Animal Assistance

 

If you have questions regarding lost or found animals, reclaiming an animal that has been impounded, or giving up your animal, please read below:

 

LOST AND FOUND

IF YOU FIND A LOST PET

Look to see if the animal has an ID, rabies, or license tag and call the appropriate phone number. Otherwise, stray animals should be brought to the LFACC immediately since this is where most owners will look first.

But if you choose to “baby-sit” the pet until the owner is found:

  • Place a “Found Pet” ad in newspapers. Look for postings in your area.
  • Put up “Found Pet” signs.
  • Check “Lost Pet” newspaper ads.
  • Check out missing pet reports at the LFACC and nearby veterinary clinics.
  • Talk to your neighbors to see if they know anything about the animal.
  • Check for a microchip at a local vet office or at the LFACC shelter.

LOST PET TIPS

We want to help you find your missing pet. There are many places to post missing pet information, so please be diligent and check out all the resources.

 

If your pet becomes lost, we suggest the following:

 

Step One:

 

Call LFACC at (859) 255-9033 to file a "Lost Pet Report."

 

Step Two:


Please understand that we cannot identify your pet over the phone or by email; you must identify it in person.

Visit the LFACC Shelter at 1600 Old Frankfort Pike and look for your pet during shelter hours to see if your animal was brought in by a good citizen or rescued by an Animal Control Officer. Bring a photo of your pet with you and description of your lost animal.

Step Three:


Distribute flyers in your neighborhood and surrounding areas, place an ad in the local newspaper, etc.

If your pet is at LFACC:

Please bring proof of current rabies vaccination and city license when you come to pick up your pet.

Fines and other fees can be paid with Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.  We can no longer accept checks as a form of payment.

 

OTHER HELPFUL TIPS

 

For most indoor-only or timid cats, think like a cat and look at every hiding spot possible in your neighborhood.  Lost cats will remain hidden and quiet, and, perhaps, inside the house.

 

Call your veterinarian and other vet offices nearby to inform them that your pet is missing.

 

Ask family, friends, and neighbors to help you search for your pet as soon as you realize your pet is missing.  Be sure to check around your yard and under your deck.

 

Walk, bike, drive, or jog through your neighborhood every day and more than once to find your missing pet.

 

Place clothing, toys, litter box, and other items familiar to your pet outside in your yard where he/she might smell them.

 

Put signs in appropriate places around the neighborhood or in areas where your pet was last seen.Include photo and description of your pet, your phone number, and when your pet disappeared. Print a Lost Pet Flyer.

 

Ask your mailperson, newspaper delivery person, and anyone who travels throughout your area regularly on business to look out for your pet.

 

Pets (like dogs) can wander far very quickly and some (like cats) may just be right under your nose; however, give flyers with a color photograph and description of you pet to places within 30 miles of your home. Visit orcontact these places as much as possible while searching for your pet.

 

Visit surrounding county shelters or animal care and control offices.

 

Check “Found Pet” ads in local newspapers every day.

 

If permitted post your flyers in businesses in your area – examples: Vet hospitals/clinics, groceries, gas stations, Laundromats, etc.

 

Important Tip: For your neighborhood posters and newspaper ads, leave out one identifying feature in your pet’s description, such as a splotch or color on the nose or a surgery scan.  This protects you from pet-recovery scams and is a sure-proof way of verifying that someone definitely found your pet.

 

        Check Petfinder.com where you can look through a national database or even post a

                picture and report of a lost or found pet.

       

        When necessary, remember to update your microchip and license information too!


                                MICROCHIPPING

 

Give your pet the best chance at getting back home and microchip your animals for $25.00 each at the LFACC office.

A microchip is a permanent form of identification. Just like a vaccination, it’s injected under the skin of your pet where it remains safely for life. Your pet will never leave home without its identification and your contact information can be updated when you move.

RETURN-TO-OWNER

If your animal is at the LFACC shelter, applicable fees will be charged upon return of your animal. For contact information or hours of operation, click here.

  • Please bring proof of current rabies vaccination and city license when you come to pick up your pet.

  • Fines and other fees can be paid with Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.

OWNER-GIVE-UP

Resource List of Alternatives to Owner-Give-Up

We understand the decision to relinquish your pet is a difficult one. The top reasons people list for relinquishing their pets are moving, allergies, a new baby, and behavioral issues. There may be alternatives to signing over your pet. The following list is being provided to you to help you explore other options. Please take a few minutes to read through this list to determine whether you have considered these options carefully.

 

Tips for Tenants Seeking Housing:

"Moving" and "landlord won't allow" are among the top reasons given by pet owners relinquishing their dogs or cats to animal shelters. There are several steps you can take to find animal-friendly rental housing.

