The news is full of stories of animals losing their homes along with their pet parents due to home foreclosure. Some tips for dealing with this looming threat: Educate yourself about ways to prevent foreclosure all together. The best way to keep your whole family together (pets and all) is to stay in your home. At http://makinghomeaffordable.gov/, you can see if you are eligible for government-sponsored foreclosure alternatives, such as refinancing or loan modifications.

 

No Paws Left Behind http://nopawsleftbehind.org/paws/ is a nonprofit that provides tips for homeowners as well as an online network to get your pet into the safest place possible if needed.

If you or someone you know is a member of the US military preparing for deployment in need of care for a pet while away, please contact these groups for help:

http://www.operationnoblefoster.org/

If this is an animal you have found, have you posted any fliers or contacted the paper or radio to try and find this animal’s owner? This would be your first step. Someone could be missing him. Someone may be looking for him and not realize just how far he has traveled. You may also want to have him scanned at your local vet. Many pets are microchipped. This chip number will register back to the owner. The chip company will then give you contact information for this person. There are many services on the internet where you can also post lost/found ads. Here are a few places to start.

 

If you are in the Chattanooga area, make sure you contact Luther at WDEF about any lost or found pets. Call 423-321-6277 or fax 423-321-6282.

 

It's also a good idea to notify your postal carrier. He/she sees a lot of the pets in the area of their route and may recognize the pet or could help you find your lost pet. Make sure you include a photo.

 

 

If all else fails,  you may want to contact some of the local rescue organizations to see if any have room to accept the animal into their program. Because of the huge pet overpopulation problem, most shelters and rescues stay full. These groups are made up of volunteers who are trying to save a lot of animals with very scant resources, so offer as big of a donation as possible to help cover food, shelter, and especially medical expenses.  Please be patient when waiting for a return call; it might take a few days. Serving as a foster home for the animal while the rescue organization searches for a new home is a great option as well.  You will find local groups by visiting the following links.

 

If you cannot find a rescue organization who can help, ask friends, neighbors, co-workers, family, etc., and be patient.  It might take a while to find the pet a new home.  To learn more about re-homing pets, check out this link:

Petfinder will no longer let us courtesy post. To list your cat or dog on Petfinder to the classified ads go to: http://www.petfinder.com/classifieds/prepost.html

If you would like PPC to receive your pet into the shelter PLEASE INCLUDE A PICTURE OF YOUR PET. Your name and contact info, name of pet, breed, age, approximate weight, temperament and reason for surrender. Include info about how your pet is with cats, dogs and children. Also include all vet information including vaccination history, whether your pet is spayed or neutered and any medical concerns. Please understand, the Pet Placement Center cannot help every dog or cat that needs a new home. The information you provide may be shared will other reputable rescue organizations in an effort to help you place your pet sooner.