Tuesday, July 1, 2014

ePole Allows those who lose a pet – as well as those who find a missing pet – post the pet’s vital information and get in contact with others, 24 hours a day

HELP KEEP PETS SAFE THIS SUMMER WITH THESE TIPS
FROM MICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY
MHS’ online ePole can help lost pets find their way home

 Independence Day is just around the corner, and that means more and more families across metro Detroit and the rest of the country, will be enjoying the spectacle of fireworks. But these pyrotechnics can be very frightening for our four-legged friends, who are able to do some pretty remarkable and potentially dangerous things in an effort to escape the loud noises and bright lights. The Michigan Humane Society (MHS) is reminding pet owners to keep their pets safe by ensuring they are well-secured, have up-to-date identification and license tags, and are microchipped.

Of the more than 10,000 stray pets arriving at MHS each year, only a fraction – about 10% -– have any form of identification. Without ID, the chance that these pets will be reunited with their families is small. MHS strongly recommends that pets have both visible ID tags and a microchip.

Microchipping is a safe, permanent and unalterable way for your pet to be identified at veterinary centers and animal shelters around the country. MHS offers microchipping for dogs and cats for approximately $50, by appointment at each of the organization’s three veterinary centers in Detroit (313-872-0004), Rochester Hills (248-852-7424) and Westland (734-721-4195). MHS even also includes no-cost microchipping with all its cat and kitten adoptions.

For those pets who do go missing, MHS offers an online tool called the ePole, which acts as a virtual telephone pole for public use, allowing those who lose a pet – as well as those who find a missing pet – to post the pet’s vital information and get in contact with others, 24 hours a day. The service is free to use, providing residents with a means to upload photos of the missing pet, post descriptions of the animal, and share the location where the animal was last seen or found. The ePole can be found online at www.michiganhumane.org/lost.



MHS also recommends the following tips to keep pets safe during Independence Day festivities:
  • Keep pets inside and secure. Frightened animals may jump tall fences, bolt out gates or run through screens during fireworks displays in order to “escape.”
  • If you know your pet is afraid of loud noises, confine him in a safe, quiet room with their favorite toy and comfortable bedding.
  • The holiday is often accompanied by hot weather.  Prevent heat exhaustion by keeping pets inside in a cool area during the heat of the day, with plenty of fresh, cool water.

For more information about pet safety, please visit www.michiganhumane.org.
michigan-humane-logo

The Michigan Humane Society is the largest and oldest animal welfare organization in the state. MHS works to end companion animal homelessness, provide the highest quality service and compassion to the animals entrusted to our care, and to be a leader in promoting humane values.


34 comments:

  1. Pawsum posty. Meez luvs da foto. :)

    Luv ya'

    Dezi

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  2. Excellent advice! We hate the 4th for this very reason! (it's not that we're unpatriotic)
    Thank you for sharing!
    Have a great Tuesday.
    XOXO

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    1. We hear ya and we couldn't agree more!!!! Thanks so much! xoxo

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  3. I love the idea of epole, fabulous program. Thanks for sharing. Our shelter is offering a special price for microchips through July 3rd. Hopefully it will make July 5th a less busy/stressful day at the shelter.

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    1. We do too! That is great that your shelter is offering a microchip special. Love when I hear of shelters doing such great things!

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  4. ePole sounds like a great idea. We will have to ask whether our local shelter has anything like this... and if not, suggest they make it available! Having one official place to go is better than scattered notices in newspapers and craigslists.

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  5. That does sound like a great program for finding pets. We are getting a little nervous about the Fourth and just hope that the neighbors don't have fireworks.
    Have a great day.

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    1. I agree Marg, it is. I don't blame you about the fourth, especially with you being in a more rural area. I guess it doesn't matter where one is, fireworks are scary and dangerous. I hate them. They have been going off here every night and we have been blasting the TV to try and distract Dakota. I don't know why people can't just enjoy them at public, SUPERVISED displays. You have a great day too! xoxo

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  6. Wouldn't be wonderful if every vet's office and animal shelter had a system where they could all report missing and found pets. Sounds like the ePole is a great resource.

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  7. I've noticed 'found cat' signs tacked up all over my neighborhood, and it breaks my heart to think that cat may not get back home. Thanks for the ePole info!

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    1. I actually think that posting "found cat" signs is a GOOD thing. Many people don't care enough to even do that. What they should be doing FIRST is to take it to the vet to scan for a microchip. I think that most people who find cats aren't like us and aren't even aware that many cats are now microchipped, they think that only dogs are. You are welcome!

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  8. Anything that helps is a wonderful thing! We feel so bad for those outside critters when all the boomers go off.

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  9. Very very important info to get out before the 4th holiday. Kitties really should be inside most of this week as booms can be all over. We are all chipped even though we are insiders. You can never be too careful.
    Thanks for the great post
    Your pal
    Timmy

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    1. I agree with you Timmy and thank you!! Do you know that I am embarrassed that my Mom has NOT had me chipped!? She needs to do it ASAP, maybe at the end of this month. Dakota is chipped but not me! Love, Cody

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  10. A very informative post! We all have ID tags on our collars (which are breakaway collars) but no microchips. The lack of a national microchip database makes microchipping ineffective and that's pretty disappointing.

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    1. that IS disappointing! Maybe my Mom needs to look into a breakaway collar. Love, Cody

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  11. Great post, sweetie! Oh, and this is one cool photo, Cody! We LOVE it! :-D xx Roxy & Tigerlino <3

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  12. We know of at least one place that will not scan for microchips, so be vigilant and don't just rely on chips.

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  13. Fantastic post Cody! We always learn so much from you about new ideas and products. Thanks for sharing this with everyone!

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    1. thanks so much precious AbbyGrace!!!!!!! We love you! xoxo

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  14. ePole sounds like a pawesome service! We hope that everyone follows your safety tips so that they don't lose their beloved furry family members!

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  15. July 4th is so scary. We are glad that MHS has created the ePole program. We hope other municipalities will follow suit.

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  16. Great post and tips! The ePole sounds like a wonderful service!

    the critters in the cottage xo

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  17. NYC and Macys is gypping us out of our fireworks this year so I bet people will be shooting their own to make up for it.

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  18. Thanks for telling us about epole! We didn't know about it. We hope we never have to use it, though.

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  19. We never heard of ePole--what a great idea! And Cody, Buddy, that fireworks picture is PAWSOME!

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  20. Great post Caren, thanks for sharing these very impawtant tips! We just got back from our Canada day festivities, and we had a blast!!!!
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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  21. Great advice! Love the pic :)

    Purrs xx
    Athena and Marie

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  22. Very good advice. Love Cody's photo. I have never heard of ePole either.
    Sue B

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