I FOUND A LOST ANIMAL

I Found a Lost Dog

This dog is friendly

1. check for tags, a license or a collar

2. tags will often have an owner phone number or rabies license number that can be traced to an owner through a veterinary clinic or animal shelter

3. if the dog does not have identification, you can check local missing pet websites or bring them to your local animal shelter

4. you can always call animal control to pick them up

This dog is not friendly

1. snap a picture of the dog, note the time and location, and post your findings on your local "lost and found pets page"

2. call animal control to come pick up the animal

Yolo County Animal Control: 530-668-5287

Sacramento Animal Control: (916) 368-7387 (PETS), then select Option 3

Peninsula Humane Society Animal Control: 650-340-7022

I Found a Lost Cat

This cat is friendly

This cat is not friendly

1. If the cat has a collar, tags, or looks well fed and clean, chances are they have an owner, and are simply taking themselves on a walk. You can call the owner listed, or ask around your neighborhood. Get to know the local outdoor cats in your area to make sure they have a human looking out for them!

2. If you are unsure whether or not the kitty belongs to someone (does not have identification, no tags, looks unkempt or sick) you can attempt to locate a possible owner. All veterinary clinics and shelters are equipped with microchip scanners that can trace an animal back to it's owner. Sometimes kitties get lost or wander too far away from home. Check local lost pets forums and scan the area for missing cat flyers to see if anyone is missing a cat.

3. If you are fairly certain the cat does not have an owner, you can bring him or her into a local animal shelter to be treated, fixed, vaccinated and evaluated for adoption.

An unaltered feral cat is extremely likely to contribute to the feral population size by reproducing.

If the top quarter inch of the left ear is intact on a feral cat, this typically means the cat is not spayed or neutered. If the top quarter inch is missing, this is called an "ear tip." Trappers have designated the ear tip as a universal symbol to indicate that a feral cat has been fixed already, and does not need to be trapped again. During surgery, these cats are also vaccinated against rabies. If you've found a cat with an ear tip, don't worry! He or she has already been in to see the vet, and is unable to reproduce.

If, however, you find a feral cat without an ear tip, you can bring him or her into a veterinary clinic to be sterilized, vaccinated and ear tipped. This will prevent further feral population growth, protect the kitty against infectious disease, and make sure they are identifiable in the future! For tips on trapping, see my "Trap, Neuter and Release" page.

I Found Kittens

The vast majority of kittens that enter shelters every year have been "kit-napped." In reality, many of the kittens we see that come into foster care every year are NOT truly orphaned, but have been separated from their mother by well meaning individuals who bring them into shelters and rescue groups. It's important to keep kittens with their biological mother for the first 8 weeks of life, as she provides their best chance of survival. Mortality rates increase significantly when a kitten enters foster care. Without passive immunity from their mother's milk, kittens become extremely immunocompromised. Whenever possible, every effort should be made to keep or reunite kittens with their mom.

If kittens are cold and lethargic, injured, or in immediate danger ( aggressive dog nearby, near a busy street etc), bring kittens in to your local shelter or rescue group. These are considered emergencies when kittens would likely perish without intervention. Make every attempt to locate and spay the mom to prevent future litters! This can be accomplished by regular feeding or using the kittens as bait when they are healthy.
If kittens appear healthy and well cared for, let them be!! Their mother is either searching for food or is nearby, but is scared to approach because you are present
- If you are concerned about the kittens, provide them with a heat source (microwaved rice in a sock), let them stay where they are and watch from a distance for mom to return.
- You can continue to monitor mom + kittens by providing her with food and water. You can also build a winter shelter and provide the mother with a dry and safe box to keep her kittens in. It can be tough to walk away from kittens and not feel as though you are doing anything to help them, but it is truly in their best interests to stay with their mom.
- At 7-8 weeks of age, both the mother and kittens can undergo sterilization surgery At the end of 8 weeks, kittens can be separated, vaccinated, spayed/neutered and placed for adoption. The mother can be trapped, spayed and returned to her home. Most shelters and rescue groups will accept 7-8 week old kittens for surgery and adoption. You can get in contact with them ahead of time to let them know you will need their help in the near future. Mothers should always be returned to their home territory- as she may be unable to find food and water in a new setting, and her absence from her home base will only leave room for more unaltered cats to move in.
- This approach to kitten welfare provides kittens with their best chance or survival, and puts a stop to the reproductive cycle so that you and the mother can avoid future litters!
You can learn more here

I Found a Wild Animal

Wildlife is an important part of our community and ecosystem, and sometimes they need our help! If you've found an orphaned bird or small mammal, or any wild animal that appears sick or injured, you can bring them to a local wildlife center (if safe to do so), or you can call in your finding to a local animal control.

Wildlife Care Association Hotline: 916-965-WILD (9453)

UC Davis Wildlife Health Center: (530) 752-4167

Peninsula Humane Society Wildlife Department: (650) 340-7022

once a weird wildlife girl always a weir