COOKIES FOR FIDO
INCLUDE A BATCH OF DOG COOKIES IN THE HOLIDAY BAKING
By Karen Boris, Teuford, PA

THE HOLIDAYS are here and the kitchen will be filled with good smells of special recipes in the oven and on the stove. Why not include an easy and fast recipe of homemade, and healthy, dog cookies for your four legged friend?
This recipe is so easy that even children can make these cookies, although it is always recommended that children in the kitchen be supervised by an adult. Double the recipe and wrap some for gifts for loved ones with dogs. What a great gift! Both the dogs and their people will love this tasty treat from your kitchen.

Gourmet Peanut Butter Dog Cookies

Dry Ingredients:

2 cups whole-wheat flour
1⁄4 cup cornmeal
1⁄4 cup wheat germ
1 teaspoon bone meal (available at health food stores or in the vitamin section of pharmacies. You may also omit this ingredient.)

Wet Ingredients:

2 eggs
1 tablespoon canola oil
1⁄2 cup creamy peanut butter
1⁄4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. In another bowl, mix all the wet ingredients. Now add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Get your hands in there and start squeezing it all together and form a ball. If the mixture feels too dry, add a little more milk. If it feels too wet, add a little more flour.
On a floured surface, roll the ball of cookie dough out so that it is about 1⁄4 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes in the dough, or cut into strips and give them a twist before placing them on an un-greased cookie sheet.
Bake cookies for about 25-30 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets. Store cooled cookies in a zipper bag or an airtight container. Yield: about 3 dozen.

PETFOLIO'S HOLIDAY SHOPPING SPREE
HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME COOL PET STUFF FROM OUR LOCAL PET STORES
By William F. Schley, Reno NV

With the holidays being such a fast-paced and busy, busy time of year—and knowing that so many of our readers include their pets in their holiday shopping and celebration plans—and because Reno and surrounding areas have so many really neat stores for our pets—we decided to “go shopping” for you!
Petfolio sent a questionnaire to our local pet and wildlife shops to find out about some of the products they carry, unique pet gift ideas, and what makes their pet store a “must visit” stop in your holiday rounds. We have compiled here for you the results of those responses, and hope this information gives you some help and adds joy to your holiday festivities!

Q: Specialty brands or products carried:
A: Artemis, California Natural, Innova, Primal, Timberwolf Organics, and Wellness—all free of by-products, wheat, and corn. Also, a very large, varied selection of collars, harnesses, and leads— from “foofy” feathers to black spikes, including Ruff Wear, Silverfoot, Chrome Bone, Fox and Hound, Planet Dog, and Top Dog.

Q: Products carried that make particularly nice gifts:
A: Picture frames and novelty dishware. Unique, fun bakery treats— burgers and fries, ice cream cones, doggie latte, cupcakes and biscotti to name a few.

Q: Special services offered:
A: Free gift wrap and ship anywhere for a minimal fee. Our pet foods are guaranteed (if the pet doesn’t like it, we’ll take it back).

Q: Do you have “house” pets?
A: Two Labs, Buddy and Gus, with the most beautiful coats you have ever touched—poster dogs for the benefits of quality food. They eat Primal raw food.

Q: What sets you apart from the rest?
A: We are a “pet boutique” and make and carry unique items that are fun for dogs, cats, and owners!

Q: Specialty brands or products carried:
A: We feature high-end products for both cats and dogs. We carry life jackets for dogs, couches and designer beds, donut beds, and custom dog houses! Also a huge selection of designer collars, leads, and leashes. We have bakery products and a large assortment of quality pet gifts.

Q: Products carried that make particularly nice gifts:
A: We stock ornaments and throws both of which can be made from a picture of your pet—a particularly personal gift! Also, a large selection of pet-themed people presents like cool cat clocks, Yardbirds metal garden sculptures, and dog/cat motif treat jars, and more.

Q: Special services offered:
A: We ship worldwide! Our Web site is shopper friendly, allowing you to shop a full selection of product at your convenience but our store in Squaw Valley, North Lake Tahoe, is worth the visit as it’s adorned with unique doggie and kitty products you can’t find anywhere else!

Q: Do you have “house” pets?
A: Two rescues from local shelters, Deni, a golden retriever mix, and Guinness, a German shepherd mix.

