Recovery of Lost Pets, Microchipping, & Other Forms of ID
As pet owners we have to remember that our little pals do have the potential to get lost, whether it's through a hole in the fence, a letting go of the leash, or some other means. Unless your home is a fortress that offers no chance of escape for your pet, or your pet is too lazy to even want to trot further than the mailbox, you have to keep in mind and prepare for the possibility of losing your animal.
Whether you care to remember it or not, losing a pet has happened to most, if not all, of us at some point in our pet ownership. From searching the bushes around the house for your cat, to hollering and chasing after your dog down the street, to posting "Lost" flyers throughout the neighborhood, most of us have experienced that brief or prolonged anxiety of getting our pet back safe and sound.
Too many times, though, a pet goes missing and is never reunited with its owners. Our office receives regular phone calls for missing or found pets. The best thing you can do to prepare, though, is to have some type of identification for your pet, but the more means of ID, the better the chances of recovery.
It All Starts with the Collar - ID Tags
Since our cats and dogs are required by local and state governments to receive rabies vaccinations, the easiest form of ID for your pet is to have their rabies tag on their collar at all times. The rabies tag should have a unique number for your pet and contact information for the clinic where your pet was vaccinated. If your pet is found, trying to match that rabies tag number with the clinic's patient records is a positive step toward getting the animal back home. Having the pet's name and your own contact information engraved into a tag is another way to increase the likelihood of return.
Metal tags are a classic and simple way to identify your pet, but for those owners who are tech savvy and want the benefits of modern technology for their animal, then USB drive ID tags may be the way to go. These unique gadgets are just like the USB flash drives we use regularly, except they are smaller to fit your pet's collar and are loaded with software that maintains your pet's ID, medical information, and photos in addition to your contact information.
Microchipping Your Pet
If you've ever wondered what a microchip for pets is exactly, or you've thought about getting one for your pet but just didn't have enough information to decide, we encourage you to follow the link below to the AVMA's webpage about microchipping your pet.
AVMA Link to Microchipping FAQs
We do offer microchips here at Animal Care Centre using 24PetWatch as our microchip provider. Microchips are strongly suggested for all dogs and cats and can be given at any time. Please call our office for more information or to schedule an appointment to have your pet(s) microchipped.
Other Forms of ID
Other methods of ID can be used for your pet depending on your preferences and different circumstances. Tattoos may also be used as a means of permanent ID in place of (or in addition to) using microchips. Tattoos also become unique to each pet using a combination of letters and numbers, and are usually found on the pet's ear, abdomen, or inner part of the leg.
Having your pet's name and/or your contact information stamped or embroidered onto your pet's collar is a popular method of identification as well.
Tips for Lost & Found Pets
The most important tip to remember for the successful recovery of a lost pet is to keep your contact information current at all times. From the client file at your veterinarian's office to the microchip company's nationwide database, you need to be responsible for updating any changes to your information. The biggest reason why pets are not returned to their owners, aside from not having any form of ID, is that the owner's contact information is simply non-existent or not up-to-date. Check and double-check to be sure all phone numbers and addresses are correct, and your chances of being reunited with your pet will greatly improve.
Additional tips include:
- Keep your pet's collar and tags on them at all times, even if they are strictly indoors.
- Maintain your home (and your backyard especially) and make regular inspections for possible escape routes for your pets.
- Train your dog at an early age the basic commands, including how to stay, come, and even stop when running away.
- If you have pets in the house who tend to sneak out the front door every time it's opened, be sure that all the family members (particularly kids) remain aware of the habit; block the dog's path to the door, restrain the dog when necessary, or simply crate or confine the dog. Also, when guests come over, don't forget to warn them of your pet's tendency to sneak through open doors.
- When walking your pet, be sure the collar is secure enough so that your pet cannot wiggle out of it; however, it should not be so tight that it restricts breathing. The collar should be adjusted so that you can slide one or two fingers underneath it. Harnesses are also great for walking pets and are more secure.
