Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) has joined with Missing Pet Partnership (MPP), a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping families who have lost a pet, to develop a “Shelter Pet Detective” program.
Through the collaborative effort, RASKC volunteers will be trained by MPP to offer hands-on assistance to pet owners who have lost a dog or cat. Volunteers also will be trained to find the owners of lost pets who are already in the shelter.
“Pets are family, and when they go missing, it can be traumatic,” said Sarah Luthens, manager of volunteer programs for RASKC. “With the Shelter Pet Detective program, we’re hoping to get more eyes and ears on the streets looking for strays. The volunteers will also help us locate owners whose lost pet is in the shelter.”
People who are interested in becoming a Shelter Pet Detective are invited to a free orientation on Saturday, June 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Unity Church of Kent, 218 State Ave. S. Additional training will be offered on both Saturday, June 25 and Saturday, July 2 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the RASKC Shelter, 21615 64th Ave. S. in Kent. To register for the training, contact Sarah Luthens at 206-296-3946 or email sarah.luthens@kingcounty.gov.
Initially, the program will focus on animals panicked by Fourth of July fireworks. After the holiday, trained volunteers will be posted at the Kent shelter offering free assistance to the public that includes free posters, “tagging” vehicles with neon window markers, and free lost pet consultations.
