WESTFIELD-Hundreds of dogs will benefit from a $1,000 grant recently received by the Westfield Regional Animal Shelter.
“We were awarded a microchip grant from Missing Dogs Massachusetts,” said Lori Charette, animal control operations manager. “This grant will allow us to offer a free microchip and implant the dogs that come to our shelter as stray, and will be returning home to their families.”
Charette said she “follows” Missing Dogs Massachusetts on Facebook and uses their services when trying to find the owners of strays that find their way to the local shelter.
“We follow their page because in the event an animal comes in here we may be able to link up the pet with its owners,” said Charette.
Missing Dogs Massachusetts is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that works to reunite missing and found dogs with their families by working cooperatively with animal control officers, rescues, shelters, law enforcement and the media, according to its website.
“We want to help found dogs get back to their owners and having an animal microchipped is likely to ensure that happens,” said Charette.
Charette explained that in 2017, the shelter saw 46 dogs out of 180 that were not microchipped.
“This grant is huge for the hundreds of stray dogs that we can now microchip,” said Charette, adding she can purchase Home Again microchip packages at discounted rates.
“We can implant the chip ourselves so that also saves money,” she added.
The Westfield Regional Animal Shelter has received a grant that will help purchase microchip packages for stray dogs.
Currently, there are two dogs in the shelter and both owners have been notified that their pets have been found.
“The owners have 10 days to come to the shelter and retrieve their dog,” said Charette, noting that the city ordinance mandates that dogs are held for a “10-day strong hold period.” The state law only requires shelters to hold dogs for seven days, according to Charette.
Charette praised Missing Dogs Massachusetts for its dedicated volunteers who are committed to helping lost dogs find their way back home.
“Being able to offer this service is a great way to get animals back home, especially since a lot of people cannot afford to get a microchip for their pet,” said Charette.
For owners who do not come and claim their animal after the designated time period, photographs are then posted on the Westfield Regional Animal Shelter Facebook page and website if the animal is adoptable.
On Tuesday afternoon, two young and two adult roosters are still looking for a forever home, as well as several cats and kittens. One cat in particular, “Fluffy,” is a 1-year-old neutered male who came in as a stray on May 14.
Lori Charette, animal control operations manager, holds “Fluffy,” one of several cats available for adoption at the Westfield Regional Animal Shelter. Fluffy is “social, loves people, and will sit on your lap as long as you let him” says Charette.
“He is currently our office cat until he finds a home,” said Charette, adding that Fluffy is “very social, loves people, and will sit on your lap as long as you let him.”
On a related note, flea and tick treatments for kittens, cats and dogs are always welcomed at the shelter, as well as dry and canned food for kittens. Also, supplies that are also always needed include bleach, laundry detergent, blankets and towels.