  • Be prepared to work hard and spend time finding out what makes landlords say “yes to pets.” Demonstrating that you are a responsible pet owner and a good tenant will take effort.
  • Bring up the subject of pets in person with the property owner rather than over the phone. Personally presenting information about yourself and your pet may help convince the landlord to say yes.
  • Prepare a pet resume. Include references from former landlords, neighbors, obedience instructors, and veterinarians such as proof of spay/neuter, records of up-to-date vaccinations and licenses, indications of regular veterinary visits, and obedience school diplomas.
  • Offer to sign a pet agreement and pay an additional pet deposit.
  • Encourage a landlord to meet your freshly groomed, well-behaved pet.
  • Remember, a responsible pet owner always cleans up after his or her pet; has the pet spayed or neutered; provides appropriate exercise and attention for the pet daily; doesn't let the dog or cat roam the streets, and knows the health & safety benefits of keeping a cat indoors and a dog under control.

Tips for Dealing With Allergies
There are steps you can take and products available to lessen allergies and keep you and your pet happy and healthy.

  • Bathing. Shampoos that reduce dander and clean the coat: A product such as Allerpet shampoo (both dog and cat versions) can help. It's a liquid applied with a moistened paper towel or washcloth that you simply wipe your pet down with once a week. It neutralizes the allergens on the pet's skin and fur and takes about three weeks to reach peak effectiveness.
  • Air Filters. The most often recommended is the HEPA type filter. Honeywell, Envirocare, and Holmes all use the HEPA technology. Those listed as a "class II medical device" (approved for use in hospitals and in medical applications) are preferable. Other suggestions include getting a high efficiency filter for your central system and change it every 2 - 4 weeks.
  • Strategic Isolation. Keeping the pet out of the bedroom of the affected person helps in many cases.
  • Use fewer throw rugs and upholstered furniture, which can trap allergens and dust.
  • Vacuum often.
  • Consider taking over-the-counter allergy medication or seeing your doctor.

Tips for Dealing with Behavior Issues

Many behavior problems aren’t difficult to solve. If you have had your animal since it was very young and it has developed a behavior issue you can’t live with, you must accept the fact that you are at least partly responsible. Signing over a pet with behavior issues and hoping it goes up for adoption is risky. Please consider whether you have exhausted all possibilities for changing the behavior.

  • Discuss behavior issues/concerns with your veterinarian.
  • Consult a trainer or behaviorist.
  • Exercise, exercise, exercise! Lack of exercise may be linked to behavior issues.
  • Crate train.
  • Make sure your pet has enough toys to hold his/her attention.
  • Spay/neuter.

Tips for Pets and Pregnancy

Having a baby is one of the most fulfilling and exciting experiences in life! Preparing your house to be the safest and most nurturing environment possible is an important part of the process. But does it have to include getting rid of the family pets? Not necessarily. Certainly there are precautions you should take both during pregnancy and in preparing your pets for the arrival of your baby. Some of these include:

  • Educate yourself about the risk of Toxoplasmosis from cats by talking with your doctor and veterinarian. The risks may be less than you think.
  • Think about the amount of time you spend with your pets now and prepare your pet by gradually reducing that time. Don’t wait until the day you bring your baby home and find yourself ignoring your pet as this will increase his/her stress level.
  • If your pet is particularly attached to the mother-to-be, gradually have another family member become closer to your pet.
  • If the animal has behavior issues, consider training classes and begin, if possible, months in advance of your due date. Use knowledge gained from these classes to train your dog to sit quietly while you hold a baby doll. Reward good behavior.
  • Introduce your pet to the sounds and smells of a newborn by using baby powder/oil on your hands and playing recordings of babies crying and turn on mechanical rockers etc. Give treats to your pet to make this a positive experience.
  • Never leave your pet unsupervised around your baby. Even the best pets can have a bad day.

SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION:

 

Place the animal yourself:

  • Rescues (Ask us for a list of breed specific rescues)
  • Petfinder.com, Craigslist.com
  • Newspapers (Lexington Herald-Leader 233-7878)
  • Talk to friends and family
  • Local bulletin boards (vet clinics, pet stores, grocery, etc.)

 

Behavioral Issues:

  • Vet clinics
  • Trainers
  • Behaviorist
  • Training books

 

Repeat Litters:

  • Spay’sTheWay through the Lexington Humane Society (233-0044 ext. 228)
  • Feral Catch and Release programs (ask us for a list)
  • Rescue groups, adoption groups

 

Out of County:

  • Local animal shelter
    *see “Place the animal yourself”