Q: What sets you apart from the rest?
A: Quality, selection, and customer service.

Q: Specialty brands or products carried:
A: Extreme leads and harnesses; Sea Mobility, a product to support hip and joint health, and other nutritional supplements; homemade dog biscuits and pastries, and Super Premium Pet Chef pet foods.

Q: Products carried that make particularly nice gifts:
A: Holiday gift packages (prepared or customized), holiday treat boxes stuffed with doggie treats, holiday stockings full of goodies, holiday packaged biscuits and pastries, and a line of pet designed pewter picture frames. .

Q: Special services offered:
A: Customized gift packages and gift certificates. We also offer free delivery of holiday gift orders of $20 or more.

Q: Do you have “house” pets?
A: Two German shorthaired pointers, Casey, a therapy dog, and Gabe, a high-spirited fellow born to hunt!

Q: What sets you apart from the rest?
A: We cater to you and your pet’s needs by offering free home delivery in Reno and Sparks.

Q: Specialty brands or products carried:
A: A full line of products for every aspect of your pet’s life, for dogs, cats, birds (tame or backyard), hamsters, ferrets, reptiles, and more.

Q: Products carried that make particularly nice gifts:
A: Birthday cakes and custom gift baskets to celebrate new pet, congratulations, or just “I Love You” in many sizes and prices that include items such as dishes, toys, treats, collars, leashes, chew/squeak toys, balls, rawhide bones, books, training aids, or whatever you choose. Take it with you, or we can deliver it!

Q: Special services offered:
A: Your pet is welcome in our store. We offer gift certificates and carry your heavy purchases to your car for you—rain or shine—every time!

Q: Do you have “house” pets?
A: Five resident cats, three hamsters, and a fish!

Q: What sets you apart from the rest?
A: We’re a one-stop shopping place with everything you need to take great care of your current pet or to get ready for a new one! We enjoy our customers and their pets and try to show them God’s love.

Q: Specialty brands or products carried:
A: Carefree Cat Condos are made on our premises in Reno. Choose a floor model or custom-built model with features that please your cats’ lifestyles and carpeting colors that blend with your décor!

Q: Products carried that make particularly nice gifts:
A: Besides custom-built Carefree Cat Condos, we carry unique interactive toys including Panic Mouse, cat comfort items, cat tee-shirts, greeting cards, and holiday cat stockings filled with all sorts of cat goodies.

Q: Special services offered:
A: Free delivery within Washoe County, gift certificates, and 25 percent off any non-condo accessory when you purchase a condo at $49.95 or more. Mention for $10 off any fl oor or custom model condo.

Q: Do you have “house” pets?
A: Currently there are six cats and three dogs. We know cat behavior!

Q: What sets you apart from the rest?
A: We’re a small, locally-owned business with personal service and superior products at reasonable prices. We ask many questions to fit you with the right Carefree Cat Condo. You and your cat will love the attention!

Q: Specialty brands or products carried:
A: A large and varied selection of everything wild bird—from bird feeders to bird houses, bird baths, regional bird seed blends with no cereal fillers, garden accents, nature gifts, bird and nature books, and a wide variety of patented pole systems for feeders and houses to create the wild bird backyard habitat of your choice and best suited for your area.

Q: Products carried that make particularly nice gifts:
A: Quality brands Woodstock, Stannard, and Majesty Bells wind chimes of all sizes and tones, beautiful bird-themed stained glass panels, Evergreen garden flags, Tilley and Wallaroo hats for great sun protection, and a bird feeder for every kind of bird watcher.

Q: Special services offered:
A: Gift certificates, gift wrap, and Internet discount coupons when you sign up for our newsletter.

Q: Do you have “house” pets?
A: Only the beautiful wild birds that fly past our windows.

Q: What sets you apart from the rest?
A: We are a unique nature shop for backyard bird feeders and nature lovers.

Q: Specialty brands or products carried:
A: Foods, treats, and supplements that meet our high standards of nutrition and ingredients such as Timberwolf Organics and Primal, along with several lines only available at Healthy Tails in northern Nevada. Also, a unique assortment of hard-to-find pet accessories, toys, and bedding for both dogs and cats, including collars, leads, travel gear, carriers, and sweaters from Ollydog, Ruff Stuff, and Urban Hund.

