'Failed' Service Dog Takes up Surfing

Ricochet is a Golden Retriever who is now better known as 'Rip Curl Ricki!"

She was born to lead a life of service.... but, despite receiving the best possible training from the Puppy Prodigies Neonatal & Early Learning Program in San Diego, California, her penchant for chasing birds resulted in elimination from the program.

Rather than focus on what this dog couldn't do.... her trainer decided to focus on the dog's strengths and turned disappointment into a new direction. Ricki is now a surfing dog who not only helps the disabled, she also helps raise money for charity!

If you need inspiration to help you set new directions for the New Year, this video of Ricki riding the waves in the California surf is sure to bring a smile to your face and tears to your eyes!

Setting Puppies & Kittens Up for Success

We all know that, without proper training, an adorable puppy can turn into less delightful adult dog - which helps explain why one in five puppies are abandoned before the age of two! New pet owners can feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of socializing, training, and caring for a puppy or kitten, and since more than one half of Canadian households (51 per cent) own a pet, a large part of the population faces these challenges every day. But new pet owners can feel more confident in their role thanks to the new free online resources, supposed by the good people at Purina Pet Care. Canadians can easily access pet-related information with the simple click of a mouse. For dogs: www.mypuppy.ca For cats: www.mykitten.ca They can even train their puppies by using the online interactive videos by award-winning dog trainer Kayl McCann. Kayl can speak with you about straightforward training techniques that highlight how easy it can be to train one's puppy or kitten (when you know what you're doing, of course).

Purina Health Care Extends Flu Coverage

With pets also vulnerable to the flu, PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance has announced that it has extended coverage for treatment of H3N8 (Dog Flu). Canine influenza is extremely contagious and, while humans are not affected by this flu strain, they can unknowingly pass it from an infected dog to an unaffected dog. Dog Flu can also be spread directly from dog to dog and via contaminated objects. Dogs in kennels, boarding facilities, or animal shelters, at dog shows, or in close proximity to other dogs are at a higher risk of contracting canine influenza. "If your dog is exposed to another dog that has the canine influenza virus, it is highly likely your dog will come down with the dog flu," says Dr. William H. Craig, DVM, Chief Medical and Underwriting Director of PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance. "Pet owners whose dogs are coughing or showing other signs of respiratory disease should not participate in activities or bring their dogs to facilities where other dogs can be exposed to the virus." The dog flu first emerged as a threat in 2004. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says canine influenza has now been detected in more than 30 states. DOG FLU SYMPTOMS:

• Similar to "kennel cough" (which is caused by the Bordetella organism, not the H3N8 virus)
• Fever
• An unproductive dry cough
• Runny nose
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy

Developing secondary bacterial pneumonia is the most serious consequence of Dog Flu and can cause death in extreme cases. "Dogs with canine influenza symptoms should receive prompt veterinary attention to determine the best treatment," says Craig. "If the symptoms are left untreated they can cause death." As with most medical treatments and care, prevention and treatment costs can sometimes be prohibitive. Pet health insurance like PurinaCare is committed to helping pet owners alleviate some of the uncertainty by knowing the treatment will be covered by one of the most trusted names in pet care. LEARN MORE

Dogs Drive Car Buying Decisions

North Americans' insatiable appetite to shower their beloved pets with accessories at home is now transitioning into the automobile. LeaseTrader.com, the nation’s most popular online car lease swap marketplace, reports a 67 percent increase in the number of customers who shop for a vehicle with pet needs in mind – an increase from 24 percent three years earlier.

But pet lovers today need to satisfy their desire for pet friendly features along with economic realities. Increasingly, LeaseTrader.com customers are trading large SUV leases in favor of smaller, more budget- conscious vehicles still considered pet-friendly. Since the beginning of 2008, LeaseTrader.com has seen this trend double and expects to see continued growth in this area.

“Hatchbacks and station wagons are filling the needs of pet owners looking for a little extra sportiness and space to fit the family pet,” says Gina Spadafori, Executive Editor of petconnection.com and dogcars.com. “The ability of the car industry to identify the needs of this growing subculture shows a new-found commitment to innovation and customer demand.”

Coping with Cold Viruses in Shelter Cats

New research reveals that simple changes in shelter housing may inhibit the spread of feline upper respiratory infection (URI)--and save the lives of cats. This infection, which is similar to the common cold in humans, is cited among the top reasons for euthanasia of cats in shelters. Research funded by Morris Animal Foundation's Happy Healthy Cat Campaign suggests that stressful conditions dramatically increase the likelihood of infection. Fortunately, housing modifications reduce stress and decrease the spread of infection--making the difference between life and death for a shelter cat. With Morris Animal Foundation funding, Dr. Kate Hurley, the director of the Koret Shelter Medicine Program at the University of California-Davis, is assessing disease incidence, cage layout and sanitation methods to determine how shelter housing affects stress and stress-related illnesses. Her research shows that prevalence of feline URI varies wildly across the country--with anywhere from 5 percent to 60 percent of shelter cats getting sick. Environmental risk factors explain some of the variation, and so far, shelters with the lowest URI rates seem to be those with high-quality housing for cats. "Our hope is that we will find something that not only helps cats stay healthy but also helps them get out of shelters alive," Hurley says. Learn more about the research and the symptoms of URI. Source: PR Newswire

