Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerri Lyons
Hi Kerri, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started fostering for our local SPCA in 2011. He ended up being a long-term foster, so I tried to think of creative ways to find an adoptive home. I took him to social media to share videos of him in our home. I was new to Facebook then, but I began exploring the lost pet pages and quickly realized I had an eye for matching photos, markings, etc, on lost and found pets. I spent years behind the scenes of social media reuniting missing pets with their families while occasionally going into the field, working to gain the trust of unclaimed stray dogs until they could be captured and adopted. In 2018, a friend contacted me about a stray dog living on a farm and asked if I could trap her. I contacted a local trapper to borrow her equipment. While unsuccessful in that rescue, the trapper told me to keep her trap and use it in the future. That led me to where I am today. I now volunteer my time to assist families that have lost their pets. I offer advice on flyer design, printing in some situations, live trail cameras, humane trapping, etc. Over the years, I’ve studied the behavior of dogs while lost, and it has helped me to predict behavior, patterns, etc, in most cases. I work with families to establish a live monitored food source in various areas until we can see their pets. We also use several forms of social media to engage the public for help. Once we have sightings, I set humane traps in the area. I’m thankful that this combination has been very successful in bringing a large number of lost pets home to their families.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The biggest struggle I face is explaining to families and the public that lost dogs can slip into what is known as survival mode, or lost dog syndrome, and they will not respond to those they know. It’s a mindset that they will snap out of once they know they’re safe, but it is a person’s natural reaction to call out and chase once they see a pet known to be missing.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a career Realtor; however, I have recently transitioned into working with our local school district. I’m well known locally, however, for Lost Pet Recovery. I am proud of my accomplishments in all aspects of my life and my ability to juggle work, family, education, and volunteering. I enjoy the challenge.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Regarding lost pets, I worked fewer cases of missing pets, likely due to the time families were home.
Pricing:
- Donation based
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