Q: Products carried that make particularly nice gifts:
A: Our Rogz beds are great gifts because they are guaranteed—even if chewed, and come in three sizes and three colors.

Q: Special services offered:
A: Gift certificates.

Q: Do you have “house” pets?
A: We almost always have cats or kittens in the cat store available for adoption. We work with the SPCA, Community Cats, WARF, and the Humane Society to help “homeless” pets fi nd a happy home.

Q: What sets you apart from the rest?
A: We make every decision about the store and its products based upon the wellness of the animals— our #1 concern.

Q: Specialty brands or products carried:
A: By appointment portrait photography of pets, and their people, too! We are one of the few professional photographers in the Reno, Carson, and Tahoe areas specializing in pet and equine portraiture.

Q: Products carried that make particularly nice gifts:
A: Gift certificates available to give to someone with that “special” dog, cat, bird, or… What could be better than giving someone you love a gift that will keep their pet with them forever?

Q: Special services offered:
A: We provide Internet access to your pet’s photo gallery so you may easily choose the portraits which are perfect for you.

Q: Do you have “house” pets?
A: Two cats: Princess, a lynx-point Himalayan, and Jean-Clawed, a household pet that’s a DOLL!!

Q: What sets you apart from the rest?
A: The ability to capture your pet’s personality on fi lm! Patience, patience, patience—with pets it is most important to put the animal at ease in front of lights and cameras. You can never take too much time to “get the right shot!”

PASSPORTS FOR PETS
TRAVELING ABROAD WITH FIDO ON FLUFFY
By Cindy-Lou Dale, Brussells, Belgium

Now you and your pet can take a European vacation together as several North American and European carriers are offering a Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) whereby pets and their owners can journey together.
Your pet checks in with you at the passenger terminal and rejoins you on arrival in the baggage hall at the destination airport. Pets are loaded aboard into the cargo hold, directly below the passenger cabin. This hold is temperature controlled and provides a comfortable environment during the flight. It’s not lit as experience shows pets settle down more quickly and travel better in the dark.

COST
Charges for transporting pets differ according to the size of container, the pet’s weight, and distance being traveled. Excess baggage charges may be applicable and cargo charges will be included in the price quoted. Some airlines restrict the size of the kennel they transport, and others reserve the right to charge significant excess weight fees.

CONTAINER
You must have a correctly sized container to carry your pet otherwise the airline may refuse transit.
• The container must be large enough for the pet to stand up, turn around, and lie down in a natural manner. Your pet should be as comfortable as possible.
• The container must be sturdy to protect your pet during transport, be secure enough to contain it, and have sufficient ventilation on all four sides for good air circulation.
• The door must be fastened in such a manner that it will not open accidentally.
• Your pet’s nose and paws should not be able to fit through any ventilation opening or door mesh.
• The container must have a water pot and a food bowl accessible from outside.
• Fiberboard or wire-mesh containers are not suitable for air transportation.
    To ensure you select the correct size of container for your animal, follow the guidelines available through the International Air Transport Association Live Animals Regulations. Most pet stores and many kennels sell containers suitable for air travel.

PREPARATION
Get your pet used to the container a few days before its flight. A favorite toy or blanket should help it feel at home in a strange environment. Give only a light meal a few hours before flight departure—most house-trained pets do not wish to soil their bedding and it is kinder not to give them too much food. If the flight is over 12 hours, water should be provided, which is checked before loading and during transit.
Pets travel very well and do not usually need a sedative. If sedation is required, it must only be carried out under strict veterinary supervision and the details should be clearly shown on the pet’s container.
Puppies and kittens must be at least 10 weeks old, weaned, and able to eat on their own. Cats and dogs up to the sixth week of pregnancy can be carried, but must have a veterinary certificate confirming the pregnancy and that the pet is fit to travel.

