New Text Line to Help Find Lost Pets

Blue Ridge Humane Launches Text Line for Lost Pet Help

Blue Ridge Humane Society has launched a new lost animal text line to further provide support for pet owners facing the unthinkable: a lost pet.

If you have a pet go missing, text ‘LOST’ to (833) 786-0730 and start receiving actions to take immediately. The text messages, containing steps to take and resources for lost pets, will come in different intervals spread out across minutes, hours, and days until you text ‘STOP’.

The lost animal text line is the latest action by Blue Ridge Humane to increase support and resources for pet owners. The program was inspired by the Lost2Found program at Front Street Animal Shelter – City of Sacramento, created by Bobby Mann and Ryan Hinderman. The text line helps spread accurate and quick information to the public, with instant results at any time of day.

The text line follows the creation of the Resource Counselor position and a deliberate focus on providing community pet owners support and assisting with animal intake diversion to keep a pet out of the animal shelter environment if possible. The position is filled by long-time BRHS staff member Fawn Horton, who moved into the position over the summer of 2020. Fawn provides one-on-one help to pet owners facing one of the most difficult situations—a lost pet, as well as other support and resources to keep pets with their loving owners. She also moderates the Blue Ridge Humane Society Lost & Found Pet Spotters Facebook group, helping match lost pet pleas to found animal posts. Fawn shares, “The best part of my role is playing Facebook detective and seeing animals being reunited quickly! The community really comes together for a lost (or found) animal and it’s really inspiring to see how many animal lovers live right around me!”

Under Fawn’s care, the Lost & Found group has grown in both size and activity. Since pet reunion tracking began in mid-2020, over 80 animals were reunited with their owners through the Facebook group. The success of crowd-sourcing looking for a lost pet is seen in Marley’s story. Within 20 minutes of Marley’s owners posting that he was lost from their home in Hendersonville, a matching post from a benevolent finder was shared, and Marley was soon on his way back home.  “Our sweet boy Marley is back home thanks to our wonderful community!!!,” shared Debi, Marley’s mom, as she posted a photo to the group of Marley on his car ride back home.

Pet owners can take proactive steps to increase the chances of a reunion if their pet goes missing:

1. Microchip your pet and check your microchip information regularly to ensure it is up to date using a resource like www.foundanimals.org. If your pet has been micro-chipped, your chances of finding your pet as a stray increases dramatically. Contact Blue Ridge Humane about having your pet micro-chipped.
2. Keep a collar and ID tag on your pet, even cats!
   1. Always walk your dog with a collar or harness that won’t slip off.
   2. Train your cat to be comfortable wearing a collar with contact info, even if they are indoor. Contact Blue Ridge Humane for more info on cat care.
   3. ID tags should contain your name, address, and phone number.
3. Secure your home and yard.
   1. Fix gaps in fences, secure window, and make sure doors close properly.
4. Register your pet on FindingRover.com to help with facial recognition if they are lost and end up in a shelter.
5. Make sure you have a clear and up-to-date photo of your pet.
6. Save the Lost Animal Text Line number in your phone so it’s there when you or a friend need it: (833) 786-0730

For more action steps and how to’s, visit the Resources page at www.blueridgehumane.org. If you have questions you can contact Blue Ridge Humane at help@blueridgehumane.org. For lost or found pet help, email lostfound@blueridgehumane.org.

The Blue Ridge Humane Society, Inc., is a 501(c)3 animal welfare organization started in 1950 dedicated to ensuring the highest quality of life for animals in Henderson County and our neighboring communities. BRHS cares for pets awaiting adoption and in foster homes; offers low-cost vaccine clinics, animal education programs, pet training classes, and youth education and projects; coordinates community pet food assistance, emergency vet assistance, and the Spay Neuter Incentive Program (SNIP), which is a collaboration with Henderson County, the City of Hendersonville, and the Henderson County Animal Services Center.

If you believe in our cause, consider making a donation or learning how to volunteer by visiting the Blue Ridge Humane Society’s website at www.blueridgehumane.org or call (828) 692-2639.