HomeAgain Reunites Two Million Pets with their Families

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Mar 09, 2017, 08:00 ET

MADISON, N.J., March 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lost, hungry and alone, Honey Bee cowered in a grove of trees badly injured by a car that had hit her. More than two weeks before, the 1-year-old American Staffordshire terrier had escaped from a caregiver's fenced-in yard while her family was on vacation. When they learned about Honey Bee, the family reached out to HomeAgain^®, the pet recovery service where the dog's microchip number was registered, and asked for help to find their dog.

1 in 3 pets will go missing in their lifetime. When Honey Bee, a 1-year-old American Staffordshire terrier went missing, her family was devastated. After spending 17 days alone and wounded in the woods, Honey Bee was reunited with her family, thanks to a nationwide network of pet rescuers, specially trained lost pet specialists and a tiny microchip.

Thanks to the valiant efforts of the family, the commitment of HomeAgain's trained lost pet specialists and a caring neighbor, Honey Bee and her family were reunited 17 days after their ordeal began. Not only was this a celebration for the reunited family but it also signified a milestone for HomeAgain – the two millionth reunion since the pet recovery program was launched.

After receiving the notification of Honey Bee's disappearance, the HomeAgain team quickly alerted dozens of members of its rescue network, as well as area animal hospitals, shelters and animal control agencies, with the dog's description and last known location.

"The people at HomeAgain were so caring and compassionate when I called panicked that we wouldn't find Honey Bee," Sarah said. "Their first words to me were that they would do everything they could to bring her back home."

More than 400 lost pet flyers were posted within the first few days and it was that flyer that caught the attention of a woman who had seen a dog near the edge of the woods. When she ventured closer to the dog, she knew she had found Honey Bee. The family's hopes had been realized.

"One in three pets will go missing at some point in their lives, and 90 percent of them would not be reunited with their families without identification," said Ken Klaus, director, HomeAgain, Merck Animal Health. "Because a microchip is painlessly implanted under a pet's skin, it cannot be removed like a traditional collar and ID tag."

"By microchipping your pet and registering the number with the HomeAgain Pet Recovery Service, you dramatically increase the likelihood that you will be reunited with your pet if lost. Maintaining your contact information in the database is equally important, as that is vital to being able to locate an owner if a lost pet's microchip is scanned and reported to us," said Klaus. Watch Honey Bee's story here.

About HomeAgain: Pets enrolled in HomeAgain are entered in a database monitored by a team of lost pet specialists 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When the program is notified of a lost pet, HomeAgain specialists immediately send alerts to members of its Pet Rescuer Network – comprised of veterinarians, shelter staff, animal control and caring community residents – who live within a 25-mile radius of the lost pet's home. By reaching out, HomeAgain is able to cast a wider net and magnify its search efforts. The rescuers keep the call center and the pet's owner apprised of new information. For more information about HomeAgain, visit www.HomeAgain.com.

About Merck Animal Health
For over a century, Merck has been a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals™, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest range of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter at @MerckAH.

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SOURCE Merck Animal Health