All 5 entries tagged Coventry Petsearch

Result!?

Follow-up to Coventry Council not checking pet bodies for microchips from Angela's Petsearch blog

Well since my rant, I've been in touch with the department and they are agreeing to fax me details of road deaths each week.
The first fax arrived just before christmas.

I am also going to see them all one day to demonstrate how the scanners are used. Not that difficult says I, but I've missed one or two in my time.

It will be useful to have the details as I may be able to match them against some of the lost cats reported to me. Most people want to know what has happened – even if the news is bad.

: 02 Jan 2005 22:06 |  Tags: Coventry Petsearch |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Coventry Council not checking pet bodies for microchips

Just sent off a letter to the Coventry Telegraph. Please complain if you feel like it!!!

Coventry Council Street Services and Micro-chipping.

Today a distraught Coventry resident phoned up the Petsearch help-line to let me know that her missing pet cat had been run over and killed last week. The cat was micro-chipped so we were hopeful of being able to trace the animal, knowing that if the cat was taken to a rescue centre, vets or reported to me as a stray, it would be scanned and re-united with its owner. In this instance the cat was positively identified as it was taken into a chemist after the accident and the incident filmed by the security cameras. Street services were called to remove the body.

One of the numbers I advise people to phone in the search for their missing pet is the Coventry City Council Street Services helpline on 0500 834333.
The Street Services team are responsible for picking up animal bodies and at some point went to the expense of buying a microchip scanner so that they could scan domestic animals and therefore, if chipped, contact the owners.

Over the years of running the Petsearch (cats) line, I have heard varying reports about if the scans actually take place. Several people have told me they have been informed by council employees that they do not scan the bodies.

Going by the number of calls I receive each week many of you will know of the worry caused by a pet going missing and those of you who follow the general advice to have you pet micro-chipped will feel justifiably let down by the Street Services. It takes very little time to scan an animal and saves the owner from prolonged worry and effort in trying to find their pet.

I am currently talking to Street Services to ask them to inform me of all domestic animals they collect so that I can add it to my database. In this way, if the scan is not performed or not done correctly, at least we may be able to match the animal up by its description and location.

It seems a waste of Council money that a scanner has been bought but is not being used – Perhaps they would like to donate it to one of the police stations that look after stray dogs when the animal wardens have finished for the day? The Animal Welfare team at the Council also encourage people to microchip their pets and it seems a shame that this attitude is not adopted by other sections of the council.

If you have had experience of this or feel upset enough then can you please complain to the council on the above number, or email at street.services@coventry.gov.uk. Councillor Kevin Foster is the Cabinet Member for City Services and can be emailed at Kevin.foster@coventry.gov.uk or send a letter to the Council house, Earl Street Coventry CV1 5RR.

Angie Willems
Petsearch_Coventry@yahoo.com
02476 765639

: 16 Nov 2004 18:04 |  Tags: Coventry Petsearch |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Bargain Hunt Filming Day 2 – and not a profit in site!

Follow-up to Petsearch goes Bargain Hunt from Angela's Petsearch blog

Well the day started badly with me having to rush a cat to the vet so we didn't get to Malvern until 10:15. As we entered the tent, the last contestants were just finishing the 'reaction to auctioneers assessment' part and we were told to 'dump our coats on the table, put the fleeces on and sit down'. Beats getting nervous I suppose!

Anyway, the filming took place in a small tent attached to the side of the auction room. We're talking SMALL tent, 16 contestants, a gaggle of 'experts', camera and production crew squashed together (it helped combat the frostbite). They had an industrial type heater that looked as though it came off the back off a 747 and the temperature varied from frostbite to strip-off-to-your-undies.

Sadly, the volume was too low for us to actually hear what was being said about our items but we made a few noises.

We then had time to sit back and relax until our lots came to auction. They were staggered every 80 or so lots to allow enough time for filming all the bits and changing over in front of the camera. Ours came up at about 1:30pm. A Nice buffet lunch was provided so we snacked most of the time.

It was fun watching all the other teams lining up in front of the camera and it got quite exciting to see what the items sold for.

Profit? Not a sniff. All the teams lost money. From £3 to about £70. We were down about £35.

So if you do get to see me next spring (if you happen to be watching day time TV) please remember I was worried about my poor cat. I just hope they keep something in about Petsearch, else for me the whole thing will have been a pointless (though interesting and enjoyable in a strange sort of way) exercise.

At least my sister enjoyed it. My niece tooks some photos so if any of them come out I may post one.

: 15 Nov 2004 13:12 |  Tags: Coventry Petsearch |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Petsearch goes Bargain Hunt

I am half way through filming for BBC's Bargain Hunt. Things I do to promote Petsearch!

The antiques fair bit was filmed at Warwick races in September. It was along and interesting day as I've never done anything like this before.
My sister and I were the red team and we had an hour to select our 3 items. There were 4 teams being filmed on the same day. Our 'rivals' were younger, prettier and got better items than us!

Filming didn't finish till about 7pm (8am start!), a buffet lunch was provided (BBC know how to live (not!)).

The letter has now arrived to give me details of the auction part of the show. Filming is to take place in Malvern on the 11th November. It looks like its going to be a long day again as the instructions are to get there for 9am. There will be several teams to be filmed while the auction is occurring and then the wrap up part is filmed when the auction has finished.

Profit? – I doubt it very much – if there is I will launch the Coventry Cat home Appeal.

: 07 Nov 2004 11:50 |  Tags: Coventry Petsearch |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

This week..

Just a quick recap of anything significant that happened this week and things I'm looking forward to next week.

Sunday 3/10 – Called late in the afternoon to a found cat. When I got there it turned out to be a cat that escaped from the Cats Protection – Oh well – proves the system works.

Monday 4/10 – My normal monday pulling off the CP calls from their helpline. Mainly to do with help for neutering, a couple of people wanting to adopt and some 6 or so wanting to rehome their cats – emigrating seems to be a popular reason at the moment.

Wednesday 6/10 – Got a call just as I got home from work. A woman had found 3 abandoned kittens in a box. Phoned up a couple of people to see if anyone could take them in then went to collect them. Lovely things, about 4 weeks old , just on the point of eating solids though did guzzle at the bottle of kitten milk they were given. Not sure of the story of their appearance , but they're in good hands now!

Thursday 7/10 – Pilchard Run. Nothing athletic I hasten to reveal. I have made an acquaintance who works for Glenrycks and she is a good supplier of dented 'pilchards in tomato sauce' which we pick up for free. Borrowed the CP van and drove down to Henley-on-Thames – an old haunt of mine – and filled the van up. Good journey and managed to find a copy of Ben Eltons Dead Famous in a charity shop – so RESULT!
Got back to find a message from the CP who are trapping Ferals in a scrap yard near the new football ground, seems they trapped 2 too many so wanted to know whether I knew of any owners missing their cats in that area!

Friday 8/10 – Sent off fax for found cats to the Coventry evening telegraph.

So a fairly normal week, though not as many phonecalls as normal. Things (hopefully) are getting quieter now that the cold weather is hear.

A big highlight for next week is the Telegraph are coming round to take some photos for an article to appear in the Saturday Pet SOS column. Still hate have photos taken. Never mind – all good publicity!
A couple of CP home visits to fit in – must get details.

: 08 Oct 2004 13:26 |  Tags: Coventry Petsearch |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem