FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jay LeVitre, MCAS Communications, 503-988-6232
(Troutdale, OR - June 28) With fireworks booming, the Independence Day holiday can be a frightening time for your pets. Sadly, it’s common to lose pets during this time. Ahead of the holiday, Multnomah County Animal Services wants to remind pet owners about services and resources to help reunite them with their pets quickly, as well as tips to keep your pets safe during fireworks displays.
If Your Pet is Lost
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Check Found Animal Reports to see any stray animals impounded at our shelter, or found by community members. Check often, since new reports are posted frequently each day.
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File a Lost Pet Report on multcopets.org so shelter workers or community members can easily identify your pet and contact you if found.
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Update your licensing information with Multnomah County.
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If your pet is wearing a collar and a license tag, finders can easily contact you by looking up your information at multcopets.org/license-lookup.
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Update your microchip contact information.
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Scanning for a microchip is one of the first things Animal Control Officers, neighborhood veterinary clinics, and shelter workers do to find information about a lost pet without a collar and tag.
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Register your lost pet at FindingRover.com to use facial recognition technology and other tools to find your lost pet. Just go to FindingRover.com and:
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Upload your pet’s photo
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Enter a few details about your pet
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Enter your name, email address, and zip code
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Look around your neighborhood for your lost pet
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In a survey of Multnomah County community members who found their lost pets, 36% found them at large, wandering the neighborhood.
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Put out fragrant wet food to try and lure your pets back home.
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Inform your neighbors and seek their help to find your lost pet.
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35% of lost pets are reunited with help from neighbors who find them, see posters and provide tips, or see their lost pet report at multcopets.org.
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Distribute posters with your lost pet’s photo and information door to door, and around your neighborhood. Ask for tips.
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Post to Nextdoor, Facebook, and other social media resources to engage with members of your neighborhood. Find online groups and forums dedicated to finding lost pets in your area.
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Impound & Board Fees Waived for Stray Pets
In an effort to easily reunite lost pets with their owners during the week of Independence Day, impound and board fees will be waived for all stray pets brought to Multnomah County Animal Services between June 30 and July 7, AND redeemed by owners no later than July 9. Owners will still need to pay license fees on unlicensed pets, and vet bills for pets requiring medical treatment during their stay.
Please note, pets impounded prior to Sunday, June 30, and redeemed during the amnesty period will be responsible for all fees owed. Pets impounded during the amnesty period, but redeemed by owners after July 9 will also be responsible for all fees owed, including fees that accrue during the amnesty period.
Firework Safety Basics For Pets
Be prepared to help your pets through their fears during Independence Day.
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Safety and Prevention: Never bring pets to firework displays or leave them locked in cars while you watch.
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Be present: One of the best things you can do for your pets is to be present for them. You can calm them better than a pet-sitter or a kennel staff member. When you see that they’re afraid, call to them. Go to your pet, or invite them to join you where you are. Give them rubs and scratches. Talk with them. Be silly with them. Play their favorite games. Turn a scary experience into a learning opportunity. (source)
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Secure your home: Plan ahead, and identify ways your pet could escape. Close open windows and doors. Don’t leave pets outdoors where they could jump a fence, or indoors near screen doors and windows if they panic and bolt. Make sure guests coming and going are careful not to let pets slip through the door. (source)
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Give your pet a safe space: Give your pet a confined, safe space in the center of your home, such as a spacious closet or a bathroom with a comfortable bed and water. (source)
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Use ambient noise: Play comforting music, or noise from a radio or TV. (source)
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Seek help from a veterinarian: If your pet has a history of fear or anxiety with loud noises, including fireworks, talk with your veterinarian about your options. They may be able to prescribe medication to help calm your pet. They may also recommend a Thunder Shirt or wrap to calm and provide comfort. (source)
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Make sure your pets are licensed so MCAS can contact you as soon as they arrive at the shelter. Licensing can be done online at MultcoPets.org.
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Make sure pets are wearing collars with tags, and that the contact information on the tag is current.
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Microchip your pet and update your contact information with the microchip registry. Microchipping is a powerful tool to reunite lost pets with owners if lost.
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Register your pets on FindingRover.com to use facial recognition technology to help locate them if ever lost.
Shelter Holiday Closure
Multnomah County Animal Services will be closed on Thursday, July 4. Staff will be on-site to accept stray animals and assist in returning impounded animals to owners between noon and 4 pm. MCAS will only be offering impound and redemption services on July 4, and will not be providing other services such as adoptions or licensing.
About Multnomah County Animal Services
Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS) is the only open door shelter in Portland. MCAS is the primary agency responsible for lost pet care, animal abuse investigations and animal rescue in Multnomah County. MCAS also offers dog and cat licensing, lost and found pet services, and animal adoptions through its shelter in Troutdale. MCAS is a division of the Multnomah County Department of Community Services (DCS).