Pledge to Stop Puppy Mills!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Adoption Event This Saturday


Shadow, one of the many cats available for adoption with the ACHS.


The Athens County Humane Society (ACHS) will hold it's monthly adoption event this weekend on Saturday, June 26 from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Market on State in Athens.

People will have the chance to meet and greet just some of the pets available for adoption through the Athens County Humane Society. These pets are waiting to find a good, forever home. Those wishing to adopt will be able to speak with Athens County Humane Society representatives at the event.

The adoption process includes an application and interview. If you are considering adopting a cat, you should have a secure cat carrier with you for transportation. The ACHS will not authorize the transportation of a cat from the event without a carrier. You must be 21 years of age or older to adopt an animal from the Athens County Humane Society.

There is also a fee associated with the adoption of animals from the Athens County Humane Society. The fee varies by animal. Dogs range between $100 and $150, depending upon the veterinary costs were incurred when they were surrendered to the organization. Adult cats aged 6 months or older have an adoption fee of $50, while kittens under six months cost $75 to adopt. The price may seem steep to some, but all animals adopted from the ACHS are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and treated for parasites (including fleas!) prior to adoption. A "free" kitten could easily run up a vet tab nearly triple the cost of adoption within the first week of ownership for the very same procedures.

Click here
to read more about the financial responsibility associated with pet ownership and click here for a list of things to consider before adopting a new companion.

If you're absolutely certain you're ready to adopt, check out a list of adoptable pets available through the Athens County Humane Society. Even if they don't attend the event, these little guys and gals are looking for a "forever" home. Is it yours?

Sunday, June 20, 2010

What To Do If You've Lost Your Pet

Summertime is here and the cats are starting to roam. Whether they're searching for a mate (spay and neuter those pets, guys!), looking for adventure, or have escaped through an open window or door, warm weather brings an increase in missing pets.

There are some steps you should take right away if your pet has gone missing.

When you notice your pet is missing, talk to your family members or housemates. Ask them when they last saw the animal. If they saw the pet escape, ask which direction the critter ran off in.

Take a slow walk around your neighborhood. Have some tasty treats on hand to entice the animal out of hiding. Cats who run away from home are likely scared and hiding. Check spots where your pet could hide - basement windows, under cars, porches, shrubs, garages, under decks. Start searching at your house and spiral outward. Most animals can trot at a pace of 3 miles per hour. Cats are more likely to hide closer to home out of fear. Dogs may run all over town and come back hours later, muddy and tired but happy. Keep this in mind when searching for your pet.

Work those phones! Call the Athens County Dog Shelter, even if you have lost a cat. The Athens County Dog Shelter does not accept cats, but well meaning individuals might pick up your pet and drop it off. Ask the workers to give you a call if a pet of your description is brought in. Be sure to give them your phone number. You can reach the Athens County Dog Shelter at 740-593-5415. Stop by in person on Route 13 in Chauncey.

Call the veterinarians in Athens County and any vets in a neighboring county if you live close to the border of another county. Explain the situation and give them a description of your pet and your phone number. Ask them to call if your pet is brought to their practice as an injured stray or pet that someone plans to rehome.

Check with the local emergency vets. Animal Veterinary Emergency in Parkersburg and the Emergency Vet offices in Columbus are the only 24/7 critical care facilities in the area.

Call the Pooch Patrol at 740-593-6651, a radio bulletin broadcast on WATH and Power 105. They'll broadcast the details of your pet to local listeners.

Get to work placing lost and found ads in the local papers. The Athens Messenger can be reached at 740-592-6621 Ext. 231 or Ext. 233.

The Athens News can accept your lost ad via email at classified@athensnews.com, via fax at 740-592-5695 or by phone at 740-594-8219


If you have lost a pet in or around Glouster, consider calling the Morgan County Herald about placing a lost pet ad. They can be reached at 740-962-3377

Don't discount the power of the internet! Craigslist for Athens has a Lost/Found section under their "Community" category.

Make use of Facebook, Twitter and Myspace to reach friends and family members in your area to have them keep a lookout for your missing companion.

Make and post flyers reporting your pet lost. Cover a two to three mile radius. Include only the vital information and a photo, if possible. Make the phone number large enough that passing drivers can read the numbers. If the flyers are outdoors, place them in gallon plastic freezer bags to protect them from bad weather. Additionally, ask at local stores and establishments if you can place a flyer in their window. Be sure to remove the flyers once you've found your furry child! Give a flyer to your mail carrier and ask them to keep a look-out for you on their route. Mail carriers have a strenuous job and cover your neighborhood daily. Remember to thank your mail carrier for helping.


There are some steps you can take a little bit closer to home to ensure your pet can find its way back. Cats and dogs rely heavily on scent to navigate the world. While the T-shirt or pajamas you wore two days ago may not smell appealing to you, they smell LIKE you. And to a lost pet, that smell means HOME. Place a worn item of clothing outside your door to attract your pet home again.

For cats, it might be easier to find them during the peak hunting hours of dawn and dusk, when cats are most active and seeking food. Wait until it's quiet and go walking to find your kitty. Call your cats name, take a few steps, and wait for your cat to answer. Repeat these steps while walking in a spiral pattern from your house. If your cat is a sucker for treats, bring a bag of kitty treats and shake the bag every so often. If your area lacks adequate lighting, be sure to bring a flashlight to search dimly light hiding places or to get a closer look at any cats who answer your call.

Upon recovering your pet, take steps toward preventing future escapes. Cat-proof your windows and make sure visitors and family members know not to let Kitty outdoors when entering or exiting the premises.

Affix a collar with identification to your pet. Make sure the ID has your CURRENT name and phone number.

Consider getting your pet microchipped. Pets are scanned for microchips when brought to a shelter or veterinary practice. The information on the chip could be your pet's key to coming home.

Additional Reading on Finding a Lost Pet:


The Humane Society of the United States: What To Do If You Lose Your Pet

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Finding a Lost Pet

AnimalPounds.com: Tips On Where Your Lost Pet Might Go

Missing Pet Partnership: Recovery Tips: Lost Cat Behavior

The Humane Society of the United States: High Technology: Identifying Lost Pets With Microchips