Alberta Wildfire - What Happens Next for Animals

Since the animal rescue work began in Fort McMurray, the Alberta SPCA’s (ASPCA) reunion centre in Edmonton took in 1,178 animals. 

The last transport of animals arrived at 11:30 p.m. on Monday, May 16 and the reunion centre closed on Thursday, May 19.

As of June 1st, the ASPCA had reunited 910 animals and another 106 were scheduled for pick up by their owners.

So what happens now?

The animals that had been in the care of the ASPCA have been moved to five facilities better suited to long-term housing: the Edmonton Humane Society, the Red Deer and District SPCA, the Calgary Humane Society, the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society’s shelter in Calgary and Meika’s Bird House in Sherwood Park.

For animals still in Fort McMurray, the Wood Buffalo animal control officers continue to pick up strays and to recheck houses registered as having animals but where none have been found to-date.

The municipality will continue working to reunite the animals now in its shelter with returning residents.

Anyone still trying to locate their pets should check the municipality website “In-Care Gallery” to see if their animal’s photo is there. Included in the gallery are photos of animals that came to the ASPCA without identification or with incorrect owner contact information.

The Fort McMurray SPCA is assisting returning residents who need supplies for their animals. Returning residents are requested to fill out the online form for assistance.

From the beginning the ASPCA recognized that many evacuees would be in situations where they couldn’t take possession of their animals right away, so they helped people find medium-term housing for their animals as needed.

Many animal rescue organizations, as well as numerous individuals across the province, offered foster homes for animal evacuees. In some cases, animals may need to be fostered for extended periods of time as homes and communities are rebuilt.

 

Rocky & Rambo were reunited with an ecstatic owner who'd had the birds for over 30 years.

Alberta Wildfire - Animal Rescue Update

Bella (ASPCA)

The Alberta SPCA has been posting daily updates on the status of the animals in their care that have been rescued from Fort McMurray.

As of this morning:

1,160 animals have been admitted since May 8

725 animals have been reunited with their owners

169 animals are scheduled for reunions

230 animals are without owner contact

Heartwarming photos of some of the reunions have been shared on the Alberta SPCA Facebook page as well.

(ASPCA)

Individuals and organizations have been pulling together to help the people of Fort McMurray in an amazing way.

The organizations involved in animal rescue and recovery efforts include the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Fort McMurray SPCA, Edmonton Humane Society, Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, Alberta Spay Neuter Task Force, Animal Care & Control Centre - Edmonton, Calgary Humane Society, Red Deer & District SPCA Main Page, Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society - AARCS, ZOE's Animal Rescue Society, Humane Animal Rescue Team (hart), Second Chance Animal Rescue Society, CaliCan Rescue Foundation, Hope Lives Here Animal Rescue Society, Saving Grace Animal Sanctuary - Canada, Barrhead Animal Rescue Society, Meika's Bird House and more.

Companies like Associate Vet Clinics have been collecting supplies and food and offering free boarding; and Pets Plus Us, Kijiji and HomeSafeTM came together to offer complimentary subscriptions to all evacuees’ pets on HomeSafeTM, an automated lost and found system that can help reunite people with their animals.

 

Rocky & Rambo (ASPCA)

Butterball (ASPCA)

Oscar (ASPCA)

Wildfires - HomeSafe Offer Expands to BC Evacuees

After the Fort McMurray evacuation in early May, Pets Plus Us, HomeSafeTM and Kijiji launched a pet rescue/recovery initiative for displaced people with pets - offering complimentary access and a lifetime animal record on the HomeSafe™ system.

With wildfires also flaring up in British Columbia, any evacuees from that province are also being offered this service.

This disaster recovery initiative allows those who have been displaced to register their pets without cost in the HomeSafe™ Automated Return to Owner system so they are protected as they experience confusion during an evacuation.

Those with lost animals can also register so the system can automatically match with animals being found and registered by volunteers and first responders in the affected areas.