CONDITIONS
The Pet Travel Scheme allows pets from certain countries to enter the United Kingdom (UK) without quarantine as long as they meet certain requirements.
• A veterinary certificate is to accompany the animal entering the European Union (EU), including the UK, from North America. It permits dogs and cats to enter EU countries (except Sweden and the Republic of Ireland which have their own rules), using a valid pets certificate.
• Veterinary certificates issued for dogs and cats before October 1, 2004, may be used to enter the UK (or other EU states) from participating countries until the “valid until” date shown on the certificate. However, an official veterinary certificate of tick and tapeworm treatment will also be required before entering the UK.
• To bring your dog or cat into the UK under PETS from one of the participating countries you must ensure they have been micro-chipped, vaccinated against rabies, and blood tested. The rabies vaccination (including boosters), blood sampling, issuing the pets documentation, and the tick and tapeworm treatment must all be carried out in the United States in good time.
• Your pet may not enter the UK until six months have passed from the date that your vet took the blood test. Only then will the vet issue the relevant documentation. Now your pet may enter the UK via an approved transport company on an authorized route.
• If your travels through the UK or Europe exceed one year, your pet will require a booster vaccination and blood test before returning to the UK and reentering the United States. Veterinary documentation verifying this will be required.

HOME AGAIN
An animal that has just come off a plane needs time to recuperate. Try to keep small children away from the pet until it is ready to play. Be sure to lavish the animal with quiet attention as it has just had its world turned upside down.
Remember to always consider your pet’s welfare before your own companionship needs. Ask yourself before traveling abroad if your pet will benefit from a long-haul vacation to Europe with you, or be less traumatized at a kennel or cattery.
More detailed information is available on the Internet at www.defra.gov.uk or at participating airlines.

Cindy-Lou Dale is a British journalist based in Belgium www.cindyloudale.com

PETS AND THE ELDERLY
THE LARGE BENEFITS OF PET OWNERSHIP
By Victoria Ceretto-Slotto,RN, Reno NV

T

The Elderly as Pet Guardians
Health care providers and the public alike tout the benefi t of pet-assisted therapy for patients in nursing facilities. The same benefi cial outcome extends to seniors who live independently.

ADVANTAGES
Companionship: Animals give unconditional love. Their presence “helps fi ll that great empty void” left by those who’ve gone ahead, to quote Brigid.

Sense of Purpose: Pets incite a person to get out of bed in the morning. Caring for them encourages self-care and enhances feelings of fulfillment and being needed.

Mobility/Exercise: The effort to maintain Sweetie’s cage, to feed him, to tend to all his whims (spoil him), keeps Brigid ambulatory. Her level of activity has increased since Sweetie moved in.

Physiological Well-being: Animal-caring confers a healthful effect on cardiovascular health. Blood pressure rates (systolic and diastolic) decreased by eight percent and heart rates by 11 percent in a study conducted at the State University of New York, Buffalo.

Mental Acuity: Attention to the responsibilities of pet ownership, such as remembering feeding times, stimulates cognitive functioning. Brigid acquired a library of information about cockatiels and observes her best friend closely for changes warranting intervention.

Pleasure: If you’re reading this magazine, without a doubt you’ve already tasted the joy a pet brings. This reward requires little explanation for you.

CONSIDERATIONS
Preparation: Is the senior citizen eager to accept accountability for the pet? Is he/she involved in its selection?

Environment: If the dwelling is an apartment, are there restrictions on animals? Is there adequate space for the type of pet considered?

Mobility: Does older person possess the physical ability required to care for the chosen animal?

Health: If the prospective owner experiences health limitations, especially immune disorders, consult with a physician.

Long-range Planning: It is possible, even probable, that a pet will outlive its owner. Make arrangements up front for its continued welfare. Ideally a family member or friend will offer to adopt the animal and the pet will become comfortable with the designated person. Consider the life expectancy of both the animal and the elderly person.

Resources: Is the senior citizen able to afford the fi nancial requirements of feeding and providing veterinary care for their pet? Is funding or family assistance available to provide additional support?

Animal Adoption: A variety of pets are available through local animal shelters. Choosing a mature animal, already trained, may minimize the stress of adapting to a new pet.

Allergies: Assess for a history of known allergies (dog or cat dander, feathers, etc.) and take into consideration before acquiring a pet.