PetSmart Charities National Adoption Event

As a heartwarming start to the holiday season, it was great to hear that 16,933 pets found their lifelong, loving homes during the PetSmart Charities Holiday National Adoption Event, held in all 1,145 PetSmart stores throughout the U.S. and Canada, November 13-15. More than 2,000 animal-welfare agencies throughout the United States and Canada participated and presented adoptable pets at every PetSmart Charities in-store adoption center. The Canadian National Adoption Event was proudly sponsored by PetSmart. "It's an amazing way to kick off the holiday season," said Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities, Inc. "During our four National Adoption Weekends in 2009, we have helped find homes for more than 66,000 pets." In the U.S. alone, an estimated 6 million to 8 million dogs and cats enter animal shelters each year, but 3 million to 4 million never find homes. During the last 14 years, the PetSmart Charities Adoption Centers have found homes for nearly 4 million pets. For every minute that the Adoption Centers are open, one pet's life is saved. "PetSmart Charities strives to raise awareness about the benefits of adopting rather than purchasing a pet," added Della Maddalena. "We are so happy to have exceeded our event goal and helped so many pets. We hope people will always consider adoption when they add a pet to their lives."

Vote for Your Favorite Famous Dog!

From crime fighting dogs to presidential pooches.... that sometimes got more press than their owners,... one look at popular culture proves that dogs have always had a profound influence on our daily lives. But which well-known canine is the most famous? Continuing the celebration of its 125 Anniversary and quest to find the top 125 Dogs in Pop Culture, the American Kennel Club and partner AOL’s PawNation.com ask America to weigh in this week on their favorite famous dog. This week’s choices include:

• Richard Nixon’s Cocker Spaniel “Checkers"
• Bill Clinton’s Labrador Retriever “Buddy”
• Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua “Tinker Bell”
• FDR’s Scottish Terrier “Fala”
• Obama's’s Portuguese Water Dog “Bo”
• "McGruff" the Crime Dog and
• "Tryumph" the Insult Comic Dog.

Leave your paw print on the poll! VOTE HERE!

The Perks of PetLynx (For Pet Families)

Whether they operate as part of a municipality or are non-profit agencies, animal shelters are busy places! While it can be a challenge, it is important that adoption staff and volunteers using PetLynx take a few minutes to explain the "perks" of registration that is part of the pet adoption package given to each new pet family. What's in for me, you might ask? When pet guardians regularly update their PetLynx profile they help animal service providers (that's you!) get lost pets HomeSafe faster! With the PetLynx DataSketch system, lost and found matches can be made using only a physical description. With the quick and easy AutoMatch recovery system, fewer animals are brought to animal shelters... saving valuable time, resources and, ultimately, lives. Benefits of PetLynx for pet families:

• Instant access to pet's ID and medical records 24/7.

• In an emergency, veterinarians, shelter workers and animal control personnel have access to information 24/7.

• Lifetime access to National Automated Pet Recovery Service, should the animal become lost. Includes ability to quickly and easily create and print "Lost Pet" posters.

• DataSketchTM and AutoMatchTM combine to enable real time automated matching of lost and found pets, with or without ID, to help get pets HomeSafeTM!

Pet families should be advised to:

• Upload a new photo of the pet immediately. Update at least annually.

• Update contact info immediately, whenever anything changes. No fee for updating or changing information.

• Double-check pet(s) listing(s) at least once a year, ideally when dog/cat licenses are renewed or when the pet has an annual physical.

• Update medical information. This is especially important as your pet ages or if there has been a change in medication or treatment protocols.

• Update the profile if there has been radical change in your pet's description. (Such as shaving, spaying or neutering.)

Want to know more? Check out our Q & A section. Not a service provider? Want to register your pet with PetLynx? Pre-register your pet for one low lifetime fee

A heart-warming tale for a cold winter night

'Buckley's Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher In the spring of 2005, author Ingrid King met Buckley. All it took for King, a long-time veterinary hospital manager, was one look at the small homeless cat, and she fell in love. Hard. And fast. Soon, her life was transformed. In King's warmhearted memoir, Buckley's Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher, she shares the story of how -- rather unexpectedly -- one tortoiseshell cat touched her life forever. Buckley's presence in King's life leads the author to make major changes in her own life, inspired by the lessons this little cat taught through her joyful spirit and huge heart -- universal lessons that readers can apply to their own lives. But after only a few years, Buckley is diagnosed with advanced cardiac disease. In the following chapters of Buckley's Story, King tells of the sometimes heart-wrenching, sometimes joyous, final months of Buckley's life. The human-feline bond is an unbreakable one, and King retells the story with poetic grace. This book is a celebration of life and a reflection of the never-ending love that anyone who has ever loved and lost a pet can surely relate to.

