FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WFFT) – Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control (FWACC) Director Amy Jo Sites says the facility is full almost every day due to stray animals.
“When we went into the building this morning, there were 170 animals in the building. That means 64 cats and 60 dogs. So how often do we reach capacity? When you ask if there is, the answer is almost every day,” Saitos said. .
If the shelter does not know the owner, the owner has three business days to pick up the pet. That's why it's important to check social media like Facebook and missing pet databases like the City of Fort Wayne's Pet Finder.
Here you can find photos, detailed descriptions, locations and photos of stray dogs that have become local shelters.
“Last year, I think we adopted about 6,400 stray animals, which means they may have been wandering around outside or someone caught them and brought them to us, but 26% of their owners actually “I volunteered to retrieve the animal. It's a pet,” Saitos said.
It is important to note that if your pet is microchipped, you will need to register the correct information. In some cases, a shelter may accept a missing pet, but if the animal is scanned or matched with invalid contact information, the animal does not have a registered owner. In this case, the police officer takes a different step.
“They have microchip scanners, so they scan every animal they pick up, make sure they have the proper contact information, and actually try to send them home. What makes it different is that the owners Only if you haven’t updated it.’ Submit your microchip information to us or your microchip company,” Seitz said.
If an animal is chipped and you do not pick it up after three business days, the shelter must look for other care options if it is at capacity. If FWACC has exhausted all other options, the last resort is euthanasia.
“We've noticed an increase in the number of animals coming in over the weekend. It's heartbreaking to see lost children and dogs coming in. Our goal is simply to reunite them with their loving families. ” said the communications specialist. Abigail Reyes.
FWACC posts lost pets on social media every Monday. If you've lost a pet and are unharmed, always check social media and local databases for furry family members.
Have a story or news tip you'd like to see featured on FOX 55? Email news@wfft.com.