According to recent figures only 19% of missing dogs find their way back home with a tiny 4% of missing cats finally reuniting with their owners.
In a bid to change that statistic to more positive figures - we will today be attempting to reunite some lost pets with their owners, plus we'll be Skyping with four rehoming centres across the country.
DOGS TRUST, LEEDS
www.dogstrust.com
DOG 1 - HANK THE 3 LEGGED DOG
Hank is just 4 months old and is a large cross tan - Hank is a lovely dog that came to the Dogs Trust us as an RTA (road traffic accident), from a local council. Sadly he has had to have his front leg amputated. He is very sweet natured and with his bucket and bandages he really looks the part. It would be really good to show what can happen when you allow your dog to wander out on its own.
DOG 2 - MIA THE HUSKY
Mia is also a large dog - a Husky Cross in fact! She's just 18 months old and originally came to the Dog's Trust from the local stray kennels in August 2011. She was rehomed, but sadly had to be returned to the Leeds Rehoming Centre a month ago. The centre are still hoping to track down her owner as she is so stunning but if she does get to be rehomed - she will need a more experienced owner, and preferably someone who has had this breed type before.
WOOD GREEN ANIMAL CHARITY, NORTH LONDON
www.woodgreen.org.uk
PET 1 - STANLEY THE FERRET
Stanley is a 2 year old ferret who was found in Ramsey near Huntingdon on 16th February. He was brought to Wood Green by a member of the public. No one has come forward for Stanley and as yet no one has enquired about rehoming him. He is a lovely little chap that enjoys cuddling up with his ferret friends, going for walks and socialising with his carers. Ferrets are very sociable creatures so they need the company of their own kind. It is unfair to keep a lone ferret as it would become depressed and nervous. Wood Green recommend keeping ferrets in small mixed-sex groups or same sex pairs. Neutering both sexes will prevent unwanted litters.
CATS PROTECTION IN SUSSEX
www.cats.org.uk
CAT 1 - TANGO THE LOST CAT
Tango is a tabby and white male who is around 14 years old. He was spotted roaming near a house in which he used to live in Haywards Heath, West Sussex during March. He is microchipped and neutered, but it appears the owners didn't update the address details registered to the chip before they moved away, so Cats Protection have no way of contacting them.
CAT 2 - OLIVER THE COOKING OIL CAT
Oliver is ginger and white and is between 3 and 4 years old. He was brought to the centre on 8 May after he was found in Uckfield, East Sussex. His fur is a little oily at the moment as he appears to have been padding through some discarded cold cooking oil that was close by. Oliver isn't microchipped but he's so lovable and friendly that he must have had an owner.
BATTERSEA DOGS AND CATS HOME, LONDON
www.battersea.org.uk
DOG 1 - ABBY THE CROSS EYED BOXER
Abby is a one to two year old Boxer cross who arrived at Battersea this week. She was found by a member of the public in a park in Lewisham. She was not microchipped and wasn't wearing a collar or tag. Abby is a very sweet girl who loves a fuss and is a very popular girl on kennels. We are hoping her owner will come forward, but if they don't Battersea will have to start looking for a new home for her. Abby is easy to spot as she is cross-eyed, so we are hoping someone will recognise her..
DOG 2: LIBERTY THE HOBBLY DOG
Liberty is a three to five year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier who was found as a stray in Tandridge, Kent, in October. She did not have a collar or tag or microchip and Battersea have been unable to find her owner, so are now searching for a new home for her. She is a sweet natured girl who is social with people but also likes to do her own thing. She loves food and toys and she will make a nice addition to her new family. Liberty has had a leg operation at Battersea as she had a luxating patella, but she has recovered well and loves going for walks..