Rally to Rescue Across America

Purina Pro Plan is taking its message of pet adoption across America in a customized motor home. And they are also asking animal ambassadors to participate by hosting their own events.

Since the inception of Rally to Rescue® in 2005, more than 227,000 pets in the United States have found loving, forever homes. But there is still more work to do! Rally To Rescue® encourages everyone to help their Ambassadors reach the grand total goal of 300,000 adoptions by the end of 2009. Rally To Rescue® is traveling to eight areas across the country with the Rally Across America 2009 tour.

Follow the Rally To Rescue® team and get ideas for adoption events in your community as they host hundreds of events nationwide.

H1N1 Confirmed in Canadian Ferret & American Cat

November 6, 2009: Yesterday, PIJAC Canada received notice that the first confirmed case of H1N1 in a ferret was reported to the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association. In addition, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) put out a press release yesterday stating that there has been one confirmed case of a cat in Iowa contracting the H1N1 virus from the owners. Please take notice of this PIJAC Canada bulletin to learn more on what you should do. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association has also posted an information sheet on their website for pet owners. Questions for PIJAC Canada? (p) 1-800-667-7452 or 1-613-730-8111 (e) memberservices@pijaccanada.com.

Bones of the Business

Tips for Working Smarter from PetSmart Challenge: PetSmart Charities has announced some changes to its grant structure. How will the adjusted application process impact your agency? Solution: Don’t panic! The PetSmart team is ready to answer questions and provide helpful resources. They have also prepared a 20-minute Webinar on their website that walks you through the challenges and the process.
 Here’s what you need to know:

• Emergency Relief grants and Canadian grants are not affected by these changes.
• Discard all old grant applications. (New application forms are on the web site.)
• Choose programs that focus on spay/neuter for free-roaming cats and targeted spay/neuter programs for cat owners.
• Start planning for next year’s funding deadline, which will be in early 2010.
• If you have a current grant with PetSmart Charities, you will need to wait until your current project is complete before applying for a new grant.
• Equipment grants for spay/neuter clinic have their own application process.

View the Fall 2009 issue of PetSmart Charities Quarterly newsletter for the complete story.

 Used by permission from PetSmart Charities, Inc. 
Learn more with free webinars.

A Measure of Performance

What is the PetLynx PetMeter™? This component of the PetLynx system lets you view the PetLynx Utility at work. The numbers are a live-to-screen generated account of active lost and found reports and, most importantly, a live glimpse of the AutoMatch™ Google-like search engine. The unique AutoMatch™ search engine performs searches for lost pets against pets admitted to any shelter or pound through AnimalTRACS™ or ShelterLynx™, as well as those from found reports and those registered in the central database, to produce a list of potential matches. The owners are then contacted automatically by email for a happy reunion. In the upper half of the PetMeter™, the Live System Snapshot refreshes every time you connect, to show the system activity in real-time. This includes the number of:

• Active Lost Reports
• Active Found Reports
• Potential AutoMatchs™.

In the lower half of the PetMetre is an estimate of the number of animals lost, found, adopted and euthanized throughout North America. These numbers are aggregated from a painstaking summary of data:

• Canadian Federation of Humane Societies [CFHS]
• Humane Society of the United States [HSUS]
• Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
• National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy
• Animal People
• USA Today - Pet Population Study

No one is sure how accurate these numbers are, but our research has uncovered a margin of error in reported euthanasias across North America that may be as high as 30%. Wow! Can't we get a closer number than that? You bet we can! But the industry has to collect and share data in the same format. That's where PetLynx comes in. On a completely industry-neutral basis, we have developed the AnimalTRACS™ Utility to collect and present this data for everyone in the industry. As the list of contributors and therefore the accuracy grows, we all get a better understanding of the problem and the solution for each of our communities. Want to know more? Click here.

Secrets Inside a Dog's Mind

Do you ever wonder... What is my dog thinking? According to a recent article in TIME magazine, many animals have some level of social intelligence, allowing them to coexist and cooperate with other members of their species. But dogs have evolved an extraordinarily rich social intelligence as they've adapted to life with us. Perhaps understanding how (and what) our dogs think could help us be better pet guardians and, for those of us involved in animal welfare, to provide better care for abused, abandoned and stray dogs. Read the full story of the Secrets Inside a Dog's Mind.

A 'Cure' for Pet Euthanisia?

Can a $75 million program, funded by a billionaire doctor’s foundation, offer the solution to pet over population? In the September issue of Science Magazine, David Grimm reports that humane organizations throughout the United States can’t surgically sterilize homeless cats and dogs fast enough to control their numbers. Developing countries with dangerous feral dog populations – such as China and India – fare even worse. As a result, nearly four million dogs and cats are euthanized in United States’ animal shelters each year – and millions more are put to death in less humane ways around the globe. “The amount that municipalities in the U.S. spend to catch, house, and kill our pet cats and dogs is staggering,” Found Animals Foundation Founder, Gary Michelson, M.D., shared with Science. “Surely we should be able to come up with a more cost-effective and humane approach.” The solution could be a program announced last October by Dr. Michelson’s nonprofit foundation, Found Animals, the $75 million Michelson Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology. The aim of the Program is to encourage researchers to develop a low cost, non-surgical sterilant, for cats and dogs. The Program offers $50 million in funding to approved researchers and a $25 million prize to the winning solution. “There are a lot of very bright people out there who haven’t applied their research direction to dogs and cats, in part because there’s been no money,” added Found Animals Director of Scientific Research, Shirley Johnston, Ph.D., D.V.M, a veterinarian and expert in animal reproduction. Want the full story? Click here.

