Hamptons-Based Animal Shelter Launches Lost & Found Facebook Page In Hopes Of Reuniting Lost Pets With Their Families

Pet owners and lovers will do anything for their furry friends. If you’ve been in the unfortunate position of having a pet runaway, then you know how terrifying it is to experience. Your heart drops to your stomach and you immediately think of the worst possible scenario. Having a pet escape the confines of a backyard or leash is more common than one would think. For this reason, Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) has created a social media page specifically intended to reunite Lost and Found pets with their owners.

“Our new Lost and Found pet page on Facebook, @SASFlostandfound, was formed to support the pet parents in our community in their time of need. Missing your pet is not only a scary experience but it can be tragic if you do not have the right tools at your disposal. Our lost and found pet page will provide immediate communication and the ability to connect people to help each other,” stated Joseph Sprague, Executive Director of Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation.

Social media has done wonders for the animal rescue community and SASF is all about maximizing the power of the community’s networks to not only find animals their forever homes, but also reunite them when they are lost. The new Facebook page is intended to engage community members and alert when pets are missing, found, and reunited with their families. Never underestimate the power of your network. One simple post can be the way a pet is reunited with their family.

SASF Lost & Found Pets Facebook group will feature dogs, cats, and small pets who come into the shelter and also serve as a public forum for the community. Shockingly, the American Humane Association claims that 1 out of 3 pets will become lost at some point in the lifetime and less than 23 percent of lost pets will be reunited with their families. This Facebook group will hopefully help increase the percentage. The ASPCA recommends that if you lose your pet, search in the immediate area, post on the Lost & Found Facebook page and hang lost flyers in your neighborhood with a picture of your pet.

Join this community-wide effort and help reunite lost pets with their families by joining the Facebook page @SASFlostandfound.

“The best way to strengthen the power of these pages and ensure our community pets find their way back home, is to get involved,” said Sprague. “With more page likes, follows, and shares our messages will reach even more people and help lost pets find their way home.”

If you’re looking for another way to give back to SASF this holiday season, join philanthropist Jean Shafiroff in the Big Dog Toy and Food Drive. This effort was inspired by Champ and Major, President-elect Joe Biden’s two German Shepherds, a breed that is often stigmatized and overlooked due to their size. Major is also the first dog in the White House that was adopted from a shelter. Jean Shafiroff and SASF are asking members of the community to send or drop off relevant items to SASF through December.

“I am a firm believer in ‘adopt don’t shop’ and the sad truth is that larger dogs aren’t adopted as quickly as smaller dogs. My family and I have adopted several animals from shelters, including two pit bulls, who were sweet natured, playful and great family dogs. I am happy to see an adopted dog heading to the White House, and I hope this encourages more people to adopt all breeds of dogs,” reflected Philanthropist and SASF Supporter Jean Shafiroff.

Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation is located at 102 Old Riverhead Road West in Hampton Bays. For more information, visit southamptonanimalshelter.com.