[angiefox10]

I need to talk to you and I need you to listen. The Villages is comprised of 120,000 people and many of us have pets.
When I'm traveling around The Villages and I meet someone who has a pet, I often ask them if their pet is chipped. Most times the answer is no. I always hear the same response... "My dog doesn't leave me". Well... I have a news flash... Dogs DO leave!!!!
Since Susan Gros and I started this, we have had to deal with about two or three pets a week that have "walked away". I do most of the computer work and Susan works out in the field... She gets the calls for found dogs in The Villages. She goes out and looks, she picks them up, she takes them to the vet to see if they are chipped and even takes them to her home until we can find the owners! She does this without complaining on her dime! All of this is volunteer!!!! Do you have any idea how hard it is to find the owners when there is no ID or chip????
Do you have any idea how many people not only don't chip their pets, or if they do, they don't register them? Or how many people don't keep the collars with ID tags on their dogs??? (BTW collars come off, so don't count on them). But I digress.
I don't know of any other town that has someone who will go pick up your dog and make sure it's safe while we look for you so that we don't have to call Animal Control or take it to a shelter who can and will put it up for adoption in a few short days if you don't claim it.
So please... Don't count on your dog not walking off... we have a tone of those we work to find the owners every week.
PLEASE make that appointment to get your dog or cat chipped today!!!! I can't stress it enough! Please help us help you!

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by angiefox10

I need to talk to you and I need you to listen. The Villages is comprised of 120,000 people and many of us have pets.
When I'm traveling around The Villages and I meet someone who has a pet, I often ask them if their pet is chipped. Most times the answer is no. I always hear the same response... "My dog doesn't leave me". Well... I have a news flash... Dogs DO leave!!!!
Since Susan Gros and I started this, we have had to deal with about two or three pets a week that have "walked away". I do most of the computer work and Susan works out in the field... She gets the calls for found dogs in The Villages. She goes out and looks, she picks them up, she takes them to the vet to see if they are chipped and even takes them to her home until we can find the owners! She does this without complaining on her dime! All of this is volunteer!!!! Do you have any idea how hard it is to find the owners when there is no ID or chip????
Do you have any idea how many people not only don't chip their pets, or if they do, they don't register them? Or how many people don't keep the collars with ID tags on their dogs??? (BTW collars come off, so don't count on them). But I digress.
I don't know of any other town that has someone who will go pick up your dog and make sure it's safe while we look for you so that we don't have to call Animal Control or take it to a shelter who can and will put it up for adoption in a few short days if you don't claim it.
So please... Don't count on your dog not walking off... we have a tone of those we work to find the owners every week.
PLEASE make that appointment to get your dog or cat chipped today!!!! I can't stress it enough! Please help us help you!

Both Sport and Beau have walked off over the years. Both looking for me when I was absent from them. Sport when I was at a dinner party down the street and my younger late brother Chuck had left the front door not quite closed and a wind blew it open and Beau when I was visiting my older brother Robert-- a federal computer skill headhunter-- in DC last May of 2015. My Mom had been watered plants and Beau slipped out the back door.

Beau made his way back after a very frightening hour for my Mom and Sport was picked up by a nice Belvedere woman who had two Westies she would cart around Lynnhaven in the evening. Sport went home and watched TV with them after she called Community Watch about a found dog.

We got Sport chipped right after that and Beau was chipped when he was at the Animal Shelter and rescued by Max's Pet Connection.

[Bonnevie]

same with having them wear an ID tag with phone number. would be so easy to call the owner. If someone doesn't want to get a tag, you can get collars with a phone number embroidered in it.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Bonnevie

same with having them wear an ID tag with phone number. would be so easy to call the owner. If someone doesn't want to get a tag, you can get collars with a phone number embroidered in it.

Only works if you keep the collar on the pooch at all times.

Both Pet Smart and Pet Co on US 41/227 have machines where you can make tags for your dog.

I used the one at Pet Smart a few days ago as I sometimes lose my cell phone and needed to update the tag I had for Beau.

[angiefox10]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Both Sport and Beau have walked off over the years. Both looking for me when I was absent from them. Sport when I was at a dinner party down the street and my younger late brother Chuck had left the front door not quite closed and a wind blew it open and Beau when I was visiting my older brother Robert-- a federal computer skill headhunter-- in DC last May of 2015. My Mom had been watered plants and Beau slipped out the back door.

Beau made his way back after a very frightening hour for my Mom and Sport was picked up by a nice Belvedere woman who had two Westies she would cart around Lynnhaven in the evening. Sport went home and watched TV with them after she called Community Watch about a found dog.

We got Sport chipped right after that and Beau was chipped when he was at the Animal Shelter and rescued by Max's Pet Connection.

I work with Max's Pet Connection and Susan works with Poodles and Pooches. If you are looking for your next dog, please consider one of those two great organizations.

Originally Posted by Bonnevie

same with having them wear an ID tag with phone number. would be so easy to call the owner. If someone doesn't want to get a tag, you can get collars with a phone number embroidered in it.

Dogs and cats slip out of their collars.

That being said.. We have collars, tags and they are chipped... Not taking any chances!

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by angiefox10

I work with Max's Pet Connection and Susan works with Poodles and Pooches. If you are looking for your next dog, please consider one of those two great organizations.




