Suffolk Lost Pet network to reunite missing animals with owners

Driving home last week, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr., an admitted animal lover, spotted a dog roaming the neighborhood — and thought it might be lost.

The golden retriever eventually jumped into Toulon's open car after the sheriff corralled the errant pooch, and he was able to reunite the dog with its owner.

But, for millions of pets across the United States, that's the rare end to the story.

All of which sparked Toulon to announce Tuesday the formation of the first-ever Lost Pet Network in Suffolk County. The countywide program aims to register pets through printed ID cards that will include photos, pet names, owner contact information and things like microchip status and medical needs, so that when a pet goes missing, patrol units and other municipal workers in the field will be able to keep an eye out for lost animals.

"This new countywide program will help to quickly locate missing pets … and reunite them with their forever families," Toulon said at a news conference at the Town of Islip Animal Shelter.

"This is another valuable tool that can assist pet owners in locating a lost pet," Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter said, adding: "It certainly is going to go a long way in keeping people with their pets." 

Suffolk SPCA Chief Roy Gross said estimates are that one in three pets will become lost during their lifetimes and the American Humane Society estimates about 10 million pets are lost each year in the United States — with millions ending up in shelters. Just 15% of all dogs — and 2% of all cats — in shelters are ever reunited with their owners, according to statistics.

Officials said this new program won't require new tax dollars to implement.

The sheriff's office will model the new pet ID cards on their currents children's ID and senior ID cards, will distribute them online and through community programs, and will use the information as an outreach tool for local shelters in Suffolk to network.

"I applaud him for this initiative," Gross said, stressing owners should also still consider getting their pets microchipped. "How this came about was something that affected Sheriff Toulon. He's an animal lover. He has dogs of his own. … I think what he did here was wonderful. Anything you can do to save an animal is worth it."

For more information on how to enroll or view missing pets, contact www.SuffolkSheriff.com. Local residents also can get a physical copy of the ID card at the Sheriff's Civil Enforcement Bureau at 360 Yaphank Ave., Yaphank.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”