Returned Home Procedure (Lost or Found file) - includes Found Deceased

When an animal has been returned to the owner without the assistance of the shelter the record must be updated in the system to reflect the change. This is done both to remove the details from displaying on the public site (if linked) and also to prevent the animal from continuing to appear in subsequent searches for animals. 

Some examples of Returned Home include:

• The animal has returned home of its own volition
• The animal has turned up hiding in the home or yard 
• The animal’s owner has been located by the finders research on other websites, newspapers or phone calls to other shelters, agencies or vet offices
• The animal’s owner has been found privately through placing ads in newspapers, notices, posters, door knocking etc.

An exception would be when the animal has been found without the help of the shelter deceased.  This would then be considered Deceased (see below). 

To process an animal as Returned Home:

1. Access the Edit Person Details page of the person who has found the animal.
2. On the Edit Personal Details page click on Scroll To Bottom or scroll to the Personal Categories menu and click on the Lost or Found link as applicable
3. Click on the List Existing Lost / Found Animals link (as applicable).
4. Right click on the Edit link of the found animal record in question and click on the Open in New Window This will open a new window displaying that animal’s Edit Animal Details page.
   • Status: click on the down arrow and select the status Returned Home.
   • General Animal Notes: Click to open a new pop up. Shelter Buddy will automatically time and date stamp the entry, and record the user who added it. Document what occurred.
   • Click Update Details and close the Edit Animal Details
5. On the main screen displaying the List All Lost / Found Entries page, click on the here link to go back to the  menu page.
6. Click on the Previous Possible Match link.
7. Release all other possible matches for the returned animal. 

Found Deceased

If the animal was found deceased or the animal passed away while in the care of the finder, access the animal record and change the status to Deceased.

8. Access the Edit Person Details page of the person who has lost their animal.
9. On the Edit Personal Details page click on Scroll To Bottom or scroll to the Personal Categories menu and click on the Lost or Found link (as applicable)
10. Click on the List Existing Lost / Found Animals link (as applicable).
11. Right click on the Edit link of the found animal record in question and click on the Open in New Window This will open a new window displaying that animal’s Edit Animal Details page.
    • In the Right Hand Menu look for the link Animal Deceased. Click on the link and the status will automatically change to
    • General Animal Notes: Open a new pop up and document what occurred. The date, time and the initials of the user that updated the record will be recorded automatically.
    • Click Update Details and close the Edit Animal Details
12. On the main screen displaying the List All Lost / Found Entries page, click on the here link to go back to the menu page.
13. Click on the Previous Possible Match link.
14. Release all other possible matches for the returned animal.