Lost Pet Prevention Month was created to give pet parents focused, in-depth resources, tools, and strategies for preventing a lost pet, as well as advice for getting them home quickly if they go missing without a leash.
July 5 is historically the busiest day in shelters due to pets displaced because of fear of fireworks and large celebrations. According to the National Council of Pet Population Study & Policy and the National Humane Society, a family pet is lost every two seconds in North America. The organizations also report that more than 10 million pets are lost each year and one out of three pets will be lost during its lifetime. However, only 1 in 10 is found.
These daunting statistics have encourage groups across the country to increase awareness of the lost, stolen, and/or missing pet epidemic. Here are 6 ways to prevent your pet from getting lost, from PetHub!
6 Ways to Prevent Your Pet from Getting Lost
1. Have your pet’s records and proof of ownership on hand. If he is located, you’ll need to prove that you are his owner, and that he is safe and healthy enough to be released back into your care.
2. Make sure your pet has a collar that’s tagged with identification. This makes your pet easy to identify if it’s found by another person. We recommend putting your pet’s name, plus a contact phone number or address. During July, get pet ID tags for half off!
3. Secure your pet’s surroundings by making it far more difficult for them to escape in the first place. Building a screened-in porch for an indoor cat or putting up fences for animals (that can’t be burrowed beneath or jumped over) is the best way to ensure your pet won’t escape. This gives your pet a chance to explore in a secure area.
4. Many pets escape when they’re in the middle of being transported, particularly if they’re going someplace unpleasant, like the vet. Dogs have been known to break their leash and continue running, and cats will find a way out of a carrier that isn’t securely fastened. Training sessions with your dog may help this issue, but you should always be extremely cautious while transporting your pet.
5. Make sure you have the right kind of leash for your dog. If the collar fits too loosely, he can use the leash to slip it over his head and take off running. Using a thinly constructed retractable leash on a 120-pound dog provides the opportunity for it to break. Make sure you are using a durable leash and fitting collars properly before taking your dog into an unsecure area.
6. Proper training goes a long way. While no pet will observe the rules all the time, especially when frightened, teaching your pet at an early age that bad behavior such as going beyond boundaries or removing his collar is unacceptable will cut down on the likelihood that a pet will choose to wander.
