[angiefox10]

We are responding to the "reasons" The Villages have given as to why they feel our pets are safer with Animal Control than Lost Pets of The Villages. We will respond to each one daily.

Day 1

Lost Pets of The Villages obtained a copy of the "reasons" why The Villages instructed their employees to call Animal Control instead of Lost Pets.

We will go over these taking one each day to explain why this is a reckless decision for our pets. How this decision is harmful for our pets and could cause us to lose them.

Their first concern is.... " Would it be reasonable to recommend the lost pet into the care of a private citizen or unincorporated organization when there existed dedicated shelters sanctioned by units of local government and held to standards created by local and state law."

Well, let me see. If they call the Sumter County Animal Shelter they are going to carry your pet off to a cold cement floor, the last time I was there, didn't even have beds and put your dog there until you can find out where the pet is.

Sumter County has been known to kill animals within 24 hours of intake with the family looking for their dog. We all remember Isabelle.

If they take your dog on a Friday evening, you will not be able to get your pet until Monday at 10:30AM. Or, to even find out if they have your pet.

Sumter County seems to have problems with their math and appears to lose pets.

If Lost Pets of The Villages has the pet we will scan on the spot and if there is a chip, get your pet back to you immediately and if there is not a chip, will drive the hood to find the family and most often get your pet home within an hour or two. Many time the pet stays in the home of the finder, nice cozy home with people to care for it, while we do the work to find the owner.

I say the answer is YES... it would be reasonable.

What say you? Where would you want your pet to be if it were found? Please answer these questions and share with your friends and neighbors so people are aware of the situation.

Stay tuned tomorrow for another segment of as the world turns when we, all of us, respond to what we want to happen to our pets if they were to get lost.

The dog in the photo got loose at a gas station and was found by someone in The Villages. The owners couldn't find him and had to move on. We were called and posted on social media immediately as well as craigslist. The owner was checking the sites as they were driving and we got this guy back to the owner that evening.

They would not have gotten their dog back if it had gone to the shelter! The owners didn't live here.



Angie Fox
Lost Pets of The Villages
815-370-9115

[CFrance]

The more you get the word out about your wonderful organization, the better it will be. I have followed Lost Pets of The Villages for a long time on Facebook and know that the Sumter County Commission has a vendetta out there against your organization because you have lobbied them to have Sumter County go No Kill. The harm that is coming from their decision is to the pets themselves. Their reasoning is disingenuous and spiteful.

I urge everyone to chip their pets, whether dogs or cats or birds. And DON'T call Community Services or Sumter County if your pet gets loose. Call Lost Pets of The Villages--join their group on Facebook. You will be amazed at the lengths they go to in reuniting lost pets with their owners. Sumter County cannot even come close to doing this work.