"HAPPY" Act Would Reward Responsbile Pet Parents in the USA

Technically speaking, it is known in the United States as the "Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years" Act. The Street name for this proposed legislation is the "Happy Act"—a federal bill that would reward responsible pet parents by allowing them to keep more money in their pockets come tax time. We all want to give our animal companions the best care we possibly can, but it seems that pet care costs are always on the rise—and these days, it’s harder than ever to stretch the family budget. That’s why the ASPCA supports the HAPPY Act, which would amend U.S. tax code to allow qualifying pet care expenses, including veterinary care, to be tax-deductible. While there is no similar legislation proposed in Canada, we thought this was an notable development in the status of companion animals in our society. It is encouraging that they are rising about the status of "chattel" to valued members of our families! It is reassuring to see that the Companion Animal Industry's efforts to promote responsible pet ownership are making an impact. If you are a US Citizen, you can help support the HAPPY Act! Visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center online for more information.

Twitter-A-Critter

Celebrities use Twitter to help save the lives of shelter pets.

Adopt-a-Pet.com, North America’s largest non-profit pet adoption web service, announces the official launch of TwitterACritter, a new social media campaign that uses Twitter to spread the word about adoptable pets in shelters.

On the campaign web site, www.TwitterACritter.com, pet lovers can select one of the 130,000 homeless dogs, cats, and other pets listed on Adopt-a-Pet.com and tweet a link to that pet's information.

"TwitterACritter is a fun, easy way for people to actively save the life of a shelter pet, even if they can't adopt one themselves or afford to donate," says Abbie Moore, executive director of Adopt-a-Pet.com. "Homeless pets are powerless to promote themselves to potential adopters, so it's up to those of us who love animals to lend a hand, and a set of thumbs, and tweet about them. In these difficult economic times, when so many pets are being relinquished to shelters, they need our help more than ever."

Already the campaign has gotten a boost from several celebrities who have participated and encouraged their Twitter followers to do the same. Since the TwitterACritter feature became available in mid-August, Kevin Nealon, Alyssa Milano, Denise Richards, Kristin Chenoweth, and several other celebrities have taken up the cause and tweeted links to shelter pets listed on Adopt-a-Pet.com. According to Moore, "In each case, immediately after the celebrity's tweet, hundreds of their followers tweeted homeless pets as well… and their followers tweet, and so on and so on. The celebrities create an avalanche of compassion."

"The bottom line is that if enough people see a shelter pet, that pet gets adopted. There is no better way to expose shelter pets to as many potential adopters as possible than through Twitter," continues Moore. "It's no exaggeration to say that a single tweet can save a life. Imagine the impact it would have if everyone tweeted just one critter a day!"

Check out TwitterACritter to see photos of celebrity participants.

Investment in PetLynx™ is Money Well Spent

AutoMatch™ system is automatic, effortless and more accurate

Dianne Martyn, Kennel Manager, of Kennel Inn Animal Control in Aurora, Ontario, says that it has only been about ten months since they joined the PetLynx network and they have already realized significant savings… of time, financial and human resources, and lives!

“Using PetLynx™ has enabled us to eliminate the need for time-consuming manual record keeping, tracking and matching of lost and found reports,” explains Martyn. “With our previous manual system we relied on people telling us what breed of dog (or cat) they had found and this was not always accurate. Since PetLynx matches based on the physical description of the dog and the matching is done automatically, the AutoMatch™ feature ensures better accuracy, wider distribution and a broader range of potential matches.”

Martyn says that Kennel Inn staff and volunteers like the fact that the system is “pro-active”, with their voicemail system directing both people who have lost and those who have found pets to go to the PetLynx™ website to register information and post a photograph.

“People who have lost or found pets are impressed with services when phone contact is made and we are able to instantly find their report and mention the animal by name,” adds Martyn. “This is a level of personalized service that simply could not be previously achieved. Also, the timing, in terms of dogs and cats being return to owner more quickly, has improved dramatically. In many instances, matches are made in the community and we never have to admit the animal into the shelter.”

“Using PetLynx has definitely been a time-saver,” concludes Martyn. “Although using PetLynx™ added some new tasks, the previously labour-intensive and arduous task of manually searching for matches is now done for us automatically, accurately and effortlessly. It is a fabulous service."

