Pets missing after snow storm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - A quick scan of the “Lost and Found Pets in Chesterfield” Facebook page tells a story.

Marie Ascenza wrote her dogs ran out and did not come in from the snow, but a later update to the post said the dogs have thankfully been found.

Scrolling down a bit further, Lauren Laham said her baby Kovu went out into the storm and didn’t come home, which is strange because he doesn’t like bad weather.

Angelica McIntosh said she found a pit-dachshund mix running around shivering in the snow, and she’s hoping to locate the owner.

“I have had posts all day since the snow started of people finding dogs in the snow and more than anything," said Marco Trejo, administrator of the Lost and Found Pets in Chesterfield Facebook page.

“It’s been a hefty amount of posts since yesterday," Trejo said. "Dogs just love to go out in the snow and get lost and be found by good people.”

The “Richmond VA Lost Dogs, Cats and Pets” page showed more of the same.

Trejo says traffic increases on his Chesterfield page in severe weather.

“When it comes to like snow storms, tropical storms and any type of heavy rain, I tend to have a lot more posts of people who find dogs running loose," Trejo says.

He said in addition to publicizing when a pet has been lost or found, the page also gives people information about what to do when they find a lost pet.

It begins with filling out a found pet report with Chesterfield Animal Services and checking for any tags or collars and of course a micro chip.

“You need to make sure that you check the dog for a microchip make sure you do the legitimate legal thing for a found stray," Trejo said.

All local jurisdictions have similar procedures for reporting lost and found pets. Check with animal control in your area.

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