Volunteer Spotlight – Lora with Lost Dogs Illinois!

U2R — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 12:27:30 +0000

Volunteers are the lifeblood of Lost Dog Illinois and other lost dog/cat outreach efforts.

Here’s a quick profile of one volunteer Lora!

Lora volunteers from Murrayville where she lives with her husband, Donal, 3 dogs – Mia, Hank, and Tucker; a cat named Harry & 2 goldfish. She has 3 grown daughters: Kim, Pam, and Tracy and works as a stay-at-home Grandma to Kim’s daughter Reagan. Her hobbies include crafting and gardening. She has been with Lost Dogs Illinois for several years and says she loves to help animals any way she can; by volunteering with LDI she gets a great feeling of satisfaction.

“I volunteer because I like to think I help in some small way.”

Photo and story provided by and reprinted with permission from Lost Dogs Illinois.

Meet Lost Dogs of Wisconsin Volunteer Wendy Siedschlag

U2R — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 13:05:34 +0000

Some lost pet listing services are automated with very little human interaction. Our state pages are run by real people who offer kindness, compassion and good advice when your dog is missing. Meet Wendy Siedschlag from Lost Dogs of Wisconsin.

I am Wendy Siedschlag and I a caseworker for Kenosha and Walworth counties and have been for about 5 years. I live in Twin Lakes. I have a black lab, Frehley, a beagle named Chesney and cat, Jovi. I work for Walmart and I just had my 32nd anniversary with them. I enjoy gardening in what free time I have especially growing cone flowers. My neighbor is actually carving a giant cone flower out of a 5 foot oak tree stump with a chain saw right now in my flower bed. I also like bird watching especially in the spring feeding the orioles for the short time they are here.

I have seen different versions of the quote “I saved one dog and the world didn’t change but surely the world changed for that one dog”.That is why I volunteer. My worst nightmare would be if one of my dogs was lost. If I help one dog or dog owner become reunited I have done my job. — with Wendy Siedschlag.

Photo and story provided by and reprinted with permission from Lost Dogs of Wisconsin

Visit Lost Dogs of Wisconsin FB page!

Check your pet’s microchip and then take our poll!

U2R — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 14:21:33 +0000

Many pet owners whose pets are microchipped are unaware that the chips may NOT in fact help get their pet home should they go missing or get separated. That’s because unless the chip can be detected, is registered, and has up-to-date info it won’t do any good.

This is what the AVMA’s Check the Chip day on August 15th is all about … providing yearly awareness for pet owners to get their pet’s microchip scanned.

TAKE OUR POLL TO SHARE YOUR RESULTS

Whenever you get your pet’s microchipped scanned, we invite you to share your results on our poll created on the Unite2Reunite FB page!

Here’s a great infographic from the AVMA for their Check the Chip Day!

Welcome VeRUS Pet Foods – New U2R Partner

U2R — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 15:48:57 +0000

VeRUS Pet Foods does more than make and distribute pet food … much more! And now that much more includes being a Unite 2 Reunite Partner!

VeRUS Pet Foods is all about providing healthy food mixed with love for canine family members. Recognizing the integral role pets play in our lives, VeRUS’s support of the U2R mission to reunite more lost pets is a very welcome addition to our new community. Our partnership is just beginning, and we will keep you updated on ways VeRUS and U2R will work together towards the goal of reuniting pets with their owners.

In addition to providing a quality product for pet owners, VeRUS has devised programs to donate their food to rescues and to veterans with service animals through their Frequent Feeder programs. The customer based program, the RESCUE FREQUENT FEEDER PROGRAM, allows for customer purchases of 12 bags of dry dog or dry cat food to result in VeRUS donating a 15 lb bag to a rescue in your name. The customer will also receive a free bag for you own pet as a thank you for supporting less fortunate pets.

Their Veterans Frequent Feeder Program is retailer driven with the goal of VeRUS donating to combat veterans.

Welcome VeRUS Pet Foods, and thanks for adding reuniting lost pets via U2R to your initiatives!

Welcome Bark! Pawsitive Petfood – New U2R Partner

U2R — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 01:38:11 +0000

Bark! Pawsitive Petfood is dedicated to providing their clientele expert pet nutrition information and products because they know how much pets mean to their owners. Locally owned and growing to 8 stores in a short amount of time, Bark! is community-based and active! Just check out their community partners page where we are proudly now added, and their rescue partners page.