Honouring Your Volunteers

Volunteers are the backbone of any nonprofit organization. Part of the joy that comes from working in animal welfare is getting know these hardworking and dedicated individuals who give so much of themselves to help companion animals. Even though animal welfare volunteers receive so much love and gratitude back from the animals they care for, they still appreciate receiving recognition from their peers. One way an organization can reward its volunteers is to nominate these individuals for the PetSmart Charities Lifesaving Volunteer Award. This is a special way to recognize volunteers who go above and beyond to help your agency fulfill its mission. Submit the story of one of your volunteer's amazing contribution to you agency and why he or she deserves the award. Submissions are accepted throughout the year, and winners are picked quarterly. Lifesaving volunteers are featured in the PetSmart Charities Quarterly newsletter with an article and photo. They will also earn their agency a one-time $500 award! To nominate a volunteer, please email: tspencer@PetSmartCharities.org Used by permission from PetSmart Charities, Inc. Learn more with free webinars at: www.petsmartcharities.org

Challenges With Microchip Databases

What is the difference between a microchip database and the PetLynx automated recovery system? There is no doubt that the introduction of the pet identification microchip was (and still is) a phenomenal development for the companion animal industry. It is remarkable how something as small as a grain of rice has had such a significant impact on our ability to return lost companion animals to their owners! That said, the microchip has its limitations. Microchip databases contain basic descriptions and contact information only, and this information is not easily managed by the animal guardian or accessible to someone who has found a lost pet. To discover if a lost pet has a microchip (or not) the person who finds it need to have access to a microchip scanner... and that's not always possible.

PetLynx's automated recovery system is different in that it works with or without identification. Matches are made according to a very basic physical description. Once this information is input into the system, AutoMatchTM actively searches lost and found reports from your community and surrounding Authorized Service Centers to find matches. An automated recovery system is also more user friendly and effective in that it allows users to serve themselves over the Internet, rather than calling in to facilities and organizations and it provides matches automatically, reducing the need for manual searches.

Bones of the Business

Tips for Working Smarter Challenge: Your agency receives animals who might do better in a different environment or with different resources: more time, more space, some rehabilitation options (medical or behavioral) or different exposure for adoption. Solution: Instead of competing with other animal welfare agencies, recognize the strengths of each organization and work together for the homeless animals in your community by creating transfer relationships. Recognize program priorities In a transfer relationship, you must recognize that neither agency is the "villain" and neither is the "hero." The releasing agency and the receiving agency are equal partners. Considerations before entering a transfer partnership

• Can you commit consistent people-time for the program?
• Have you visited your partner agency to get a first-hand knowledge of conditions, philosophies and expectations?
• Are there seasonal considerations?

Build sound procedures to address logistics Write transparent procedures and requirements to clarify roles and responsibilities with WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN AND HOW. View the Spring 2009 issue of PetSmart Charities Quarterly newsletter for the complete story. Used by permission from PetSmart Charities, Inc. Learn more with free webinars at: www.petsmartcharities.org

Dog Owners Speak Up!

New Stats Prove Dogs are Our "Best Friends" ST. LOUIS, Aug. 09 /PRNewswire/ -- Dogs have always been man's best friend. But, according to a new national survey of dog owners, our four-legged companions are playing an increasingly important role in many Americans' lives. According to the survey, conducted on behalf of Beneful(R) brand dog food dog owners said:

• spending time with their dog lifts their spirits (95%);
• their dog helps them enjoy life's simple pleasures (92%);
• they could not live without their dog on a daily basis (48%) - more than their morning cup of coffee (35%), television (35%), car (26%), cell phone/BlackBerry (23%) or even best friend (15%);
• their dog is an ideal travel companion (more than 60%), more so than their siblings, parents, co-workers and in-laws.

Many dog owners surveyed noted that it is the everyday activities in life that they enjoy doing with their dogs include:

• going for a walk or a run (59%);
• driving (44%);
• running errands (27%) and,
• taking their dog on vacation (22%).

What it is about dogs that makes life better:

• they are always happy to see me (80%);
• their unconditional love (75%);
• their reliability and always being there for me (60%);
• dogs make their life more fulfilling (91%);
• Over nine in ten dog owners say that they take comfort in coming home to their dog during these uncertain times.

Survey conducted June 1-3, 2009 in the Untied States by IPSOS. For further information: Jenn DeBarge Goonan, +1-617-939-8383, jgoonan@coneinc.com or Julie Kahn, +1-314-982-1036, julie.kahn@purina.nestle.com.

Mistaken Identity

Does PetLynx use physical descriptions to match lost and found pets?

One of the most frustrating aspects of trying to match "found" animals with "lost" animals is discrepancies in how different people may describe the same animal. It's difficult enough for a lay person to try to identify purebred dogs... but now we have dozens of "designer dogs," too! So, instead of playing "guess the breed", PetLynx's unique DataSketch™ application helps the user "draw" a picture of the dog (or cat) by simply identifying colours and identifying marks. It does not take other physical characteristics into consideration. DataSketch™ narrows down the description choice to seven main colours and acknowledges different situations, such as a brown dog is similar to a tan dog. Once the information has been input to DataSketch™, the PetLynx AutoMatch™ system works its magic. Rather than scanning for similar breed listings -- which may be incorrect -- it compares coat colour. It then creates a list of the most likely matches, with a 100% rating, followed by less relevant matches. While this system works great, it is imperative that people registering lost animals understand that it is their responsibility to follow up on AutoMatch™ notifications to determine if a match is their pet or not.

