HUMANE SOCIETY URGES PET OWNERS TO BUY TAGS

In the television series "Lassie," little Timmy anxiously awaited his beloved collie's return from her latest adventure in several episodes. And at the end of each program -- just as Timmy was giving up hope -- Lassie would trot up the driveway, wagging her plumed tail behind.

But in the real world Lassie does not always find her way home.

Nancy Richards, director of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, said that there were 582 pets reported missing last year, and only a fraction were returned to their loving owners.

The reason: The pets did not have collars or identification tags.

In 1993, staff at the Humane Society kept a running tally of the number of calls that came in reporting lost or stolen animals.

"Each year we get tons of lost animal reports," Richards said. "So last year we decided to do a little study of our own just to see how many people properly licensed their dogs and put identification tags on their cats."

Last year, 417 dogs were reported missing. Of the dogs turned into the shelter, Richards said 82 percent had no identification tags or license tag; 43 percent did not have a collar.

In addition, 165 cats were reported missing by their owners in 1993. Seventy-six percent of the cats who were brought into the shelter did not have collars and 90 percent were not wearing any kind of identifying tag.

"We want to impress on people that if their animals don't have collars or tags there is a slim chance that they will ever get their pet back," said Richards. "If an animal is found that is wearing some sort of identification tags, we can have them returned home that day.

"If they are not wearing tags or a collar, we don't know if the animal is a stray, has been dumped or if it has a home," she said.

There is about a 2 percent chance that a lost cat will ever be returned to its owner, Richards said.

"Cats are very elusive animals and are more apt to hide and run away from strangers," said Richards. "So many cats look alike that it's hard to tell them apart once they end up here."

Richards said that much of the heartache experienced by the loss of a pet can be avoided if owners would buy identification tags for their animals.

"There are several inexpensive tags you can buy for your pet to help ensure his safe return in the event you are ever separated," said Richards. "Even if a pet is just wearing a collar that tells us that the pet has a home. Then we will try to hang on to the animal as long as possible."

Order forms for pet tags can be picked up at the animal shelter or at several local veterinarians' offices. Tags can range from $4 to about $8.50 and can be delivered in less than a week.

Most pet tags contain the name of the pet plus the name, address and phone number of its owner.

Richards said that it often does not occur to people looking for a lost pet to call the animal shelter. She encourages anyone who has recently lost a pet to check regularly at the local shelter to see if the animal has been located.

Last year 2,589 dogs and 1,415 cats were turned into the humane society. Of that number 184 lost dogs were returned to their owners, but only 21 cats were reunited with their human counterparts.

"If an animal is not wearing a collar and tags, no one will know it is your pet," said Richards. "Even if your pet doesn't like wearing a collar, make them wear it. It could mean the difference between getting your pet back and being separated forever."