Which is why it’s no surprise that they have become a Unite 2 Reunite Partner and we could not be more excited!

By becoming a U2R Partner, Bark! will be helping us get the word out about lost and found pets posted in HeLPingLostPets.com in the communities they serve! We are so grateful for their support and partnership with U2R.

Making a difference in their community is nothing new to Bark! In fact, their involvement in support of area pet rescues and other initiatives to better the lives of pets in their service areas in Maryland are of special importance to them.

From their Bark Cares program to their proactive involvement with their sister store Roots Market at a Vegan Fest event which included raising awareness about issues that matter, Bark is always in the forefront.

Bark! and their sister company Roots Market as part of their Vegan Festival.

Our Generation Wags Love Tag Chip challenge has teamed up with them at some of their stores and area vets to scan for existing chips, while sharing awareness about the importance of microchips and visible ID tags.

How appropriate that we welcome Bark! as a U2R Partner during Lost Pet Prevention Month! And yes, they even have a proactive special event for this special month!

Welcome Bark! and thank you for continuing your commitment to pet owners in the communities you serve.

Bark! Annapolis
Bark! Catonsville
Bark! Clarksville
Bark! Gaithersburg
Bark! Olney
Bark! Pikesville
Bark! Rockville
Bark! Silver Spring

Horrific Car Accident Leaves Occupants Recovering … Volunteers Launch Frantic Search for Dog Daisy

U2R — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 17:38:23 +0000

Coming to the rescue of animals is nothing new to Mutts & Mayhem Animal Rescue of Texas. However, this past week, their volunteers rallied and devised their own “Unite 2 Reunite” effort to search for and reunite a dog gone missing following a horrific car accident.

The Accident

Plano, Texas, 7/11/17

To say that it is a miracle that the occupants of this car, Trenton and girlfriend Erica, survived after being rear-ended by a tractor trailer a week ago is an understatement. Yet, after their injuries were evaluated and treated, their minds quickly focused on where Erica’s 11 month old yellow lab Daisy was, as she was in the vehicle but she now was nowhere to be found.

Here’s a news account of this horrendous accident which left the occupants severely injured and dog Daisy on the loose!

Learning about this tragic story, one animal rescue sprinted into action to launch a search effort to find her! Over the course of the next week, Mutts & Mayhem Animal Rescue developed a plan and got volunteers out into areas surrounding the area of the crash in search of Daisy.

The Search!

7/15/17:

Mutts & Mayhem posted this Foot Search event along with pics:

Thanks to Mutts & Mayhem for the photos and videos provided!

“Volunteers needed for treacherous foot search. We will be searching for Daisy who fled after being involved in a severe car crash that rendered her guardians both unconscious and injured. Daisy is also likely injured due to the mechanism of the crash and time is critical.”

Video of search in progress

“She was missing since Tuesday. She was found very close to the wreck, just down in an embankment by Alma and the railroad track.”

First glimpse of Daisy tucked away, injured but surviving almost a week alone.

Video from when she was found!

Volunteer Kacy reports on the exciting discovery!

Elated, Mutts & Mayhem reported the exciting news on their FB page:

“DAISY HAS BEEN FOUND!!!!…and she is alive and safe! We just arrived at the emergency animal hospital. It appears that Daisy likely has a fractured Pelvis and Femur. Her left leg is swollen twice the size that it should be. Daisy could no longer walk from her injuries…so had we not made our way to HER, she wouldn’t have been able to find help on her own. Daisy was found in Search Area 1A on our command map (corrected from 1B)…far down in an embankment on the south side of the railroad tracks located in 4 foot tall brush. This was one of the first areas assigned to our search teams. The success in finding Daisy is owed to our wonderful volunteers who joined our search teams and to our Command system led by Kathy Webb, which kept our search organized and each searcher accounted for, hydrated and safe.

We will post updates to this post as we learn more about her condition.

Erica has asked us to care for Daisy on her behalf as they are not able to travel or handle any of the logistics right now. Mutts and Mayhem will be paying for Daisy’s medical expenses with the help of all of you generous people who have fallen in love with her through this tragedy. Anything you can donate to help Daisy get the care she needs, MMAR and Daisy’s family will be forever grateful.”

