Making a Difference Four Paws at a Time
By Melissa Hutsell
What started as a Facebook group just over a year ago has helped reunite thousands of pets and owners here in the 209. Linda Mosley-Dashnow, Stephanie Phillips, and many community members have dedicated their time to create the group, with a motto of “making a difference, four paws at a time.”
While Linda has always been an animal lover, her story began when she opened her garage to find a recently groomed, lost dog. She embarked on a mission to find its owner, calling regional groomers to help identify the dog, but found her options limited.
Linda then recognized the need for better correspondence concerning lost or abandoned animals. She met Stephanie, and together, they started Lost and Found Pets 209 (LFP 209) in July 2014. “We posted and shared photos of pets that have been found, or are missing, and were floored by the response and amount of reconnections! We had over 100 friend requests per day,” says Linda.
Today, they ring in at 12,000 Facebook friends and counting. Administrators like Linda keep a watchful eye over the function and success of the group, waking up at 7 each morning to manage the page. Though the site is intended for residents of the 209, Linda says it helps people no matter their location. In fact, the group has even reconnected pets lost during visits to the region, and whose home is out of state.
The outpour of support has helped create a “community of encouragement,” explains Linda. This has inspired immense outreach from Central Valley residents who offer support. In response, the LFP 209 team directs them to local shelters and recues where they can donate. So far, these donations have helped fund five-dollar microchip events, chip scanning equipment and shelter animals.
Stephanie Phillips says the site has grown beyond her expectations. “There are so many people that want the same things we do – a safer place for pets, responsible ownership, and all pets to be spayed or neutered. We’ve made a big dent in these areas, especially with our low-cost microchip events, but there’s still so much that needs to be done.”
The groups exposure prompts the team to educate the community and address the massive underlining issue – spaying and neutering. “We’ve got an epidemic, and we’ve got to bite the bullet, and get funding.” Linda, Stephanie and the LFP 209 team make it their mission to bring this need to the attention of city officials in hopes that, as a community, we can make a difference in the lives of four-legged friends.
LFP 209 has formed an alliance with the Stockton Animal Shelter, Lodi Animal Services, and Animal Friends Connection in Lodi, to promote the best interest of the animals at heart. “I’m looking forward to the years ahead, because I know that together we will achieve even greater successes.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Donations support LFP 209’s mission to microchip every pet, and fund a low cost spay and neuter program for all Pitt bulls and Chihuahas. Make your tax-deductible donation to Animal Friends Connection for 209 at AnimalFriendsConnect.org or mail to P.O. Box 2314 , Lodi, Ca. 95241
WEBSITE:
lostandfoundpets209.com
(under construction to
be completed by November)
Hello my name is Anthony Ornelas, I just wanted to take this time to thank you all for creating this site and helping lost animals find there way home, with the help of your site and the 209 community we were able to send jasper a male husky home to his family here in manteca, so thank you all.
I lost my terrier mix near sierra motoel at the beginning of july she is white with black spots and really means the world to me I don’t have much but am willing to give just about anything to get her back she is the only thing I have left so please call if you see here thank you
I am a huge animal lover. I am a follower of Lost and Found Pet 209. I shared a post and come to find out if was a lost dog of my best friends family member. I was able to help rescue their dog who was found. Their poor fur-love was hurt, but survived her wounds. I am Thankful I was able to help. Thanks to Lost and Found Pet 209! Keep up the Good work, as I will continue to follow to help all lost furbabies make it home safe!