Don’t abandon them plan for pets
June 5th, 2008 Posted in Reptile PetsThe noncommissioned officer in charge of the Veterinary Treatment Facility at Fort Leavenworth wants pet owners to take their responsibility seriously especially if they are getting ready to move.
The summer moving season on the installation can cause some animals to be left behind and Sgt. Mark Wilson wants to help pet owners avoid that situation.
Wilson said a lot of pet owners have already done some planning, which is good. He said people need to know the requirements well in advance if they are taking their animal overseas.
Wilson said people staying stateside need to think about how they are going to travel with their pet. Pets should be current on shots before traveling and airlines usually require a health certificate. Wilson said some airlines will not fly pets in the heat of the summer, so that takes advance planning also. Whatever the plans, Wilson said the VTF can help.
If it is not possible to take a pet when leaving the installation, Wilson said there are options. The VTF has a bulletin board where individuals can advertise their pet for adoption. The pet can also be advertised in the local newspapers; a pet ad in the Fort Leavenworth Lamp is free.
If the pet is adopted, Wilson said the owners need officially transfer ownership for the animal. This will help the VTF find the proper owners if the pet is lost and picked up on the installation. The VTF has blank copies of the transfer of ownership form and can help pet owners with the paperwork.
If the pet is not adopted before the owner has to leave, the pet can be taken to the VTF and be put up for adoption. The pet must be current on all vaccinations, have a microchip implant and be heartworm tested. The owner then pays a $50 fee, which covers 10 days of room and board for the animal.
Wilson said people sometimes bring kittens in, without the mother cat. The installation regulation that covers pets states that all animals must be on a leash when outside, even cats. That doesn’t always happen and sometimes cats have a litter outside somewhere. Wilson said if someone comes across a litter of kittens that are obviously still in the care of their mother, and the mother is not around, they should leave the kittens alone. Wilson said the mother cat is probably around and she will return to her litter.
An animal found in the wild that appears to have been abandoned may just be in a stage of natural development. Fledgling birds may spend hours or even days on the ground while learning to fly and young mammals may be exploring or waiting for a parent to return. Deer often leave fawns alone for hours. If the animal appears healthy, it is better to leave it and wait to see if the parent returns.
Tags: adoption, amp, animals, ash, bet, birds, blank copies, cats, even cats, fort leavenworth, health certificate, heat of the summer, kitten, kittens, lear, left behind, loc, local newspapers, lori, mark wilson, microchip implant, mother cat, noncommissioned officer, paperwork, Pet, pet owners, pet pets, pets, transfer of ownership, vaccination, vaccinations, vet, veterinary treatment facility, vtfRelated posts
Tags: adoption, amp, animals, ash, bet, birds, blank copies, cats, even cats, fort leavenworth, health certificate, heat of the summer, kitten, kittens, lear, left behind, loc, local newspapers, lori, mark wilson, microchip implant, mother cat, noncommissioned officer, paperwork, Pet, pet owners, pet pets, pets, transfer of ownership, vaccination, vaccinations, vet, veterinary treatment facility, vtf