Looking out my window, I glimpse as Hank walks by with Tipper, his golden retriever. They used to take long daily walks to the Truckee. These walks have grown shorter now due to Tipper’s declining health. Hank will, no doubt, outlive his dog. I asked him if he plans on getting another pet. “Let’s just say, if I go to an animal shelter, I won’t come back alone,” the spry man admitted. Tipper has kept his caregiver healthy and alert.
I await my daily call from Brigid, my mother. She’ll give a full report on Sweetie, recounting the details of his first trip in her new car. We’ll talk about Cris—her daughter, my sister—and the exquisite thoughtfulness of her final Christmas present.
Tonight, Sweetie will perform his evening concert. The month I spent with Mom, when Cris was dying, gave me the opportunity to teach him vocalization. As part of his repertoire he’ll declare, “I love you, Mommy,” in his crackly little voice.
Mom’s joy will be bittersweet but she’ll remind me of how he’s transformed her life: “He makes me want to get up in the morning and share my day with him. When I’m away from home, I can’t wait to get back. He gets on my shoulder and cuddles, and we’re together. He’s my closest friend.”

Victoria Ceretto-Slotto is a former hospice care nurse, local resident, writer, and animal person who submitted this thought-provoking article to PetFolio. Thank you, Victoria!

 

Highlights of One of Reno’s Retirement Complexes

THE BEAUTIFUL AQUARIUM in the entry of the building tips you off that the Manor at Lakeside is a pet-friendly place to live. Nine-month-old Zoot might greet you in the office as the new resident dog; taken home nightly by Director Ashley Taggart. Residents are allowed to have pets that weigh less than 25 pounds in this independent living facility. Residents pay a deposit and sign a Pet Agreement and maintain responsibility for the care of their pets. Currently, a number of residents have dogs, more have cats, and current residents are allowed to bring in pets. They haven’t had problems between species because only Zoot is allowed to roam freely (with supervision). The Manor at Lakeside is located within a short walk from Virginia Lake, at 855 Brinkby Avenue here in Reno. With the ability to keep one’s special furry friend, the beauty salon on the premises, and Activities Director, Laurie Douglas, planning the fun—this is one retirement facility that fi ts the bill for seniors with pets. For more information, call Ashley at the Manor at 775-827-3606. Highlights of One of Reno’s Retirement Complexes Director Ashley Taggart and Zoot (left) who has been to obedience school to learn proper behavior with his senior charges joins resident Florence Messer with her Chihuahua Holly. COURTESY OF VICTORIA CERETTO-SLOTTO

 

LOCAL CATS UPHOLD ANCIENT LITERARY TRADITION WHAT COULD SUIT A BOOKSTORE BETTER? By William F. Schley, Reno, NV IN THE TIME-HONORED TRADITION of bookstores from centuries prior to the invention of mouse traps, Black & White Books in Reno houses two friendly felines who enjoy the attention of customers almost as much as a merry chase between the stacks. Roman and Wendy Hruska bought Black & White Books, Inc., in Reno in 2001. Dedicated cat lovers who inherited a black and white bookstore cat named Jacob with the purchase; they adopted another kitty from the Washoe County Animal Shelter. Wendy’s previous cats were named Calliope, Diesel, and Evinrude, this last named because the cat sounded as though she were purring under water. Roman had just finished reading a book about an ice skater and as a joke suggested they name the new addition Zamboni, the name of the ice surfacing machine often seen at skating rinks. Without hesitation she embraced the name and the cat was christened. Zamboni appears to have a bit of Russian blue in her lineage, although her true heritage remains uncertain. “Jake [short for Jacob] is about 11 years old and came with the store,” Roman said, “and is the black cat our customers see sprawled out almost anywhere.” Jacob likes to sleep in front of the cash register where he passively ignores shoppers while he dreams the afternoon away. “Cats used to be a very common fixture in bookstores back when rodents were a more common pest,” Roman explained. “Rats and mice love paper for their nests, and bookstores are the best place to find paper!” Now that rodent control has become a fact of urban life, the two kitties at Black & White Books are more likely to chase each other than an errant mouse. The cats live full-time in the store and recognize the benefits of their quiet and happy home. Jacob may try to take an occasional stroll out into the non-literary world, but the harsh light and sounds of traffic send him scampering right back into the quiet safety of his volume-strewn domain. The life of a store cat is anything but all work. Come check out these pampered pussycats at Black & White Books and you may envy them. The cats have their own separate apartment, a small room in the rear of the store, where they can retire from a hard day’s work lounging across shelves of Steinbeck, Dickinson, or Ferlinghetti and being petted by feline aficionados. They are adored by their human companions and customers as they contribute to the quiet and contemplative ambience only a bookstore kitty provides. What could suit a bookstore better? Black & White Books buys, sells, and trades books of all types. The store is located at 3378 Lakeside Court in Reno, NV. Roman reports that he owns several rare volumes that are stored in a safe place and can be reviewed by appointment only. For information about Black & White Books, Jacob, Zamboni, and their humans call 775-828-3445. Roman or Wendy will answer since ringing telephones are just another day-to-day sound the cats have learned to ignore. Bill Schley is a freelance writer and entrepreneur living in Reno, NV, and serves as PetFolio’s business editor. Benny, a large black Labrador, is his third guide dog.

