Pet Tips & Animal Related Community Resources
- compiled by Lora Sheridan
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE...
Lost a pet | Found a pet | Low-cost & free spay / neuter programs
LOST A PET
Act quickly!
Call the Winston-Salem Journal at 727-7425, and place a “lost pet” ad.
Post and distribute flyers and pictures at vets' offices, with neighbors, and at local adoption agencies.
If you are offering a reward, never give money until you have your pet back in your possession.
Immediately and regularly visit Forsyth County Animal Control located at 5570 Sturmer Park Circle, Winston-Salem, NC. For directions and hours of operation, call 703-2478. Remember: Animals not claimed within a maximum of five days may be euthanized.
Visit the Animal Control website, www.forsyth.cc/animalcontrol, and click on "Lost and Found". You may search for your pet, post pictures of your pet, and read additional tips.
Lassie Come Home is an excellent resource providing free lost and found pet services (search for your pet, create flyers, post your pet, etc.): www.lassiecomehomenc.org, 789-7900.
Helpful information and resources are available at www.lostapet.org.
CATS ONLY: Visit www.catsinthebag.org. If the missing pet is an indoor-only cat, it will be helpful to set humane traps near your home; contact AARF at info@aarfanimals.org.
FOUND A PET
Call the Winston-Salem Journal at 727-7425, and place a free “found pet” ad. Give enough information so that the owner would recognize their pet, but be sure leave out any identifying details, such as special markings, the color of the collar, etc. Always leave out some details that only the owner would know.
Have the pet scanned for a microchip at a vet's office.
Register the pet with Lassie Come Home, a free lost-and-found service: www.lassiecomehomenc.org, 789-7900.
Post and distribute flyers and pictures at vets' offices, with neighbors, and at local adoption agencies.
Register the pet with Forsyth County Animal Control: www.forsyth.cc/animalcontrol, and click on "Lost and Found", or call 703-2478.
BE WARY of people too eager to either claim a pet or to take in a pet if the owner is not found.
If the owner of the pet is not found, contact AARF for options on placing a pet for adoption.
LOW-COST & FREE SPAY / NEUTER PROGRAMS
In Forsyth County, over 80% (80 out of 100) of all animals - including very adoptable puppies, kittens and purebred animals - that are turned into Animal Control are killed! This is approximately 85 animals per week... about 12 animals are killed EVERY day! There are simply too many pets, and not enough homes to go around.
Having your pet spayed (females) or neutered (males) is THE most important thing you can do to help reduce pet overpopulation! It also reduces the risk of many pet cancers, tends to make your pet more affectionate and friendly, and minimizes their interest in roaming or marking their territory. Puppies and kittens can be spayed/neutered as young as 4 months of age, and should be spayed/neutered no later than 6 months.
Options for low-cost and free spay/neuter include:
Forsyth Spay/Neuter Clinic, 723-7550, www.forsythspayneuterclinic.com
Low-cost spay/neuter surgery is available, as well as reduced cost vaccines, heartworm preventative, and flea/tick preventative products.
· Forsyth Humane Society, 61 Miller Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27104; 721-1303, www.forsythhumane.org.
Low-income residents of Forsyth County may apply for vouchers for free spay/neuter and vaccines. Applications are available in both English and Spanish at the Humane Society, or may be printed from their website.
Humane Solutions, 723-DOGS (3647), www.fureverfriendsnc.org and click on "Spay/Neuter". Vouchers for discounted spay/neuter are available for use at vets in Forsyth and surrounding counties.
Some area vets will accept AARF discount vouchers for testing, vaccines, treatments and spay/neuter. Please talk with your veterinarian, or e-mail AARF at info@aarfanimals.org.
AARF
(Animal Adoption and Rescue Foundation)
311 Harvey Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
336-768-PETS (7387)
www.aarfanimals.org