From Ann Patsell, Animal Land's Senior Domestic Personal Move Counselor
From Our Friends over at Pets911.com comes a great article about how to avoid losing your pet.
1. Always license your pet with your county or city. If your pet is lost, many shelters offer extended services if the pet is wearing their license - ex. They may hold them longer, try to reach you by phone, post a flyer on your door, or return the lost dog or cat before it ever enters the shelter. Plus, the money you send in helps to support shelter animals waiting for homes! Please comply with your license requirements - it saves lives, and maybe even the life of your beloved pet.
2. Have a personal tag made up with your pet’s name, and your CURRENT contact information - an address and phone number with area code.
3. Always keep your collar on your pet with its tags. If the tag jingles, buy a tag silencer. Make sure you have a properly fitting collar and your pet will adjust to it.
4. Indoor cats need collars and tags too. They can sneak out when a delivery person arrives or when the door just doesn’t close all the way.
5. Consider getting a microchip for your pet. It is typically a simple procedure not requiring anesthesia. Be sure to learn about the cost and actual procedure so that you can make an informed decision.
6. Take a photo of your pet with a digital camera and keep it current on your computer. If you don’t have a digital camera, photo development locations can put your photos on disk for you. If your pet ever gets lost, you’ll have a photo to show, post and print. Photos can make a HUGE difference in getting your pet back faster.
7. If you move, UPDATE everything - tags, microchips, vet information, etc. Keep your pets records in one place so that you can easily update these items.
8. Learn where your local shelter is located. Keep in mind, there may be several branches. Pets can travel far, or are picked up by kind strangers who take them home - on the other side of town. Knowing all of local shelter locations in advance can help out in a frantic situation.
9. Keep your pet safely secured inside if they are spooked by fireworks, thunderstorms, etc.
10. Train your pet to stay in your yard. It may not work all the time when tempted by a seductive rabbit, but it can work!
11. If your backyard is gated or fenced, consider putting a lock on the gate so that no one from the outside can open the gate - especially when you aren’t home.
12. Walk around your fence checking and repairing as needed. Look for holes that need to be filled in. If your dog is a digger, consider pouring concrete by your gate so that they can’t dig themselves out of the yard.
13. Crate or buckle your dog in the car. If they are crated or buckled in during an accident, they are less likely to be thrown or flee the scene out of fear.
14. Teach your dog some commands. Trainers consider “come” to be the most important command to teach your dog. If they associate “come” with a favorite treat or toy, even if they are chasing after something exciting they will stop and come back to you. Another tactic is to try “sit.” Many dogs master “sit” before anything else. If they don’t respond to “come” try “sit” instead.
15. Have your pet spayed or neutered - it reduces the roaming urge! This is also a fantastic time to have a microchip implanted or tattoo id given.
16. Be extremely vigilant when you are in unfamiliar situations. For example, if you are having work done in your house or yard and a door or gate is propped open, confine your pet to a safe area where you know they won’t get out. If you are on vacation with your pet, make sure they are wearing the proper size collar so they won’t slip out of it when you are out for a walk.
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