Contact:
Ria Brown, Public Information Specialist
Lee
County Animal Services
(941)
432-2090 Ext. 241
6.1
Million Lost Pets Prompts National Tag Day Campaign
Everyday shelters receive calls
from frantic people who have lost their pets even though most pet owners think
it could never happen to them. A
recent report from the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy
revealed, however, that it happens a lot. About
3.8 million dogs and 2.3 million cats entering the nation's shelters last year
were strays.
"What makes this reality more tragic is the low rate at which these animals are ever found again by their owners," says Scott Trebatoski, Director of Lee County Animal Services. Only 17 percent of dogs and a discouraging one percent of cats were reunited with their families in Lee County last year. Of those not claimed by their owners, only 2,219 were adopted into new homes. The number of animals entering shelters each year far exceeds the number of available homes. In 2001 11,301 pets entered Lee County Animal Services’ shelter.
To improve those odds, Lee
County Animal Services is joining forces with the American Humane Association
and other local shelters from across the country to launch a national public
awareness campaign called Tag Day. Animal
Services will celebrate Tag Day by holding a Pet ID and Vaccination Clinic on
Saturday, March 23, 2002 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the shelter, 5600 Banner
Drive, Fort Myers. Pet owners can
purchase a county license for $5.00 in addition to low-cost vaccinations for
$5.00 each. Nationally registered
Microchip IDs will be available on Tag Day and throughout the entire month of
March for just $10.00.
"We're encouraging pet
owners to use a Microchip ID in addition to the county license which is required
by law. This will better help us
identify and return lost pets," says Trebatoski.
Identification ensures animals a return trip home.
Otherwise the animal may be brought to the shelter.
With almost 1,000 animals a month entering the facility strays can only
be held for five days. If they are
not claimed after five days they may be adopted to someone else or may have to
be euthanized due to the shortage of space.
Everyone can help by either identifying their pet or encouraging others to do so. Identification is a pet's one-way ticket home. For more information on Tag Day, contact Lee County Animal Services at (941) 432-2083 or http://www.lee-county.com.