National Lost Dogs Awareness Day
National Lost Dogs Awareness Day was first celebrated on April 23rd, 2014 after Susan Taney and Kathy Pobloskie, the directors of Lost Dogs Illinois and Lost Dogs of Wisconsin, created the holiday. The two established the day in order to bring attention to all of the dogs that get lost each year, but also to celebrate the joy of lost dogs that are reunited with their families.
Finding A Lost Pet
Have you lost your pet? We know this can be a time of constant stress and uncertainty. Pets are like our family members, and when one of them goes missing, it can be a very scary time. But don’t give up hope! Here are a couple of things to try when locating a lost pet:
- Put up flyers. Create a page with your pet’s photo and some identifying markings. Also, be sure to include your contact information and any other information you may have about your pet’s last whereabouts.
- Call your local animal shelters. Lost animals are often brought into animal shelters, so it is a good idea to call and check if any animals have been turned in.
- Use social media. Ask your friends on Facebook, Twitter, etc. if they have seen your pet. Post a photo of your animal and ask your friends to share!
- Put out food, water, and an article of clothing where your pet was last seen. Chances are good that your pet will return to that initial area.
- If you happen to see a lost animal, do not chase them. Instead, lure them close to you with treats, and tell them to sit or lay down without making eye contact.
- Contact Lost Dogs of America. This is an all-volunteer organization that provides a free service to help reunite families with their lost dogs.
Preventing A Lost Animal- Microchip Your Pet
We all know that accidents can happen. A door can be left open. A gate not completely locked in place. Your pet might escape and get lost. Luckily, if your pet is micro-chipped, chances are good that you can find them again!
According to American Kennel Club Reunite, “Pets with microchips are up to 20 times more likely to be reunited with their owners.”
Microchip technology is a great form of identification. The microchip is as small as a grain of rice, and it is implanted into your pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. The procedure does not require anesthesia, and your pet will likely not need any recovery time. Most veterinarians and animal shelters can implant a chip for you upon request, and some shelters will even implant a microchip in every animal they adopt out.
Each microchip has a registration number and the phone number of the registry for the exact brand of chip. If your pet is found, a scanner will be used to read the frequency of the chip and will display this information. An animal shelter or vet can contact the registry to get your name and number that you provide when registering your pet.
It is important to note that a microchip is not a tracking device. Microchips are not GPS systems, and cannot lead you to your pet. They are simply a way for you to be contacted by a vet or shelter in the event that your pet is brought in.
Let us know how you successfully found your lost pet, and share your pet’s homecoming story in the comments!