Top Ten "Pet Friendly" Colleges

New York, NY (Sept. 10, 2009) – As college students across the country stream back to school, Petside.com, a popular online destination for pet owners and pet enthusiasts, has released its list of the Top 10 Pet-Friendly Colleges. The list, which takes into consideration both the quantity and quality of pet-friendly housing as well as the types of pets allowed, is full of schools where Fido and Fluffy are assured a place on campus. Although no similar list of Canadian colleges is available, it is good to see that many learning institutions in the USA have publicly recognized the importance of the human-companion animal bond. Publishing this information makes it easier for independently living students to consider which learning institutions to attend. They can choose one that allows them to keep their much-loved animal companions, which lessens the number of companion animals "surrendered" to animal shelters. "At Petside, we know how much the companionship of a pet can benefit a college student, particularly in the form of stress-relief and as a remedy for homesickness," said Joshua Fried, Director, Petside.com. "We are pleased to know that so many of America's colleges are welcoming responsible students and their pets." Eckerd College in St. Petersburg,Florida, for example, is head of the class with four pet-friendly, air-conditioned dorm "clusters." Students are allowed to have cats and dogs (under 40 pounds), as well as snakes and fish. Stephens College (Columbia, Missouri) offers one dorm as the designated "pet dorm" which allows dogs, cats, hamsters and guinea pigs. Washington & Jefferson College (Washington, Pennsylvania) allows students to bring their family pets along to school and live in the "Pet House" dorm. Cats and dogs less than 40 pounds, small birds, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, turtles and fish are allowed and other animals may be permitted on a case-by-case basis.

AHA's Animal Emergency 'Rescue Rig'

When disaster strikes the American Humane Association goes to the dogs, cats and other animals! The American Humane Association’s 82-foot-long Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ Rescue Rig is the largest rescue vehicle in American Humane’s fleet of emergency response vehicles, customized to support responders and help animals in disasters. The specialized tractor-trailer is equipped with living accommodations and ready-to-eat meals for up to 12 responders, a command center with satellite dish, full veterinary surgery capability, and rescue and assistance equipment for urban and flood rescue situations. Since its inception in 1916 as American Red Star Animal Relief to help animals used in World War I, American Humane’s Red Star Animal Emergency Services has responded to national and international disasters, rescuing thousands of animals.

Get Involved with National RDOG Event

The Canadian Kennel Club is pleased to announce the second annual National Responsible Dog Ownership Day to be held September 19-26, 2009. The event will see Responsible Dog Ownership Groups (RDOG’S) across Canada rally together to collectively promote, educate and enlighten community members unfamiliar with the valued place our dogs have in Canadian society. This pro-active CKC initiative is the perfect opportunity for CKC clubs and individual members to introduce our newest and most valuable Club resource to your local community. The CKC Responsible Dog Ownership Committee has developed a comprehensive information package dealing with "Children and Safety Around Dogs", "Bite Prevention” for people who encounter unfriendly dogs through work, and a fact sheet detailing "Your Responsibilities in Case of a Bite Incident”. Host an RDog Event in Your City! RDOG Canine Safety Resources and the CKC Responsible Dog Ownership package includes great suggestions, information, and support hosting an RDOG event. For more details, please contact Sonny Allinson, Manager Communications Division at 416-675-5511 Ext. 3317 or rdogs@ckc.ca.

Calgary Animal Shelters at Full Capacity

Vacationing owners and the recession result in kennels being filled to capacity CALGARY, August 12, 2009 ~ A story published in today's Calgary Herald revealed that Calgary's two largest animal shelters are in crisis. The City's shelter is getting close to capacity, with 70 cats and 44 dogs waiting to be claimed by their owners or be adopted into new homes. Similarly, the Calgary Humane Society is overrun with 484 cats and 95 dogs.

"We always get a bit of a spike in our numbers in August," said Bill Bruce, The City's director of Animal & Bylaw Services. "But it's our return-to-owner statistics that really slump out on us because of [the fact that people are on] vacations. We have trouble reaching the owners to let them know their pet is here. At some point--after 10 to 14 days of trying to reach them and getting no response to our calls -- we have to act in the animal's best interests, which is not to keep it languishing in a shelter forever and it gets adopted."

"[Capacity] is usually high this time of year," said Calgary Humane Society spokeswoman Pamela Amos, noting it is kitten season so some owners are surrendering the mother cat and her entire litter. The shelter has also noticed an increasing number of owners turning over their pets due to the recession.

Local Service Providers: City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services, Calgary Humane Society

Evaluating K-9 IQ

How smart is the average dog? Smarter than you might think!

Using adapted tests designed for human children, psychologists have learned that average dogs can count, reason and recognize words and gestures on par with a human two -year-old.

"They may not be Einsteins, but are sure closer to humans than we thought," said Dr. Stanley Coren, a professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia and leading researcher on dog behavior.

