Yep my thoughts exactly, there just is no end to the weird situations that come up. Had one where the chip contact info was all outdated (phones didn't work, moved, etc.), kept doing internet searches & Yahoo suggested a different spelling of the last name--name had been spelled incorrectly on the chip records. Still were skeptical as the cat was found at a very obvious/common dumping spot, but turned out the chip info was from the original owner (just last name spelled wrong but I located once Yahoo figured that part out) who had adopted the cat to a friend a year prior...friend dumped the cat, to the original owner's shock (and showed no remorse when contacted)...orig. owner felt horrible and took the kitty back.
Have had more than one where I was only able to find the owner, in situations where it was a very, very old cat (18+, 2 cases like this) but chip not registered/contact info not up to date, by asking the chip company where the cat was chipped (unfortunately, the representatives don't always offer this info up unless you ask but it can be the missing link) or by guessing the family vet by the registered address & calling the vet who either knew the cat or was able to look up the people's name. Found 2 owners that way. It sucks people don't keep chip info up to date but have seen every very good homes go through divorce or other change and forget to do so. I agree, sounds like this kitty has been on the streets a while, still best to scan for chip & do homework just in case.... And remember there is a "universal microchip lookup" website. I have also had chips we scanned ourselves, gave us the chip # and said "petlink" with a ph# (or other company), that company had no record...but turned out people registered with another company. As a rescuer, I have been very frustrated by these experiences as it tells me the average joe cat finder won't know/think to try all these things which makes finding owners even harder...this happened to me once where the chip info WAS up to date, but, registered to AKC and not coming up via other searches (including the company/ph# that came up on the scanner when we scanned the chip). Sorry to go on, it's a peeve of mine:-) On Thu, Aug 11, 2011 at 12:20 PM, Christiane Biagi <ti...@mindspring.com>wrote: > I do lost/found work for a couple of shelters & you have no idea how far > animals wander. A chip got a cat home that had disappeared months ago from > its home about 10 miles away. Thing is sometimes, people pick up strays, > bring them home, and then lose or dump them again—now even further from > home. Its ALWAYS worth scanning, and checking with your local shelter & > maybe taking a look at craig’s list—though in this case, it sounds like the > cat’s been out there for a couple of years. **** > > ** ** > > *From:* felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org [mailto: > felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] *On Behalf Of *Heather > *Sent:* Thursday, August 11, 2011 11:46 AM > *To:* felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > > *Subject:* Re: [Felvtalk] Please Share Thoughts on TNR Dilemma**** > > ** ** > > Lots of good advice--given this kitty was already spayed, is a cleft palate > himi (many cleft palate babies do not survive), this was likely someone's > pet. some of the cats at my colonies who have been most standoffish were > sweet once we got our hands on them.**** > > **** > > Was she scanned for a chip? I would definitely do this.**** > > **** > > She may of course be abandoned but also could be displaced/lost.**** > > **** > > Most of the chipped cats I find do not have up to date contact info and > I've had to do detective work, but because the chip info isn't up to date > doesn't always mean the cat doesn't have someone who loves & misses it.*** > * > > **** > > So many don't have/need homes, it is worth the effort I believe...most turn > out to be deadbeat owners, but there could be a kid in the family who's been > crying for months over their lost pet--I have had this situation before > where we really didn't think the cat had a good home, one never knows. I > say this knowing that most do end up being deadbeats....but, not always, or > at least, there might be one person in the family who does care and deserves > to know the kitty is alive and have a chance to claim.**** > > **** > > Just thoughts, I've had recent situations in this regard--please pardon if > I missed something that clearly indicated the cat was abandoned (like people > just moved out, etc.).**** > > **** > > Good luck and thank you for helping her!!**** > > On Thu, Aug 11, 2011 at 10:08 AM, Edna Taylor <taylore...@msn.com> wrote:* > *** > > Kat, great advice and exactly what I would do. Place her in a room in the > house (bathroom/bedroom) and you might find that she is quite friendly, > simply scared. If you let her outside now, you will never see her again :( > **** > ------------------------------ > > Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:19:55 +0000 > From: merrykatme...@email.com > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Please Share Thoughts on TNR Dilemma **** > > > > Hi Bonnie, > > I would try to bring her over to your house, but not directly outside. > > Do you have a small room @ your house you can use for a few weeks? If so, > you should keep her in there - with litter, food & water & a place to hide > (large box with hole in it & some towels will do just fine) while you get > her accustomed to you as her new care giver. Go in there everyday to be > with her - even if you don't touch her. Stay in there for at least a > half-hour & read something out loud (normal voice) so she can get used to > hearing you. > > If you decide to name her - use her name over & over when you go in to feed > her. Praise her for being a smart & strong kitty. etc. > > Then after a few weeks, leave her in the room, but with a screened window > cracked open a bit, so she can get used to the new neighborhood "smells" > from inside. That way, when you do finally let her out (& put her box > outside too) she will already be familiar with the surroundings & won't be > so apt to bolt or run off. > > Good luck! It will be worth the time & the effort!!! > > Kat (Mew Jersey)**** > > ----- Original Message -----**** > > From: Bonnie Hogue**** > > Sent: 08/11/11 09:05 AM**** > > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org**** > > Subject: [Felvtalk] Please Share Thoughts on TNR Dilemma**** > > ** ** > > Wish I would have thought to ask this yesterday! Now I’m literally an hour > away from needing to decide.**** > > **** > > The problem is that my aunt (who’s tame housecat I took) also had a “feral” > living in her large yard. The cat showed up about 2 years ago, and for the > past year I believe the cat has pretty much been a resident there (her only > source of food?).**** > > **** > > Yesterday I trapped her and took her to Forgotten Felines, the local and > excellent TNR organization. Guess what? She had already been spayed. That > means some (fill in the blank nasty term) ‘person’ had just abandoned her! > **** > > **** > > So here’s the dilemma: if I release her in my yard, she’s in a strange > place. The only thing holding her near will be my good heart. If I take > her back to my aunt’s house (which is to go on the market soon) god knows > what will happen, where she will find food, and the next ‘trapper’ may not > have as good a motivation as I do.**** > > **** > > I see it as 50/50 for this poor cat.**** > > **** > > But what would YOU do?**** > > **** > > Thanks for your thoughts.**** > > **** > > ~Bonnie**** > > **** > > ** ** > > _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org**** > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org**** > > ** ** > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > >
_______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
