- What do I do if my pet is lost or if I have found a pet?
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- Call the local animal control officer, or the non-emergency police department, and local town halls to file a lost pet report. Contact your local humane societies. Ask if they have any animals matching your pet's description. Remember a lost pet can travel far!!
Local Animal Control:
www.stcroixanimalfriends.org/animalcontrol.html
Town Halls
www.stcroixedc.com/pdf/ResourceGuide06May_Web.pdf
Humane Societies
www.animalhumanesociety.org Woodbury MN
www.dunncountyhumanesociety.org Menomonie WI
www.arnellhumane.org Amery WI
www.pawswi.com Western WI
www.stcroixanimalfriends.org Western WI
Be sure to call the local animal holding facilities at more than once as many animals come and out of their housing. - Call local veterinary clinics. Many people report stray animals to local veterinary clinics. They may have information of your pet's whereabouts. Contact your pet's vet clinic to let them know they are missing.
- Post flyers with your pet's picture and information in the neighborhood and in public places.
- Place an ad in the local paper, offering a reward can be very helpful.
- If your pet is microchipped, call the microchip company and file a lost pet report. Make certain the company has current contact information for you.
- Search your neighborhood thoroughly every day and talk to your neighbors.
- If your cat is missing always check near and around your home in any spot that looks as if a cat could hide there. Oftentimes cats will not be far from your home, but are too scared to come to you. The use of a live trap is sometimes the best way to retrieve your cat.
If you found a pet...
- Contact any veterinary clinics around the area to see if they have a matching description of a lost pet.
- Bring the pet to a veterinary clinic to have it scanned for a microchip. If it has a microchip, the veterinary clinic can look up the number and find out who the pet belongs to.
- Contact the local animal control and report a found pet. They will have you on record that you found a pet if someone calls to report a missing pet.
- Contact the Humane Society and report a found pet. They might also have records of a missing pet that matches the description.
- If unable to keep the animal, please bring to the local veterinary clinic where they may keep the animal until the owner is found or until animal control takes the animal.
- Call the local animal control officer, or the non-emergency police department, and local town halls to file a lost pet report. Contact your local humane societies. Ask if they have any animals matching your pet's description. Remember a lost pet can travel far!!
- How do I know when it is time for euthanasia?
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Your pet's quality of life is the biggest question you want to ask yourself when making end of life decisions. Although it may be difficult to think about, this process should happen in giving your pet a high quality life. There isn't a clear-cut answer to this question. The following might be able to help you in making this difficult decision for your pet.
- Does my pet still enjoy being around the family?
- Is my pet in pain? Your pet may show different signs of pain where they don't enjoy the activities they had in the past or has gotten more "irritable" with age. Consult with your veterinarian for ways to help your pet with pain.
- Do my pet's "good" days outnumber the "bad" days, or are the "good" days very seldom?
- Has my pet stopped eating or drinking?
- Does my pet still get excited when I come home?
- Am I able to maintain proper care for my pet, including financially?
There may also be other circumstances in regards to contemplating euthanasia. Some of the other circumstances include:
- Has my pet become aggressive, irritable, or protective? In many cases, there are reasons why the pet has become this way. There are many options that you can choose before resorting to euthanasia. There could be underlying illness or pain with these changes or triggers that could be causing this behavior. Consult with your veterinarian in regards to these changes and he/she may help in your decision for your pet.
- If you have circumstances in your life that cause you to no longer be able to care for your pet, there may be more options than euthanasia. See if a family member or a friend would be willing to take over ownership of your pet. You may contact your local veterinarian to see if they know of anyone who would be able to adopt your pet. You can also locate a rescue group where they find foster homes for pets until they are able to find a permanent home for your pet.
Remember to include family members when the decision is made. Children also need time to realize what is happening and to grieve for the animal. There are many websites available to help with grieving the loss of a pet.
Any questions relating to euthanasia or the well being of your animal, please don't hesitate to contact your veterinarian. You can also go to www.pet-loss.net for support and a list of sites regarding pet euthanasia.
- What is involved with the euthanasia process?
