a mile from their homes! Despite this, hundreds of found pets are typically brought to Palm Valley Animal Society and other area shelters after the July Fourth holiday. With Palm Valley Animal Society already over capacity levels and other area shelters full or nearly full as well, we need to work together as a community to get as many lost pets as possible home, in order to avoid further overcrowding.
A new study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science finds that 70% of lost dogs are found less than a mile from their homes. 42% are less than 400 feet!
The best way to reunite pets with their families is to keep lost dogs and cats in the neighborhood where they’re found, instead of bringing them to an animal shelter.
If you find a cat or dog and are able to hold it for at least 48 hours, this gives families a much better chance to find their missing pets than if the dogs or cats are impounded at a shelter.
So what should you do if you find a lost pet?
Contact PVAS with a description of the pet. Go to any vet or stop by PVAS to get the cat or dog scanned for a microchip. Contact the owner if they have a registered chip or are wearing identification on their collar.
Hold the animal for at least 48 hours to give the owner a chance to locate them.
Post the pet’s picture and where they were found to Local Facebook Lost and Found Pet Groups like RGV Pet Alert Lost Found (and many others) free apps such as Petco Love Lost, Nextdoor.com, Craigslist, and other neighborhood social media platforms. Ask your neighbors if they recognize the pet and know where it lives.
Post found dog/cat signs in the immediate area where you found the animal.
If you cannot hold the cat or dog safely in your home, you can also ask neighbors if they can temporarily house the animal to give the owners a chance to come and find them.
If you have pets of your own, Palm Valley Animal Society reminds you to do your best to keep them inside this weekend. The loud sounds caused by fireworks can cause many pets to attempt to run away in search of a safe place to hide.