Injured but safe:

Daisy at vet being evaluated:

7/17/17 Post:

“X-Rays confirmed yesterday that Daisy has a severe compound fracture to her left femur bone but her pelvis wasn’t broken. Her femur was shattered in 5 places which will require surgery, happening within the next day or two. Due to Daisy’s femur bone coming out through her skin exposing her injury to the elements, Daisy has an infection and is receiving IV antibiotics in addition to pain medications. By some miracle, she didn’t suffer internal injuries. Daisy is a very happy girl and the relief is written all over her precious face.”

Surgery 7/18/17

While a difficult decision to make, the multiple leg fractures that Daisy sustained resulted in the amputation of her leg. However, a young and healthy girl, Daisy will surely adapt quickly to becoming a tripod as others before her have proven to be the case.

Dr. Sable Murry with Summertree Animal & Bird Clinic conducted Daisy’s surgery and kept MMAR and Daisy’s owner updated along the way.

Daisy’s multiple fractures led experts to recommend amputation.

Daisy’s final walk before surgery.

Daisy resting prior to surgery.

Surgery Completed … Reunion To Follow

Daisy’s surgery was successful and she will be recovering for a bit before being reunited with mom Erica, whose recuperation will surely be aided by having Daisy back by her side!

We will do a follow-up article about Daisy, and the amazing team that Mutts & Mayhem Animal Rescue brought to respond to one dog and family in short order. In addition to helping to FIND Daisy, they are raising funds to pay for Daisy’s medical care and surgery.

Learn more about how to support their efforts on Mutts & Mayhem Animal Rescue’s FB page or website!

Rescue Heroes

MMAR’s rescue effort exemplifies the commitment of volunteers who came to the aid of complete strangers to bring their sweet dog back home! Volunteer “Kacy” Mack Hope Hendricks posted an account of her involvement in finding Daisy, (see full post on Mutts & Mayhem’s FB page), giving tribute to the group’s rescue effort:

“I had never participated in a search quite like this before. The search was organized to a tee to the point that I felt safe being in direct contact with the command center and them always knowing where I was at and offering rehab supplies along the way if I needed. There was a lot of planning and structure that went into it. It couldn’t have been any easier to be part of a search team that had a plan. A plan that led me right to Daisy!”

WELL DONE Mutts & Mayhem Animal Rescue! Thank you for stepping in and providing a happy ending to a devastating situation.

Welcome to Beagle Bed & Breakfast – New U2R Partner!

U2R — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 13:34:43 +0000

We are so excited to introduce Beagle Bed & Breakfast as our FIRST U2R Partner!

Founded by Megan Purtell, Beagle Bed & Breakfast provides a range of doggie daycare and boarding services at their Frederick, Maryland location and goes beyond their direct service by embracing BB&B’s potential to support the pet community in a variety of ways:

In addition to joining U2R, they recently developed a contest to raise funds to benefit Beagle Freedom Project (BFP). BFP works to address legislation related to the use of dogs used in medical research labs, and has developed relationships with labs to release beagles (a top breed choice for researchers) to be rehabilitated and transitioned into loving homes.

They give back to new adopters from several area rescues, in addition to members of the military, and senior dogs (over 9 years old) with a special discount!

In addition, BB&B fosters dogs for various rescue organizations around the area, totalling over 75 foster dogs in 4 1/2 years!

They provide owners of their canine guests a Group Play Safety Pledge for the owners of their canine guests (and n o, BB&B is not ONLY for beagles)!

And now, they’ve become a Unite 2 Reunite Partner!

We applaud Beagle Bed & Breakfast for incorporating advocacy elements into their business model, and are delighted to welcome BB&B as a U2R Partner.

To become a Partner, they’ve added BB&B as an organization on HeLPingLostPets.com to receive alerts of lost/found pets in their area, and added our U2R Partner logo to their site. If your business, non-profit, or organization would like to become a U2R Partner click here!

WE INVITE you to learn more about Beagle Bed & Breakfast by viewing their video and visiting their website, where we are thrilled to have the U2R Partner logo now displayed!

Also visit BB&B on FB!

Animal Lovers of Chandler Wants To Know “got microchip?”

U2R — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 22:46:11 +0000

A group of dedicated animal lovers in Chandler, Arizona have decided they want to GO BIG in promoting that more residents get their pets microchipped! So what better way to take their message to the streets than by selling vinyl window “got microchip?” stickers?

