Tips for preventing pets from getting lost

I t's the time of year when pets begin to wander in earnest. For whatever reason, dogs and cats tend to get lost much more during the winter than other times of the year, and with winter on the horizon, it's a good idea to prepare for all eventualities.

Today, I'd like to share advice from readers and animal experts on how to lessen the odds of losing your pet and what to do if your pet becomes lost.

A couple of weeks ago, following a column about a missing cat, I got an e-mail from Sheri of Frankfort.

"Why do people think they are doing their pets, especially their cats, a favor by letting them run around the neighborhood?

I had three cats and two dogs. I just had to put my oldest, who was 20 years old down. It was very sad. None of my cats are ever outside, nor will they ever be.

Unfortunately, there are cruel people out there that would get a thrill from hurting a cat. He could have been hit by a car, killed by another animal."

Sheri brings up an excellent point. Many folks think of cats as wandering animals, but allowing your cat to roam is risky. Veterinarians and humane societies agree.

Wandering cats are at risk of:

• Contracting diseases like feline AIDS and feline leukemia or toxoplasmosis infection which can be spread to humans.

• Hanging or choking when their collars get caught.

• Injuries or death from fighting, motor vehicles or being attacked by coyotes.

• Pregnancy: Female cats that are not spayed will become pregnant, compounding the problem of unwanted animals.

It is also a sad fact that only 5 percent of lost cats are reunited with their owners.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of speaking with Andy Ivanicky , director of Joliet Township Animal Control. Ivanicky is an animal lover, and it breaks his heart when animals in his charge are euthanized.

Ivanicky, who wants to reunite folks with their lost pets whenever possible, explained what should be done if your pet is lost.

"It's important that you call the police right away," he said. "Find out where officers bring stray animals. When you find out, call the facility and give a complete description or, even better, visit the facility to see if your pet is there."

Ivanicky also recommends taking regular photos of your pet. Ideally, your pet should be tagged and microchipped. When your pet is lost, time is of the essence. Should your pet be taken in at the animal control office, you will have 3 to 7 days to claim it before your pet is euthanized. In Joliet, you have 7 days.

"A lot of people think the employees of animal control facilities are cruel -- that we somehow enjoy euthanizing animals," Ivanicky said. "But that's absolutely untrue. Every one of us is a pet owner, and we want very much to reunite pets with their owners. Unlike no-kill shelters, we take all animals in, but due to space limits we cannot keep animals indefinitely. It's very important that pet owners contact us regularly if they've lost their pet."

If you've lost your pet, contact the animal control office at 815-725-0333 or pay a visit to Joliet Township Animal Control Center, 2807 W. McDonough St., in Joliet.

With the holiday season upon us, you may be considering giving your child a pet as a gift.

Before investing in a pet, do a little research. Animals are a considerable responsibility and can be expensive to keep.

If you decide a pet is for you, make sure to visit www.petfinder.com/shelters/IL317.html to view some of the pets available at the animal control office.

Scott Gaffney of Joliet found a book titled "Wings" by Aprilynn Pike. He found it near the 500 block of West Marion Street in Joliet on Oct. 27 around 7:30 a.m.

The book is signed by the author.

A pair of reading glasses was found in our newspaper parking lot last Thursday. The glasses don't belong to any of the employees in our building, so I suspect that a visitor or passerby dropped them.

If you've lost -- or found -- something, give me a call at 815-439-5328 or e-mail rpanieri@scn1.com