CLEARLAKE — Judy Kohlhagen wants every Lake County resident to know what to do if a pet that appears to be lost or out wandering is found.
Kohlhagen, a Clearlake resident, found a dog on her porch the morning of July 5. She said she wanted to find the owner in order to return the dog and contacted Clearlake Animal Control.
She received no answer and proceeded to contact the Clear Lake SPCA and Lake County Animal Care and Control in an attempt to contact the owner. Kohlhagen said the person she spoke to at Animal Care and Control was not helpful.
“He said he couldn”t help and I should just let (the dog) go,” Kohlhagen said. “I got the same response with the SPCA.”
Kohlhagen said a receptionist at the Clearlake Veterinary Clinic finally pointed her to the Lake County Animal Care and Control website. A lost and found animal public bulletin section appears on the site. Residents can add to the lost and found animals by filling out a form.
“I went on to the site and posted,” Kohlhagen said. “Four hours later, the owner called.”
She said when the owner came to her house, it made for a great reunion.
“(The dog) kept jumping up and down and twirling around,” Kohlhagen said. “The owner was so excited.”
Residents who find stray animals after regular business hours should be prepared to care for the animal at least overnight before they can take the animal to the nearest animal control facility, according to officials.
“After hours, if there”s an emergency situation (involving an animal), police officers will handle it,” Clearlake Police Lt. Tim Celli said. “But if you find a stray, it”s not considered an emergency. People will have to wait for the animal control officer in non-emergencies.”
“If (an animal) is posing a threat, then we would respond anytime,” Bill Davidson, director of Lake County Animal Care and Control, said.
For non-emergency situations, Davidson said people could keep the animal overnight and make arrangements with Animal Care and Control to pick it up the next day.
“They should call us and report it so that we can create a found record in case someone calls to look for (the animal),” he said.
Davidson recommended the use of the bulletin section on the department”s website.
“People can call us to do that or do it themselves,” he said.
Kohlhagen said she wanted people to know the City of Clearlake Animal Control can be found on Facebook.
“Not everyone is on Facebook,” she said. “I”m too old to Facebook. Let the kids do it.”
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14. Follow on Twitter: @KevinNHume.
