By Stephen Linnell
A NEW online pet search service has already reunited lost dogs with their owners.
Launched last week by Wyndham Council, it allows owners to access a website to search for their lost pets 24 hours a day.
The lost animal register features photos, descriptions, breeds and where the animal was found.
Animals included in the register are dogs, cats and livestock. Only animals that appear to have an owner will be featured on the register.
Stray and feral animals will not be included.
The register will direct pet owners to the animal, which may be at the municipal pound or the Lost Dogs Home in North Melbourne.
According to the council, the register will be updated daily to give residents the most up-to-date information on animals at the Hoppers Crossing pound.
Wyndham mayor Kim McAliney said the register was designed to make it easier and faster to reunite lost pets with their owners.
“Losing a pet can be a traumatic experience and trying to track them down can be very time consuming,” Cr McAliney said.
“It’s often difficult for residents to visit or contact the pound, due to their limited opening hours. Now pet owners can search for their missing pets from their home or office at any time of the day or night.
“If residents do not see their lost pet on the website, they should contact the pound or the Lost Dogs Home.”
Cr Mark Rose said that each year about 1400 dogs and cats from Wyndham’s municipal pound were sent to the Lost Dogs Home because their owners could not be found.
“This online register will not only aim to decrease that figure, it will also aim to reduce the length of time that lost animals spend at the pound,” Cr Rose said.
“Even with this new register, the quickest way to reunite pets and their owners is to ensure that your animal is microchipped.”
A microchip provides a permanent form of identification. It is about the size of a grain of rice and is electronically imprinted with a unique number that can be picked up by an electronic scanner.
All animals taken to the municipal pound are checked for a microchip.
Wyndham Council’s website communications officer Linda Scorsis said the site had been successfully tested over the past week.
“So far, the site has been quite effective, with several pet owners being directed to the website to confirm a pet being held at the pound is theirs, before arranging to pick it up,” Ms Scorsis said.
The website also features information including release fees and details on pet ownership and registration.”
To look for lost pets, visit www.wyndham.vic.gov.au and follow the links or contact the Municipal Pound on 9742 0958.
Picture: STEPHEN LINNELL.