Organizations and individuals who find animals post them on HomeSafeTM - creating a centralized lost and found database for all animals displaced by the fire. Contact Cori Imbery to establish access credentials as a CRA registered organization, municipal/provincial government agency or an authorized volunteer.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Evacuees:

Go to HomeSafeTM Website

Your code is PPU-FIRE-YMM

Kijiji Joins Initiative to Help Alberta Fire Evacuees

Longtime Urban Animal supporter Kijiji Canada has stepped up to help people and their animals at a time of crisis.

Anyone displaced by the Fort McMurray wildfire can now access their free lifetime subscription to HomeSafeTM directly from the Kijiji website.

This direct connect feature is one of many actions Kijiji has taken over the past few years to improve the lives of people and their animals.

They began by eliminating free animal listings in an effort to assist in actions against illegal pet vendors. This was followed by implementation of a pet blog to provide readers with tools relating to pet adoption and sourcing, homing and health and safety.

Manager of Communications, Shawn McIntyre, was even a keynote speaker at the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in 2014.

Kijiji Canada joins Pets Plus Us and HomeSafeTM in this animal Rescue/recovery initiative for those displaced by Alberta wildfires.

Alberta Wildfire Evacuees - How to Use HomeSafe

Anyone evacuated due to the Fort McMurray wildfire can receive a lifetime subscription to HomeSafeTM for their pets.

Organizations and individuals who find animals can post them on HomeSafeTM as well - creating a centralized lost and found database for all animals displaced by the fire.

If everyone uses the system, there will be no need to search multiple websites and pages for lost pets. The system is automated so while rescuers are searching for pets and evacuees are rebuilding their day-to-day lives, it is matching lost and found pet reports.

This should simplify the process of reuniting animals with their owners and reduce the stress of the evacuees during such a terrible time.

Evacuees who escaped with their pets are also eligible. During displacement and times of stress, it’s easy for animals to get lost. A subscription provides protection in case that happens.

This complimentary service is available thanks to Pets Plus Us and HomeSafeTM.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Evacuees:
Your code is PPU-FIRE-YMM

Pets Plus Us™ and HomeSafe™ Launch Animal Rescue/Recovery Initiative for those displaced by Alberta Wildfires

Enter PPU-FIRE-YMM HERE

http://www.petlynx.net

The disaster response teams of Pets Plus Us and HomeSafe™ have initiated a pet rescue/recovery operation for people displaced by Alberta Wildfires. Animal owners may use the Pets Plus Us voucher code above to gain free access and a lifetime animal record on the HomeSafe™ system. Adding an animal picture and detailed information such as medical, nutritional and behavioral elements can sustain life.

This disaster recovery initiative allows those who have been displaced to register their pets without cost in the HomeSafe™ Automated Return to Owner system so they are protected as they experience confusion during an evacuation.

Those with lost animals can also register so the system can automatically match with animals being found and registered by volunteers and first responders in the affected areas.

Agencies and volunteers use the system to record and automatically match animals they encounter. Contact Cori Imbery to establish access credentials as a CRA registered organization, municipal/provincial government agency or an authorized volunteer.

Pets Plus Us is more than just an insurance company offering medical benefits for the animals we love. They are building a community of organizations that empower and inform responsible pet owners while helping them deal with the joys and challenges of pet ownership.

The HomeSafe™ RTO System was developed during the Katrina Disaster and has been employed in floods, wildfires and large scale events across Canada to assist and recover more than three hundred forty thousand animals since coming into service.  HomeSafe™ is the world’s only customer owned, privacy compliant, online service for companion animals. Owners store information, manage access and receive the best/only Automated Return to Owner service for the life of their animal(s). HomeSafe™ is the only recovery system in the world that doesn’t require pre-registration. It now holds more than a million registered animals in Canada.

Dog Fighting Fears Grow in Northern BC

Chocco (Brad Tanner)

For more than a year, dog owners in Northern B.C. have been voicing their fears about stolen dogs.

Panic is spreading throughout the area with on-going rumours of dog fighting and the reported disappearance of over 120 dogs in the Fort St. John area in the past 12 months.

