This post comes after receiving an email from a very distraught pet owner, who learned that Berger Blanc does not keep files on lost pets for more than 30 days. This is an odd practice, since I think most are well aware that pets can be lost much longer. Furthermore, she learned there are no details kept on animals that came in, whether they were euthanized or sold! It’s very important to be aware of this when searching for a lost pet. Be sure that you have an active file, (if you have one at all, as my understanding is that they don’t open files on lost cats at present!?). More importantly, go to check in person as often as you can, as having a file is not a guarantee that you’ll be notified that your pet is there either.
This being the case, it’s important that if you find a lost animal, you realize that the likelihood that it will be reunited with it’s family if brought to Berger Blanc is hampered by the fact that there’s a good chance that they don’t have a record that it was lost, and furthermore, it likely won’t be kept long enough for the owner to have a real chance to check! This is especially the case with a cat that could have been lost for months! Add on to this that they’re far away from many of the neighbourhoods they serve, and that they don’t publish their strays, and the difficulties become obvious.
Also, if an animal needs medical help, please don’t think that there will be any major interventions taken by a city shelter. (This would be true of any pound.)
So what should you do if you’ve found a stray? Ideally, if it doesn’t have a tag, you should check with a vet if it’s microchipped. If it’s not, then check for posters and listings, and also list it yourself. The SPCA will also publish it on their strays page. Try to do everything to get it back home, and if you can, keep it with you until you do! (Also, be sure that he’s claimed by his real owner.) This all might be inconvenient, but would be a very honorable thing to do! Realize too, that a cat could have been lost for a very long time! If you’re not able to keep it with you, or can’t find it’s owner, then try to find a no kill shelter. And if your intention is to bring it directly to the Berger Blanc, then honestly I believe you should just leave it where it is if it’s not in danger!
I think it would be a great service if those going to Berger Blanc would keep an eye out for each others pets when there, (I know some already do), since it is too far away for many people to visit regularly! If you check for others, they might check for you! And please keep collars and tags on your pets, and/or microchip, to be sure they have the best chance of getting home!
Instructions (how it works)
I’m hoping to provide a good tool for reuniting lost and found pets with their owners. Send the information on the pet you’ve lost or found to petluckblog[at] gmail[dot] com with a picture (jpeg) if possible and any details, and I’ll publish it for you here. I’ll need, of course, the closest address to place it on the map. (If possible, a postal code works really well!)
I also wanted to provide information on useful links where you might also think about listing. As well as putting up posters and checking shelters there are many places to list and not everyone’s familiar with them all. Please feel free to send me any useful links that I might miss. You’ll find them on the tips and links page. I’m hoping that the site will stay as up to date as possible, and that even when you’re posters are down and listings dropped down further on the classifieds sites, your pet will stay on the map till you’re hopefully reunited.
The only thing I ask in return for this service is that you keep me informed if you find your pet, or if you found the home of the animal you took in. It’s important that the blog be as up to date as possible, for it to be most effective. And besides, I’d love to know how things turned out, as would many of my readers!
IMPORTANT : On the links page I have included those to city shelters. The Montreal SPCA has a blog where they post their strays, including pets being held by the people who found them. A.M.R. also has a page for their strays. Berger Blanc, unfortunately, does not publish their strays, and the user submitted lost and found page is closed at the moment. In any case, it’s very important to physically go and check the shelters. Animals are often only kept for 3-5 days depending on their age, condition, and time of year, and if unclaimed they are then either euthanized or put up for adoption. For various reasons your pet might not end up at the shelter serving your area, so check all. It’s not enough to call them. Even if your pet has tags, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be notified. It’s best to act as though your pet didn’t have any identification when conducting your search. Also take note, Berger Blanc does not have a microchip scanner. And please realize it could be many months before your pet shows up !