Keep your pet safe and sound with these tips!

This week the APA saw a rare type of reunion. After more than 3 months missing, our canine resident, Mazzy, was seen by her owners on our website. They immediately came to the shelter and picked her up, thrilled and relieved to finally have her back. 

Thankfully, Mazzy was still there for them to find. Since we didn't know her owners were looking for her, Mazzy had been "Pet of the Week" on a local television station, and she had been featured on our social media pages in order to try to find her a new home. Her family and we were happy to know she was going home with people she knew and loved. It was a great ending to a potentially sad story.

Losing your pet can be extremely upsetting and scary. Without the proper preventative measures, it can be difficult to find your pet once s/he is lost. The best way to keep your furry friend safe and sound is by keeping your pet's identification up-to-date:

- Make sure your pet's tags have your current address and telephone number.

- Microchip your pets in order to ensure they have a permanent form of ID in case they lose their tags.

- Keep a clear and current photo of your pet around in case s/he does get lost. 

If your pet does go missing, following these steps to help maximize the chances of a reunion: 

- Go to www.stllostpets.org and click on "Submit a Lost Pet Report." You can enter your pet's information and photo there. Also check the "Found Dogs" and/or "Found Cats" tabs to see recently found strays. This website is a collaboration of the Animal Protective Association of MO, the Humane Society of MO, and St. Louis County Animal Care and Control. Together, these shelters receive 90% of the animals turned in around the St. Louis area. There is a good chance that your pet will turn up at one of these three shelters. 

- Call and visit the websites of all local animal shelters/controls in your area regularly to check on new arrivals. 

- Let your friends, family and community know that your pet is missing on your social media pages, such as Facebook or Twitter. Post your missing pet's information on Facebook group pages like St. Louis Lost & Found Pets. Ask people to share your pet's information to their pages. 

- Don't give up! Happy endings like Mazzy's can and do happen. If you don't find your pet in the first few days, keep checking- the APA regularly receives animals that have been wandering lost for months. Check back on the website often. 

The APA hopes that our furry friends never lose their families, but we’re always happy to help out when we’re needed. Please share these tips so that we can increase the number of stories like Mazzy’s!