Animal
Aid: Six Toll Free Numbers You Should Not Be Without
by Dr.
OLA
AYENA
When your companion animal is in trouble,
what will you do?
Animal aid is
near—and free—but often we don’t remember where to find vital
information such as important phone numbers. While many human
companions know the number of their veterinarian, that may be all they
know—that is why the following resources and phone numbers are
helpful.
A veritable
blueprint of essential information—from free aid in solving
landlord-tenant issues, vet problems, and neglect or abuse, to who to
call for emotional support for those who have lost an animal friend or
are anticipating the loss of their pet, and even where to spay your pet
for little to nothing—help is just a phone call away.
Should there be a
disaster, or the loss of Fido to an accident, rare poison that your
local vet and you do not know about or the recovery of a stolen or lost
pet, help is available with a simple phone call. These toll free
numbers are not only important, they can help to save lives.
1.
National
Pet Recovery Hotline:
(800)
984-8638. Whenever your pet is lost, this is one of your first places
to report your friend missing. This 24-hour service will help you
locate your pet. Lost pets usually end up in animal shelters before the
county or city steps in. Members pay $25 for the lifetime of the pet or
$55 to find the pet for free and non-members pay $50 and more.
2. Legal
Hotline: (800) 555-6517. I think my neighbors are abusing their
pet. Can I do anything to stop them? Here is the number to call. To
know your rights and how to go about expressing your displeasures, this
number is for you. But try not to call because you don’t like
someone’s method of training his or her dog. Animal Legal Defense
Fund helps with landlord-tenant issues, vet problems, neglect and any
form of abuse.
3.
National Animal Poison
Control Center: (888)
426-4435. In a life and death situation when every minute counts for
your cat, dog or other pet, this 24-hour manned emergency number is
your pet lifesaver, and is sponsored in part by 36 different companies
along with a $45 charge for consultation.
4.
Emergency Disaster Hotline:
(800) 227-4645. Provided by the American Humane Association, this
number is your first point of call in earthquake preparedness for your
pets or any disaster. It provides support and relief information.
5.
Pet Loss Support Hotline:
(888) 478-7574. Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine
provides a source for emotional support for those who have lost an
animal friend or are anticipating the loss of their pet. Veterinary
students at the college man this free service, a 24-hour touch phone
line where you can leave a message and someone will return your phone
call. Seven days a week 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. CST, May to August, Wednesdays
and Fridays 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This free service is funded by the Iams
Company and dedicated in memory of Krista Rankin who organized it.
6.
Spay HeIpline: (800)
248-SPAY. One way to prevent unwanted pets from ending up in shelters
or destroyed is to spay or neuter them. Thousands of abandoned and
unwanted pets are euthanized yearly due to irresponsible breeding and
other factors. So before you consider giving your pet to the shelter,
this organization can help you. SPAY USA provides free or low-cost
services to all. Call for an appointment and locations of more than 950
programs and clinics nationwide. Your local shelters also help in
providing
similar services.
Dr. Olakunle Ayeni, DVM
Dr.
Ayeni is a veterinarian, educator and founder of http://www.animalevent.com.