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Pet Euthanasia
At St. Croix Valley Vet Clinic, we honor your decision to assist your pet with euthanasia. We understand that in many homes losing a pet is like losing a family member. As pet owners ourselves, we too have found ourselves in the position of having to make difficult decisions for our pets. We recognize that there is a time when the greatest thing we can offer to them is assisting them with passing in a loving and honorable way. We understand the human-animal bond and try to make the process of euthanasia as easy as possible for all of those who may experience it.
Scheduling Your Appointment
Before phoning the clinic to schedule your appointment, you should decide if you would like to leave/drop your pet off at the clinic, remain with your pet during the procedure, or remain with your pet for part of the procedure. There is no right or wrong decision, only the decision that is the most comfortable for you. Remember that it is always ok to change your mind. If you are staying with your pet, please let us know so that we can schedule accordingly.
Arriving For Your Appointment
Please arrive for your appointment on-time and inform the receptionist if you are unable to transport your pet from the vehicle into the clinic. There will be form(s) for you to fill-out prior to your appointment and you may wish to pre-pay for the services for the day. The forms include verification that your pet has not bitten anyone in the prior ten days, authorization to perform services, and your decision for after-care of your pet's body. Plan for the euthanasia process to take anywhere from thirty minutes to one hour.
During Your Appointment: The Euthanasia Process
The process of euthanasia is somewhat tailored to each individual pet and their current physical condition. Be sure to be up-front with your veterinarian/technician if you have any questions and/or if you wish be close to your pet during the process. You are always welcome to hold your pet's paw or pet them throughout the process as long as the veterinarian is comfortable with your doing so as well. A clay paw can be made at your request with an impression of your animal's foot print and then taken home for you to bake.
An intravenous (iv) catheter may be placed to ensure access to a vein and minimize the amount of stress for your pet. The most common way for the process to proceed is to give your pet a series of injections.
The first injection is a muscle injection which will cause relaxation and sedation of your pet. This injection can take anywhere from five to fifteen minutes to reach full-effect. The veterinarian may choose not to sedate your pet if they feel that by doing so, they may compromise your pet's comfort or ability to breathe.
The second injection is an iv injection that causes unconsciousness and will stop your pet's heart. The drug works very quickly- usually your pet's heart will have stopped before the injection is complete. The veterinarian will monitor your pet with a stethoscope and verify that they have passed.
The euthanasia process is generally very calm, quiet, and peaceful. Your pet may take a series of large breaths as they are passing. With muscle relaxation, it is common to experience loss of control of bowel or bladder. If your pet is not pre-sedated, it is not uncommon for your pet to appear somewhat excitable and possibly vocalize prior to the injection. Your pet's eyes will remain open during and after the euthanasia.
After Care Of Your Pet's Body
After the euthanasia has been performed, you have options to choose from for care of your pet's body. You are always welcome to bring your pet's body home for burial. Should you choose to take your pet’s body back home, please make arrangements for proper transportation of the body (i.e. blanket, bag, box). In most instances the clinic can offer a cardboard coffin. Please check into your local regulations for home burials.
Another option available to you is cremation of your pet's body. You may either have your pet cremated with a group cremation (your pet's ashes ARE NOT returned to you) or cremated in a private manner (in which your pet's individual ashes ARE returned to you). Your pet's blanket, collar, favorite toy, and any other non-metal items are welcome to be cremated with your pet. Ashes are returned to the clinic within two weeks of the appointment in a sealed, decorative metal canister. We will contact you when your pet's ashes have been returned. A technician can assist you with alternative urn options.
Remember that you are not alone in your grieving, and there are many support resources available for you and your children. For a list of internet resources near you, see the Pet Loss Resources of Wisconsin website at www.pet-loss.net.
LAST NIGHT
I stood by your bed last night; I came to have a peep. I could see that you were crying; you found it hard to sleep. I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear, "It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here." I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea. You were thinking of the many times, your hands reached down to me. I was with you at the shops today; your arms were getting sore. I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more. I was with you at my grave today; you tend it with such care. I want to re-assure you, that I'm not lying there. I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key. I gently put my paw on you; I smiled and said, "It's me." You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair. I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there. It's possible for me, to be so near you everyday. To say to you with certainty, "I never went away." You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew...in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you. The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning and say "good-night, God bless, I'll see you in the morning." And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide, I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand, side by side. I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see. Be patient, live your journey out...then come home to be with me.- Author Unknown
