Home Animal Stories Contra Costa Animal Services Joins Initiative to Help Lost Pets

Contra Costa Animal Services Joins Initiative to Help Lost Pets

by ECT

Every year, over five million lost pets end up in animal shelters across the U.S. 90% of them will never see their owners again.

Contra Costa Animal Services wants to change that statistic for their community. With two locations in Martinez and Pinole, CCAS takes in over 10,000 dogs and cats per year, making it one of the largest animal sheltering agencies in Northern California.

On April 26-27, CCAS is hosting a training seminar for their staff, volunteers, and community partners through Missing Pet Partnership, a national nonprofit dedicated to lost pet prevention and recovery (LPPR). The seminar is part of a nationwide initiative called “Mission Reunite” designed to help animal care and control agencies better serve their communities in the area of LPPR. Measurable goals include increased owner reunions, reduced stray intake, and decreased euthanasia.

“Getting lost pets back to their owners quickly and keeping them in their loving homes where they belong frees up shelter resources for animals truly in need of a new home,” says Brigid Wasson, Missing Pet Partnership President and co-presenter of Mission Reunite. Wasson, a retired animal shelter director and consultant, teaches animal service agencies to identify and remove barriers to owner reunion.

Kat Albrecht is the Founder of Missing Pet Partnership and co-presenter of Mission Reunite. A retired police officer and expert in lost pet recovery, Albrecht teaches the behaviors of pets and people – including owners and finders — that hinder owner reunion.

Together, Wasson and Albrecht hope to change the face of animal sheltering for lost pets and their owners by giving shelters the tools they need to be successful.

Missing Pet Partnership, founded in 2004, provides resources for the owners of missing pets as well as training for animal shelters and pet detectives.

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