YOU'RE IT
IDENTIFICATION THAT MIGHT SAVE YOUR PET'S LIFE
By Landess Witmer, Reno NV

Perhaps you are in denial—this could NOT happen to your pet. Your cat stays indoors, and when your dog goes outside it’s supervised in a fenced yard. But doors and fences aren’t escape proof. Once your pet is lost, the odds are against you seeing them again—just two percent of cats and 16 percent of dogs turned into shelters are reunited with their owners. Why is the return rate so low? Time is the critical factor. Most lost pets are found less than a mile from home, but many never are returned, because the owner could not be reached immediately. Every responsible pet owner needs an up-to-date identification (ID) tag on their pet’s collar to identify their animal. Proper collar fit is crucial—you should be able to slip two fingers under the collar. Cats should have a breakaway model. In our mobile society, even traditional dog tags can cause delays when not properly inscribed with pertinent information. We’re not always at our home phone numbers. Do you travel with your pet? Do you work? What if there is a natural disaster? And, if your pet is found on a weekend, with only your veterinarian’s phone number on the pet tag the fi nder would have to wait until Monday morning to attempt to reach you. A new generation of “smart” ID tags might make fi nding your lost pet signifi cantly faster and easier. They combine toll-free calling with a secure communications platform and can be used alone or placed on the pet’s collar. A simple set-up process allows an owner using this tag to fi rst record a message with information about their pet, and then enter several contact numbers into a speed-dial menu with options. The individual fi nding your lost pet can dial a toll-free “hotline” number shown on the tag from any phone anywhere in the United States, enter a unique ID number and PIN (personal identifi cation number) also shown on the tag, and immediately speed-dial the owner at any one of cell or land-line phone numbers the owner has pre-programmed into the system. If there is no answer on the fi rst number called, the tag’s phone system automatically rolls the call to the next programmed number or allows the caller to connect to voicemail, without hanging up. So any form of ID tag is a must, and the fi rst level of protection for your pet. However, because collars and tags can come off, you may also want to look at other safety options that can be used in conjunction with a tag. Two of the most effective methods are microchips and tattoos. Remember that tattoos or microchip numbers must be listed with the proper registry, and kept up-to-date. Also while microchipping and tattooing are valuable backups they do not replace the need for an ID tag and are not intended to quickly return your pet to you. The individual fi nding a lost pet must fi rst fi nd and then travel with that pet to an appropriate location (vet or shelter) where the microchip can be scanned or the tattoo number checked in a registry. According to a 1997 study of 1,000 animal shelters, conducted by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, approximately one million dogs and 584,000 cats were taken in as strays. Unfortunately for both owners and animals, as mentioned earlier, only 16 percent of these dogs and two percent of cats were returned to their owners.

 

What to Do When Your Pet is Lost • Act fast!! The sooner you begin your search, the better the odds of finding your pet. • Search your neighborhood or area where your pet was lost and let people know your pet is missing. You may want to offer a reward. Call your pet’s name and check any places it could have become trapped, such as in basements, garages, or under vehicles. A lost pet often will hide during the day, so be sure to go out again at night with a flashlight and call its name carrying a can of food. • Visit your local shelters every day. Don’t just call. • Call all animal control agencies in your town and surrounding areas. Animal control offi cers work through the police department and pick up stray animals. • Use your pet’s photo to make “lost pet” signs in your area. Inform your veterinarian and groomer that your pet is lost in case they receive a call. • Place ads in local newspapers and offer a reward in case someone found your untagged pet and was thinking of keeping your pet. • Read all the found ads. Respond to any that might be close to your pet’s description. A week of wandering the streets can make white pets look drab gray, and the ad’s description might not exactly fit. • Call your local radio stations. Some radio stations will broadcast lost pet information for free.