Owners fear that dogs are being stolen to fight as well as be used as bait dogs.

While some animals have been found dead or injured with injuries consistent with dog fighting, it has been difficult to come up with more evidence. This, coupled with limited resources for the RCMP and SPCA in this rural area, has made following up on dog owners’ fears a real challenge.

Over 2,000 people have signed a petition demanding the province give the SPCA and RCMP more resources to investigate.

Brad Tanner, a breeder from the Cecil Lake area in Northern BC, started the Sea of Green program and Stolen Dogs 911 on Facebook to address the missing dog issue after his dog, Chocco, was stolen and later found shot.

Tanner says the Sea of Green program is “a program for the pet owners, by the pet owners,” that addresses the gap in guidance and services when searching for a missing pet.

“The gaps have been identified and the solution is for us to unite as pet owners to help protect and recover each others’ four legged family members. To show the industry what it is that we are wanting and needing,” Tanner told InfoStream. “In turn, we will relieve the burden on all these other organizations that aren't able to cope and handle the extreme demand that is ravaging across this nation.”

“The ‘Sea of Green’ has two main components: A dedicated network of pet lovers and a single centralised pet registry (PetLynx) and one social media point. The goal is to integrate community and technology together enabling each and every household to monitor and locate their beloved pet with merely a few touches of a button,” explains Tanner.

Tanner was the recipient of the 2015 Pet Owner Summit Award for his efforts to raise awareness about dog theft in B.C. and Alberta.

What if - A Bluetooth Tile could help find lost pets?

Developers are working on a matchbook-sized Bluetooth Low Energy device that aims to ignite a community movement around keeping track of the important things in life. 

Tile is the first of its kind. While competitors have been restricted by Bluetooth's typical connectivity range of 100 ft., Tile's range can go far beyond that by using the Bluetooth connection of neighbouring iPhones running the Tile app to cast a wider search net. 

Tile's marketing campaign has focused on lost keys, misplaced wallets and stolen bicycles. But could Tile also locate lost pets? 

Tile's features include: 

• Locate and manage multiple Tiles on the Tile app, accompanying the iOS application
• Easily view how far away your are from your lost Tile's signal, within a 100-150 foot radius
• When your Tile is outside of its Bluetooth range, use the Tile app's Last Place Seen feature to discover where you left your item behind
• Share your Tile's with family, roommates, friends or coworkers to make it incredibly easy for trusted acquaintances to help each other find lost items. 
• Tile is secure. Only you will be able to see where your Tiles are on your Tile app. 
• 'Ring' your misplaced Tile from your Tile app to make finding items easier
• No need to charge or replace Tile batteries. After a year, you will be reminded when to order a new Tile

TILE WEBSITE

READ THE PRESS RELEASE

Man Sentenced in Pet-Finder Fraud

A New York man has been sentenced to more than five years after admitting to running an investment scam related to a alleged service to return lost pets to their owners.

Fifty-four-year-old, Eric Stein, pleaded guilty to fraud charges in the scam in February. It is said that he has netted over $500,000 and involved dozens of consumers into the scam through a company called Return-A-Pet through false and misleading advertisements.

The Return-A-Pet service offered identification tags to be placed on pets that featured a 24-hour staffed toll-free number. 

Read the News Release

Calgary to make it easier for owners to claim dead pets

When losing a pet many owners never find out what happens, they just know that "Fido" or "Fifi" never came home. The City of Calgary is looking to help put closure to the unfortunate circumstance of losing a pet by setting up a system to help pet owners identify their animals after they've been killed on city streets.

Watch the video news story

PetLynx Achieves Record High Registrations and Recoveries

An analysis of PetLynx Corporation's statistics showed extraordinary growth in the number of registrations in the first six months of 2010. During this time, a total of 57,620 entities registered with the PetLynx Automated National Recovery System. This achievement includes 29,561 companion animals and 28,059 associates (pet families and service providers) -- an increase of 129% and 91% respectively, over the same period last year.