Dogs and cats slip out of their collars.

That being said.. We have collars, tags and they are chipped... Not taking any chances!

Beau is sometimes more than we can handle now. He requires a lot of loving.

[ajbrown]

I read your messages about 'running dogs' and was wondering how you always knew about them. That is a wonderful thing you and your friend are doing.

I have never had a dog walk or run off. I would say I am lucky, but I cannot even think of a time where any have had the opportunity. They are never out of my sight or more importantly my voice. My comment is not to go against what you suggest as chipping is clearly a valuable thing. so I hope I do not come across that way.

All that said my current girl needs help getting off the floor, I do not think she could run off out my Villages postage stamp yard even if she pretended that old age has made her deaf

[Pinky1951]

Although My Milo is micro-chipped and has a collar with our address and phone number, he is very skilled at escaping. I am very new to The Villages and I'm not sure if there is a place to announce a lost dog or a group that looks for a lost dog, but if so I would love to help with the search of lost dogs.

[njbchbum]

Has there ever been a 'feature day' in TV where some group or association sponsored a chip your pet day? I have seen other pet events in the news but never one for a day that could be as important as getting a pet chipped/registered! Maybe the folks from RDOG could help set one up with Pet Smart or a local Vet or humane society?

[bbbbbb]

Is that why my wife has me wear that collar when I go somewhere alone"

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by bbbbbb

Is that why my wife has me wear that collar when I go somewhere alone"

That's probably a shock collar. Totally different purpose.

[angiefox10]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

Has there ever been a 'feature day' in TV where some group or association sponsored a chip your pet day? I have seen other pet events in the news but never one for a day that could be as important as getting a pet chipped/registered! Maybe the folks from RDOG could help set one up with Pet Smart or a local Vet or humane society?

I was actually talking to someone about doing this in The Villages.

She was having medical issues and we lost contact. I can't find her email address now and hope to make contact with her in the future.

RDOG is VERY involved in finding lost dogs. They have recently had very productive meetings about what they can do.

That's a great idea!!! Maybe they would be interested in doing this! I'll mention it to Susan Gros, who is the VP of the group.

[angiefox10]

I forgot to mention the Cat Crazy Villagers. They aren't "active" in Lost Pets of The Villages, but are in the group and any time a cat comes up, they make personal contact with the cat owner and work to assist them in finding their cat!

The cat group is still organizing.. I have had several meetings with them and can tell you we need them.

Us dog people know little if nothing about cats and value anything they can do to help. I don't even know the difference of one cat from another...

It really does take a village!!!!

[FosterMomma]

Angie, what you say is so true! We have two Golden Retrievers who are always with us and protected by a fenced area at our Villa... until the pool guy left the gate open. One evening I came home from the leash free park; fed them dinner and put them outside while I made my own supper and started to watch the news. The phone rang and a very kind man asked me if my dogs were missing. "No" I said confidently as I walked to the lanai only to see that the side gate was open! Apparently they had run around Summerchase with great glee, then down a golf cart path to our neighbouring village; through a delightfully stinky swamp area then across 4 lanes of traffic on El Camino; all the way down to El Diablo where they proceeded to chase golf balls (they are retrievers after all). A gentleman called one into his cart and drove hm back to the gate where (drum roll) they were able to find us because their collars are embroidered with their name and phone number. Thank Heaven they weren't hit. In addition to their collars; they have tags with our names and numbers + they are microchipped. I would have said these bad boys were always with us, until the day they weren't but luckily they were identifiable and protected!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by angiefox10

I need to talk to you and I need you to listen. The Villages is comprised of 120,000 people and many of us have pets.
When I'm traveling around The Villages and I meet someone who has a pet, I often ask them if their pet is chipped. Most times the answer is no. I always hear the same response... "My dog doesn't leave me". Well... I have a news flash... Dogs DO leave!!!!
Since Susan Gros and I started this, we have had to deal with about two or three pets a week that have "walked away". I do most of the computer work and Susan works out in the field... She gets the calls for found dogs in The Villages. She goes out and looks, she picks them up, she takes them to the vet to see if they are chipped and even takes them to her home until we can find the owners! She does this without complaining on her dime! All of this is volunteer!!!! Do you have any idea how hard it is to find the owners when there is no ID or chip????
Do you have any idea how many people not only don't chip their pets, or if they do, they don't register them? Or how many people don't keep the collars with ID tags on their dogs??? (BTW collars come off, so don't count on them). But I digress.
I don't know of any other town that has someone who will go pick up your dog and make sure it's safe while we look for you so that we don't have to call Animal Control or take it to a shelter who can and will put it up for adoption in a few short days if you don't claim it.
So please... Don't count on your dog not walking off... we have a tone of those we work to find the owners every week.
PLEASE make that appointment to get your dog or cat chipped today!!!! I can't stress it enough! Please help us help you!

It can't be said too many times, please make sure your pet is microchipped.
And also, if your pet is microchipped, please make sure the company has current information about your new address
and telephone number.
Also, it's important to provide current Vet information on your Profile, and current contact numbers for your friends.
Some people that move to The Villages overlook this important task.

My sincere thanks to Angiefox and Susan G. who get involved and make things happen.
It's a labor of love, and they spend countless hours worrying about our lost pets.