Pet-finding service generates complaints
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Drew Varnes did what most people do when they lose a pet: He made calls, told neighbors and put up lots of posters. Then he heard about a website that claims it can help -- for a fee.
The Seattle man's 4-year-old poodle mix named Harley has been missing since the end of December. Varnes said Harley darted out of the house when he came home on December 30. She'd been frightened by loud fireworks outside. Varnes set up a blog for Harley on Facebook, plastered posters over a 10-mile radius and posted numerous ads on Craigslist. He also enlisted the help of a website called PetAmberAlert, based in New York state.
"They would call about 5,000 phone number in the vicinity of where she'd initially been lost. Plus sent out 250 fax notices to animal shelters and businesses," he said.
He said he paid $500 up front on his credit card, but was very unhappy with the results.
"I just think they didn't deliver as they indicated," Varnes said.
Varnes said, for starters, the alerts did not go out right away. Then, he said some people who got the robo call alerts called him to complain they were getting repeated calls even after answering the phone. Varnes said one person got 10 calls in a 10-minute period, but the calls cut off at the beginning and were not very clear.
"They couldn't understand anything about the description of Harley," Varnes said.
He also complained that he never got a promised list of names and locations confirming what services were performed.
I did find a Pet Amber Alert flyer for Harley posted on a bulletin board at the Seattle Animal Shelter.
"They come in our the fax machine and we then put them on our board," said Kara Main-Hester, who manages the shelter's volunteer programs.
According to Main-Hester, the Pet Amber Alert flyers come in about once a month and are sent by fax -- something any pet owner can do. After a period of time on the bulletin board, the flyers go in a binder which the shelter keeps on hand for the staff and the public. During my visit, the binder contained several alerts from Pet Amber Alert about other lost dogs in our area, along with various flyers made by pet owners.
Main-Hester said to her knowledge, the Seattle Animal Shelter has never seen a lost pet reunited with its owner as a result of Pet Amber Alert or a similar business.
"No, we haven't," Main-Hester said. "We don't know of any pets in Seattle that have been located because of that system."
Main-Hester adds that finding a lot pet takes more than paying a service to make robo calls and send faxes to pet-related businesses.
"You need to be out searching. You need to be contacting everyone in the neighborhood, posting on blogs, posting on Craigslist, posting on Facebook.That's how people get their animals home," she said.
It urns out Varnes was doing everything right on his own all along. After numerous email complaints, Varnes says the company refunded $390 of his $500 payment. As of this writing, he's still holding out hope that Harley will make it home.
The Seattle Animal Shelter says some pet owners may also benefit from the help of a nationally recognized non-profit that uses specially trained dogs to help track the scent of pets after they've gone missing. Just remember, you can't rely on any one tactic alone.
As of February 12, complaints about Pet Amber Alert had earned the company an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau in Los Angeles. The BBB in New York also showed numerous complaints and noted the company failed to respond to requests for substantiation of the company's pet finding claims.
I made several attempts to contact Pet Amber Alert for this report, but could never get to a human on the phone, or an option to leave a voice mail message. The link to contact them through email did not respond.
I sure hope he gets his pooch back - what a cutie pie!
I am very sad that Harley is still missing and have shared, posted and done what I can to help get the word out about him.
We used the same service, and yes the man who does the recording has an accent but you can understand him. We even have the alert on a recording. People do not have to select the highest level of $500 and 5,000 households that they offer. The calls go out only after the payment has been processed, our actually went out less than 24 hours after selecting purchase. That is a billing and banking issue not the Pet Amber Alert Company. This service seems to be more closer to the day the pet goes missing, not many weeks later but that is only my opinion and experience. To top it off when checking back on their website to be sure I was correct while writing this response, I was able to have a live chat immediately. Just go to the FAQ section and a live chat request will pop up for you with a real person.Â
We received a number of calls, most were just concerned people and did receive two return calls that had spotted our dog and helped bring him home due to knowing where to flyer next. This is one item in conjunction with a number of other efforts that can work for people.Â
Maybe the news media could do a better job of research before posting a story, and provide a spot in their shows to help families reunite with their pets rather than going after an alternative service that is available to pet owners.Â
http://findharley.blogspot.com
A real pet pychic can help too and a lower price.Â
Someone picked up the dog and took it home. They don't care that it's someone else's dog. It's theirs now! Not until they take it to a Vet and it's scanned (if it has a chip) will the truth come out.
This is why everyone should microchip. I hope this pooch was/is microchipped. It's worth it.
@BlueJedi Microchip only works if the person finding the dog cares to get the dog scanned and wants to return the dog. Vets don't routinely scan dogs.Â
I understand that pets are family to some people (my cats are part of our family) but handing over $500 to a company to find my lost pet is not something I would do. I'm sorry the guy lost his pet, but as the saying goes a fool and his money will soon be parted.Â
@MomOf2 I always love it when people claim that pets are part of their family, but set limitations. If I thought the company was legit and could help, in a heartbeat I would hand over $500. Apparently he thought so too. Now we know better.
I do hope he gets reunited with Harley soon.
@KOMO Viewer @MomOf2 My pets are part of my family I have them chipped but they have limits.  My cat is getting up in years and I could spend hundreds to keep him here but sooner or later he is going to go.  I grew up in house that looked as pets and tools just like a farm.  The cats keep the rodents and bugs away.  But we don't throw money at them if they get out we look but life must go on if they get sick we do what we can but if they are suffering we end the suffering.  There are tons of animals that need love.  But with all that said it is his money he can spend it how ever he wants.  I know how hard it is to lose a animal and it never really stops hurting but that is life.