In fact, their eye-cathching “got microchip?” stickers can be applied to any semi-smooth/flat surface … from cars, windows, and laptops, to file cabinets, binders, and all sorts of things!

The “got microchip?” campaign recently rolled out with a contest, inviting those purchasing the sticker to send a picture of it on their vehicle. Below are some of the entries!

In addition to raising MICROCHIP AWARENESS, the stickers are raising funds to help the group support pets in their community through microchipping events and outreach! Imagined by Animal Lovers of Chandler and created by The Scribble Hollow, the “got microchip” sticker is even available for groups across the country to purchase at a discount rate to help them use the clever stickers as an awareness tool in their community. Groups interested can email Sheri Goodwin for discount pricing.

The vinyl stickers sells for $7 or Individuals and can be purchased directly by sending funds via PayPal to AnimalLoversofChandler@gmail.com. They can also be ordered with a debit/credit card directly from The Scribbled Hollow.

Animal Lovers of Chandler works every day to network and assist lost and found pets in their community to be reunited. They realize that in addition to a collar and visible ID tag, that microchips are a permanent ID that can play a vital role in reuniting those without tags, or with outdated info. In THEIR words:

🐶Our hope is to also spread the word to the individuals who find a dog that don’t know that microchips exist. We hope that with this awareness, more long-time missing, microchipped pets will come home!😺

😺Along with this awareness campaign, we will also be stressing how important it is to get the microchip REGISTERED and to keep it UPDATED.🐶

In addition to the “got microchip?” sticker, Animal Lovers of Chandler created a group sticker for vehicles “Love ’em? Tag ’em Chip ’em”. We applaud this campaign which reinforces Generation Wags’ Love Tag Chip challenge!

How the group started

We started the group because we saw a need in our community for ID tags. Finders need help with reuniting families and their pets. We specialize in Lost and Found resources, and will help the finders/owners with making/hanging large signs, postings and networking the Lost And Found pets in Chandler.

At a recent event the group also helped provide 75 visible ID tags and informed community members about the dire situation of lost and found pets and what they can do.

Keep up the great work Animal Lovers of Chandler! And thanks for signing up as a Unite2Reunite Partner!

With your help more pet owners will take the preventive steps needed to improve the odds that should their pet go missing they will be reunited.

If you know of other groups working in their communities promoting microchipping and tagging email us at unite2reunite@gmail.com.

Share your events and efforts with the U2R community!

U2R — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 11:13:22 +0000

We want to share YOUR community efforts to raise awareness about lost and found pets, including tag and microchip efforts.

LIST YOUR EVENTS FOR FREE!

Add your event for free on the Generation Wags Pawcentric Events calendar and we will show lost pet related events here on U2R as well as on the calendar on Generation Wags.

In addition, we’ll work to share and tag them on our FB page!

In addition, if you’d like your efforts to be considered as a story on the U2R blog email us with a quick overview of what you’re doing, any pics, and a link to a website or fb page.

Helping Lost Pets Adds New Feature to List Shelters Within 25 Mile

U2R — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 12:57:20 +0000

This post first appeared on Lost Dogs of America on Dec. 12, 2016

Reprinted with permission by Lost Dogs of America

According to the U.S. Census the average American will move 12 times in their life. This means that many people do not know where their local shelter is when their pet goes missing. Factor in that dogs and cats (unlike car keys) do not remain where they are lost. They have four legs and walk so may easily end up in a neighboring county or jurisdiction.

Helping Lost Pets has added an incredibly useful feature to their already long line-up of tools to help an owner find their missing pet. Now when an owner fills out a lost dog report, along with their free flyers and shareable social media links, they will also receive a list of all animal shelters and animal control facilities in a 25 mile radius who have signed up with the Helping Lost Pets system. It gives owners an easy way to make sure that they notify the shelters that their pet is missing. In addition, Shelters and Vet Clinics have access to additional information about pets not available to the general public such as private phone numbers and microchip numbers.

Unfortunately, there are still many shelters who are not participating in this free service. Since an estimated 40 to 60% of animals in shelters are lost pets, it only makes sense that a shelter would want to quickly get as many pets as possible back to their original homes. When lost pets go home, space and resources are freed up for the animals that truly do need a new home.

Shelters can sign up for free at this link: www.HelpingLostPets.com/ORG