MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release
DATE:  January 19, 2006

From catching dogs to llamas, Pickering Animal Services has had a busy first two weeks.

As of January 1, 2006, the City of Pickering has been the sole provider for Animal Services in Pickering. So, what does this mean for Pickering residents?

This new service is responsible for reuniting lost pets back with their families, yearly cat and dog licensing, enforcement of all animal related bylaws and educating the public on the importance of being a responsible pet owner.

"So far Animal Services is off to one great start," says Lindsey Brenner, Supervisor of Animal Services, as she shares a few of her success stories with us:

Earlier this week with the help of local farmers and fellow city employees; Steve Forsey and Don Woolley, Pickering Animal Services was able to successfully catch and reunite a lost llama back to its home in north Pickering. And, the excitement is not over there!

Thanks to the help of residents living near Springview Drive, the scraggily black dog known in the area as "Jack" who has been seen by many wandering the Pickering streets has safely been picked up, and taken to a local shelter to be evaluated.  Ms Brenner says "without the help of residents like Ryan Wilkinson and Griffin Beatty, both students from Highbush Public School, we would never have been able to get close, let alone safely remove Jack from our streets". Ms. Brenner believes that working with the community is the key to providing a successful service and she looks forward to continue working together to better the lives of the people and pets of Pickering.

Jack is currently being housed at the Clarington Animal Shelter and should be up for adoption very soon. For more information on how to adopt "Jack" or for information on Pickering Animal Services, please call 905.420.4655 or visit the Animal Services page of our website.

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