Meow.

Speaking of hungry pets, today my cat Jasper returned after a few days of solitary adventuring, during which we were very concerned about him back at the homefront. As we were scouring the neighborhood searching and calling for him, several people assured us that it was perfectly natural for some cats, especially male cats with alley cat ancestry, to wander off for several days. However, because this is the first time that Jasper has disappeared overnight, these reassurances did little to calm my anxiety about his whereabouts, and until he showed up this afternoon (looking, I might add, very pleased with himself), I had been furiously brainstorming ways to find him. I did find, on several wesites, some very helpful tips on how to prevent pets from being lost and/or on finding lost pets. And now, since the whole situation seems monumentally less dire now that Jasper is back, I've celebrated his return (and all the helpful tips related to lost pets that the web has to offer) by creating a found poem about finding lost pets.

What is a found poem, you might be wondering? A found poem is when a writer pieces together a poem using language that he or she finds from other sources. Those sources could include anything: lines from old thrift store postcards, signs along the highway, blurbs from books... It's a fun excercise, and I'd encourage anyone who's interested in writing to give it a try. (Just make sure you cite your sources if appropriate to avoid plagarism!)

Here's the found poem I came up with using lines taken from the website http://www.pet-dog-cat-supply-store.com/index.php?nic=pet-travel-tips

Found Poem

Carry a box of your pet's favorite biscuits, chews, or other treats and rattle it loudly while calling your pet's name.

Your budget will determine how many flyers you can afford to post, but the more the better.

Use your flashlight for checking under houses and other dark spots. Also check storage sheds, garages, dumpsters, trash cans, and under cars. Don't forget to look in trees for a cat.

Be aware that dogs may be housed in the cat section and vice-versa.

A person calls you claiming to be a long-haul trucker. This person does not have your pet, he is only trying to take your money.

And, of course, as a Missoula Public Library patron, you have access to lots of wonderful books on pets. Here are some popular pet titles for readers of all ages:

Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein (Easy)

Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey (Easy)

The Warrior Series by Erin Hunter (J-YA)

Cat Call by Linda Newberry (J-YA)

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (Fiction)

The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care Rev. ed. by C.J. Puotinen, (Non-fiction)