Having your pet get loose can be heartbreaking and stressful, but a few precautionary steps can help recover your furry family member safely if this should ever happen.
According to Lost Dogs of America, it’s estimated that one in three pets will go missing at some point in their life, and 40-60% of the 5 million animals entering shelters each year are pets. Shelter overcrowding would be reduced and space would be available for truly homeless animals if every pet could be reunited with their owners.
Where do you start? To begin with, every pet should wear visible identification (a collar with ID tags). Have you looked at your pet’s tags lately? Are they readable? Is the contact information still up to date? If you are using a rabies tag or dog license as identification, remember that many offices are not open on the weekends or holidays. This means that you may have to wait until Monday for the finder to reach someone who could provide the contact information.
Microchips, although not visible, are important especially if a collar falls off or is taken off. Remember though, a microchip is only as good as the information connected to it. Have you had your vet scan your microchip lately to make sure it is still working? Have you checked with the microchip agency to verify that your contact information is still current?
Take a few minutes now to check your pet’s tags and microchip information – the last thing you need is for your pet to go missing and the finder not have access to your contact information. It could be the difference between being reunited with your pet or perhaps losing them forever.
ID tags can be purchased at the One of A Kind Pet Rescue Adoption Center. Microchips are available at the One of A Kind Pets Spay & Neuter Clinic’s monthly vaccine clinics for $25. Protect your pet now!