The average dog can:

* Understand about 165 words, including signs, signals and gestures.

* Count to about five.

Included in the number of "words" dogs are believed to know are hand gestures, like pointing, and nonverbal sounds, like the whistles used to direct sheep dogs and retrievers.

Counting ability is tested in drills such as one in which treats are dropped, one at a time, behind a screen. When the researcher either sneaks away one of the treats or stealthily adds an extra before raising the screen, the dog will wait longer -- appearing to puzzle over the bad math -- before eating the treats.

That's the same way toddlers respond when faced with a similar switch, said Coren.

Dr. Aubrey Fine, a psychologist and faculty member at California State Polytechnic University, said research like Coren's could help dog owners better relate to their animals.

"Too often, many people look at dogs as four-legged people," said Fine, who specializes in the use of dogs in treating patients with developmental disorders and other mental-health conditions. "We need to recognize what dogs cue in to. Once you understand better how to interact, it causes a better coexistence with your pet companion."

Coren said the findings on dog intelligence showed they have more sense than some scientists may have thought, but that some in the general public may be surprised for different reasons that span a wide range of thought.

How is AutoMatch™ different from other search engines?

AutoMatch™ is different in several important ways:

1. Our system makes matches based on identifiers such as microchip and tattoos.
2. Our system is not proprietary to any microchip manufacturer, so all microchip types are accepted.
3. AutoMatch can also make matches on a pet based on only a physical description, using our unique DataSketch™ technology.
4. Unlike other systems, AutoMatch™ is an automatic system so there is no need to manually search through reports.
5. AutoMatch™ sends out possible matches to other animals that are similar to your description -- no other pet lost and found search engine does this!

What is DataSketch™?

Two people will likely not describe an animal the same way. PetLynx created the DataSketch™ technology to help with this, as it reduces the number of possible descriptors and colors for a pet to a defined number. By reducing the descriptors we have increased the possibility that people will describe the animal in a similar fashion. An animal's DataSketch™ is compared to other sketches and 'scored' during the AutoMatch™ process. Those matches with the highest scores are then presented to both parties as the most likely matches.

What is AutoMatch™?

AutoMatch™ is a service exclusive to the PetLynx system that can search for matches for a pet using either an identifier such as a tattoo, microchip or PetLynx visual tag, and/or based on only a physical description of the animal using a PetLynx technology called DataSketch™. The AutoMatch™ system then serves up potential matches and notifies both parties involved. The parties can then retrieve the matches and physically follow up to see if it is the correct pet. The onus of recovery of the pet is ultimately on the pet family, however the system allows for the finder to engage themselves as well if they choose to.

As an ASC how do I reduce the administrative workload of my lost and found department?

1. Require pet families to use PetLynx themselves to post and monitor their own lost reports.
2. Change your phone messages to instruct callers to go to your website or http://www.petlynx.net/ to post a lost or found report. This will reduce the need for pet families to talk directly with your staff.
3. Promote and reinforce the above message in your community by communicating to your stakeholders the benefits of your recovery system powered by PetLynx.
4. Create promotional or communications programs to increase PetLynx Lifetime Subscription pet registrations in your area and create a new revenue stream for your organization. For more information complete this form.

Pre-Registering Saves Time

As pet industry leaders, you all have more in common than your love of animals; you need more time in the day---twenty-four hours just doesn't seem to be enough time to get everything done. Using AnimalTRACS™ and other PetLynx offerings will help you decrease the time spent on lost and found episodes, and will also help reduce both admission and adoption times if you encourage the public to do the work. By getting your clients to pre-load themselves in the system, you've decreased the time it takes to complete an adoption by half. Likewise, if you require the public to complete a found report prior to the intake of a new animal, you can transfer those found reports and decrease the amount of time your intake procedure requires. Not only are these process changes saving time but they are also encouraging your clients to use PetLynx thereby ensuring that the next time they experience a lost or found episode for an animal, they will go directly to PetLynx first. We all know we can't add hours to the day but we can use others to help lighten the workload.

Pre-Registration for Adoption

Adopting a new pet is overwhelming even for those of us who have been through it before. There's a lot of emotion involved in that first week and because of this, new pet families often lose sight of some of the responsibilities that come with their new bundle of joy. This distraction is reason enough to encourage pet families to pre-register before they get to the shelter. By creating an account for themselves before they walk in your door, adopters not only save you time and money but they prove that they are serious about taking on the responsibility associated with having a new pet. It encourages the pet family's understanding that they are accountable for keeping their information current and that PetLynx is the place to do it. By the time Fluffy wanders out the door for the first time, your pet families will already know that the first step includes PetLynx--it will be old hat. Nose kisses, 'potty' training successes, and a multitude of firsts will only hold an allure for so long and encouraging your pet families to be responsible pet owners is what really leads to increased recoveries, shorter shelter stays, and great HomeSafe stories.

Easy Solution For Duplicate Records

One of the problems faced by large national registries is duplicate records. Duplicate records can occur for a number of reasons, but a common reason is failing to scan for an existing record.

