As the holidays approach and the sound of fireworks begins to fill the air, pet owners in the Phoenix area are being reminded that the festivities often come with an increased risk of pets becoming lost; the Maricopa County Department of Animal Care and Control (MCACC) has resources in place to assist with these situations. According to ABC15, pet owners need to ensure their animals have updated tags and microchips, as these are the most effective ways to reunite lost pets with their families.
MCACC has returned nearly 2,000 pets safely to their homes in 2023, and they encourage owners who have lost a pet to visit their west shelter in Phoenix or east shelter in Mesa, as well as to fill out a Lost Pet Form, or for cats since the shelter does not impound them, to post on its Stray Animal Map, which is a tool where users can report where a stray dog or cat was seen or found – these postings will remain for up to five days, noted AZCentral.
In addition, MCACC lists all found animals on the 24PetConnect.com website, but without proper identification, such as licenses or microchips, the shelters can only hold these animals for 72 hours; after that, the animals can become available for public adoption. Pet owners are urged to act quickly when their pet goes missing by utilizing online resources such as the 24PetConnect.com website and Petco Love Lost, which is a facial recognition platform that helps match found pets with their owners. The latter is also advised by ABC15.
For those who find a stray pet, Maricopa County advises safely containing the animal if possible and reporting it using the county's online form, or if the animal is wearing a Maricopa County tag, by calling 602-506-PETS to reach the owner, according to ABC15. Moreover, found pets can be brought to a veterinary office, shelter, or pet supply store for a microchip scan, and flyers and social media, including the Nextdoor app, can be powerful tools by spreading the word within the community, as emphasized by AZCentral. In case of injured, sick, or abused animals, the Arizona Humane Society should be contacted directly.
