We won't let this happen

in our neighborhood!

The picture was taken by photographer Tom Fox of the Dallas Morning News, in Chalmet, LA, on September 6, 2005. He received great notoriety from the photo. The story of the sad plight of poor little "Oily Dog" was sent around the world and generated huge sympathy for the little Shih Tzu. Mr. Fox failed to help her; after getting his soon to be famous picture, he just walked away. After two months oily dog was identified as having been found. There was enough information to convince those who were in the know of her authenticity. The person who found her donated the by then several thousand dollar reward to the Katrina pet rescue cause, Oily Dog found a new home, and the story had a happy ending. Unlike the even more famous Snowball story, as Snowball was never found. We at the MWPCA consider our pets our neighbors too, and vow to keep them safe as best we can in an emergency.

With your October 2006 LOOKOUT we included a door sticker to alert your neighbors and the Fire Department about what pets you have in the house that may need help in the case of an emergency. For dogs and cats, having a collar and, tags with name, phone and address is a great start. Even without an emergency, having the information on the tag will help your neighbors know where to return your pet if it gets loose. Best is also to have a chip ID tag which can be installed by your vet or the Marin Humane Society. If your pet has an identification chip, please be sure to list the chip no. and supplier (Home Again, etc.).

PET RESCUE: Set up a buddy system with your neighbors who have pets for locating and removing your pets from your home if it becomes necessary. Let them know the location of your pet emergency kit, pet carrier, medications, food, feeding and health care instructions, veterinarian, etc.

Anyone wanting more information, or to help with the MWPCA Disaster/Emergency committee, should call 381-3119 and leave a message for MWPCA Disaster/Emergency Chair Dick Popson.

It is a policy of the MWPCA that, in the event of an emergency and people are evacuated to the Clubhouse, we will accommodate the pets of people seeking refuge at the Clubhouse to the best of our ability. The MWPCA Clubhouse has a limited number (about 9) of pet crates for use in an emergency. We have pet food and cat litter to get by for a few days. If you are evacuated, take your pets, their food, and a cage if you have one and if you can’t get off the mountain, come to the Clubhouse, which can be a Red Cross Disaster Shelter if the emergency is severe. The fire department may drop off some evacuated pets for temporary shelter, but if you come in, we can only accommodate your pets while you are there!

Presently there is no pet rescue plan in Mill Valley that we know of other than the fact that pets picked up will eventually be taken to the Marin Humane Society.

To track a lost pet pet contact the Marin SPCA www.marinhumanesociety.org or phone 415-883-4621. You can also track lost and found pets at www.petfinder.com or www.petharbor.com.