Duplicate records can be especially detrimental since they interrupt the audit trails and history associated with a pet. Continually creating new records for a person is also expensive when a simple search would uncover the existing record. In the worst case, this lack of continuity in the animal record could fail to provide for the wellbeing of an animal during an emergency situation.

Luckily, there are two easy solutions to this problem— solutions that have the potential to save a great deal of time when dealing with a pet owner. Every time an Authorized Service Centre creates a Pet Owner in the PetLynx system they are given the option to complete a Pet Owner Search first. Searching by the last name, phone number, email or address will bring up the record. Operators will save the time of re-entering the pet owner information.

And there’s one more system function that can really help overcome difficult searches. Performing a ‘wildcard’ search can be very helpful when a name is difficult to spell, has multiple spellings, or an address is vague. Wildcard searches are performed by replacing data with an astrix. For example, keying in ‘sm*’ will obtain a result for all data starting with the letters ‘sm’ regardless of what comes after these letters. If the Pet Owner is already in the system, this type of search will shave several minutes off the search and entry time.

Duplicate records may still occur, but together we can work toward minimizing this situation with a few simple changes to our process. The next time you serve a pet owner on the PetLynx system remember to incorporate this simple process - Scan or Search, Confirm, then Enter. It could prevent a duplicate record and save on data entry!

Statistically Speaking

Statistics are a large part of how shelter, rescue, and animal control organizations measure performance in their community. Statistics help us find and increase funding for various animal wellness programs and also help us identify where we need to do a better job. "Return to Shelter" may be the most helpful statistic we can track. Knowing that we're matching the right pet with the right pet family means we've satisfied our goal of re-homing an animal to an appropriate environment. ShelterLynx enables users to track how many animals have been returned to the facility and the reasons for this return through intake types. By choosing "Return to Shelter" as the intake type instead of using the "Undo Adoption" function, organizations can effectively track these statistics. With statistics in hand, Adoption Coordinators can assess how they choose the right pet family for a pet and what tools they are using to evaluate pets before they reach the adoption area. Positive adoptions are the best referrals that any organization can have and statistics are a great tool to increase your positive adoption rates!

AnimalTRACS™ reduces your workload

More often than not, when you hear someone refer to AnimalTRACS™, he or she is talking about the automated Lost and Found features it contains. Although these features are truly one-of-a-kind and certainly worth recognizing, the real treasure of AnimalTRACS™ is the amount of time it can save your staff. With most registration systems, the process involves paper forms that must be hand written, mailed or faxed in, and then finally entered into a stand-alone database by staff at a microchip company. Not only is this process time consuming but it facilitates mix-ups or misplaced data. By allowing pet families to register themselves before entering your facility and update their own records after they’ve left, AnimalTRACS™ reduces the industry workload by over 90 percent. It also encourages pet families to keep their information current and thereby supports a culture of responsible pet ownership in your community. The next time you mention AnimalTRACS™ to someone, tout the Lost and Found capabilities—they’re second to none—but don’t neglect to mention the other benefits it has for your organization and for the whole industry.

Why doesn't PetLynx use breed descriptions for making matches?

The simple answer is breed descriptions don't work very well. Pet owners and the general public who find most pets don’t always describe a breed or the physical descriptions of an animal in a way that could result in a match. That is why PetLynx took a step away from the traditional industry practice and created the AutoMatch™ system with its DataSketch™ animal descriptions. This system is designed to be available 24-7, lower in cost, and easy for the general public to use - just like a paint-by-number picture. PetLynx also eliminates the colour confusion by limiting the colour palette to seven primary colours. By forcing all users into the same set of criteria, PetLynx eliminates descriptions that would achieve inaccurate results. By using a web search engine like AutoMatch™ that orders matches by matching percentage, PetLynx increases the chances of making a match and reuniting pets with their familiesBecause PetLynx makes it so easy to enter a found report, more animals are returned directly home without a side trip to the pound or shelter. For this reason, communities that have an Automated Recovery System ‘Powered by PetLynx’ reunite more pets with their families, reduce the stress on pet owners, reduce or eliminate the need for expensive call centres, and speed up the recovery process. This is good for people and municipalities, and it’s wonderful protection for pets.

Tips and Tools - Making Time

As pet industry leaders, you all have something in common, and it's not only your love of animals. You all need more time in the day---twenty-four hours just doesn't seem to be enough time to get everything done. Although using AnimalTRACS and the other PetLynx offerings will help you decrease the time spent on lost and found episodes, they can also help you reduce both admission and adoption times if you encourage the public to do the work. By getting your clients to pre-load themselves in the system, you've decreased by half the time it takes to complete an adoption. Likewise, if you require the public to have already completed a found report for any animal they bring in, you can transfer those lost reports directly to the shelter and in so doing decrease by half the amount of time your intake process requires. Not only are these process changes saving you time but they are also encouraging your clients to use PetLynx thereby ensuring that the next time they experience a lost or found episode for an animal, they will go directly to PetLynx first. We all know we can't add hours to the day but we can use others to help with lighten the workload.