By NICOLE VALICEK
WHEN Billie the Jack Russell cross went missing over the Easter period, the microchipped pooch wasn’t reunited with his owner for six days.
His owner, Williamtown resident Christie Reeves, said she was shocked to discover she had gotten out, and launched a full-fledged mission to search for Billie.
“Good Friday nothing was open, I had 40 people clients and friends come to my place and did a door knock and poster plaster of six suburbs,” Miss Reeves said.
“There was close to 60-70 people looking for her; it was incredible and overwhelming.”
After Easter, Billie was returned to his owner after the people who found him saw the posters.
Miss Reeves said she explained to the international students who had kept Billie for nearly a week that he was microchipped and therefore could be found if he was taken to be scanned.
“It would have saved a lot of tears and heartache.”
Miss Reeves, who owns Hairy Hounds Playground in Williamstown, and is well versed in all things canine and feline, said the whole situation was frustrating.
“I felt completely helpless knowing that she had the chip and she still hadn’t been scanned.”
By law, all cats and dogs are required to be microchipped.
“It’s permanent identification, and it’s legislation for cats and dogs from 12 weeks old to be microchipped.”
Hobsons Bay Vet Clinic Vet, Philippa Molnar, said a lot of people who found lost animals were anxious to take them to a vet or shelter for fear of the animal being put to sleep.
“A lot of people that come in aren’t’ aware of the system. After finding dogs, people often think the dog is lost or abandoned, they just need to take it to the vet or notify council and it will be scanned and found,” Doctor Molnar said.
She said on average, the vet got two to five animals returned to them for scanning per week.
Doctor Molnar said many people assumed if they found an animal it had been abandoned which in most cases was false.
“A lot of animals in Hobsons Bay area are just lost and they’ve got loving owners that want to have them back.”
“It is a lot of educated people just don’t realise, especially if they haven’t been an animal owner.”
“If people find animals they need to take it to local vet as soon as possible and they will help you with giving info and contact the owners.”
