NORMAN — A black and white Shih Tzu ran across Oak Tree Avenue on Wednesday morning, causing a van to brake. Moments later, the young, male dog ran into the arms of a stranger who took him to the Norman Animal Shelter.
At the shelter, Holly Rains, an administrative tech with Norman Animal Control, scanned the Shih Tzu. He was very friendly and wore a red collar, but there was no tag and the scan revealed no microchip.
As closing time neared Wednesday, no one had called to inquire about the dog. Should his owner eventually claim him, a fee will be charged for his care for each day he remains at the shelter.
Rains said Norman Animal Welfare is working to create a Lost and Found page on the website to allow the agency to post photos of animals like the Shih Tzu. For now, however, it’s a waiting game.
“We keep them for five days as a stray hold, and then we’ll consider him for adoption,” Rains said.
A potential adopter can put the dog on hold, but he can’t be taken out of the kennel until the five-day waiting period has passed.
Meanwhile, the Shih Tzu’s owner may be worried, upset and searching for the lost dog. All of this could have been avoided by purchasing a $16 pet license. The Animal Shelter also sells low-cost microchips, which can help locate a pet’s owner nationwide.
Now, Norman residents have an opportunity to get a city pet license, low-cost vaccinations and more at a special Vaccination Clinic and City Pet License Sale from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the city facility on 3428 S. Jenkins Ave.
All dogs and cats in Norman are required to wear city pet tags, in part, to help them be reunited with their owners if lost. In addition, the cost of the tag benefits the Animal Welfare Adoption Center.
Norman residents are required by law to license their dogs and cats annually. Pet licenses are valid from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 of each year.
The purchase price for pet licenses is $16 for unaltered pets and $8 for pets that have been spayed or neutered. Senior citizens age 65 and up receive a 50 percent discount off pet licenses. Penalties for not having a city license range from $50 to $750, plus court costs.
Proof of current rabies vaccinations in the form of a rabies certificate — including vaccination expiration date and rabies tag number — and animals spay/neuter status is required to purchase a city pet license. A rabies certificate will be issued at the clinic with a rabies vaccination.
For more information, call 292-9736.
Joy Hampton 366-3539 jhampton@ normantranscript.com