- Maintain an up-to-date file on your pets with all of their identifying information, including unique markings, coloring, size and weight, photos, and tag and microchip numbers.
- If you have lost or found an animal:
- post flyers in the area the pet was lost/found;
- contact local veterinarians, shelters, and animal control departments to inform them of your situation;
- contact the appropriate pet organizations and seek out the appropriate databases to link a pet to its owner
- utilize community resources such as town bulletin boards or online forums to spread the word
Found a pet and know their microchip number? Use the links below to locate the database.
www.petmicrochiplookup.org
www.checkthechip.com
Whether you care to remember it or not, losing a pet has happened to most, if not all, of us at some point in our pet ownership. From searching the bushes around the house for your cat, to hollering and chasing after your dog down the street, to posting "Lost" flyers throughout the neighborhood, most of us have experienced that brief or prolonged anxiety of getting our pet back safe and sound.
Too many times, though, a pet goes missing and is never reunited with its owners. Our office receives regular phone calls for missing or found pets. The best thing you can do to prepare, though, is to have some type of identification for your pet, but the more means of ID, the better the chances of recovery.
It All Starts with the Collar - ID Tags
Since our cats and dogs are required by local and state governments to receive rabies vaccinations, the easiest form of ID for your pet is to have their rabies tag on their collar at all times. The rabies tag should have a unique number for your pet and contact information for the clinic where your pet was vaccinated. If your pet is found, trying to match that rabies tag number with the clinic's patient records is a positive step toward getting the animal back home. Having the pet's name and your own contact information engraved into a tag is another way to increase the likelihood of return.
Metal tags are a classic and simple way to identify your pet, but for those owners who are tech savvy and want the benefits of modern technology for their animal, then USB drive ID tags may be the way to go. These unique gadgets are just like the USB flash drives we use regularly, except they are smaller to fit your pet's collar and are loaded with software that maintains your pet's ID, medical information, and photos in addition to your contact information.
Microchipping Your Pet
If you've ever wondered what a microchip for pets is exactly, or you've thought about getting one for your pet but just didn't have enough information to decide, we encourage you to follow the link below to the AVMA's webpage about microchipping your pet.
AVMA Link to Microchipping FAQs
We do offer microchips here at Animal Care Centre using 24PetWatch as our microchip provider. Microchips are strongly suggested for all dogs and cats and can be given at any time. Please call our office for more information or to schedule an appointment to have your pet(s) microchipped.
Other Forms of ID
Other methods of ID can be used for your pet depending on your preferences and different circumstances. Tattoos may also be used as a means of permanent ID in place of (or in addition to) using microchips. Tattoos also become unique to each pet using a combination of letters and numbers, and are usually found on the pet's ear, abdomen, or inner part of the leg.
Having your pet's name and/or your contact information stamped or embroidered onto your pet's collar is a popular method of identification as well.
Tips for Lost & Found Pets
The most important tip to remember for the successful recovery of a lost pet is to keep your contact information current at all times. From the client file at your veterinarian's office to the microchip company's nationwide database, you need to be responsible for updating any changes to your information. The biggest reason why pets are not returned to their owners, aside from not having any form of ID, is that the owner's contact information is simply non-existent or not up-to-date. Check and double-check to be sure all phone numbers and addresses are correct, and your chances of being reunited with your pet will greatly improve.
Additional tips include:
- Keep your pet's collar and tags on them at all times, even if they are strictly indoors.
- Maintain your home (and your backyard especially) and make regular inspections for possible escape routes for your pets.
- Train your dog at an early age the basic commands, including how to stay, come, and even stop when running away.
- If you have pets in the house who tend to sneak out the front door every time it's opened, be sure that all the family members (particularly kids) remain aware of the habit; block the dog's path to the door, restrain the dog when necessary, or simply crate or confine the dog. Also, when guests come over, don't forget to warn them of your pet's tendency to sneak through open doors.
- When walking your pet, be sure the collar is secure enough so that your pet cannot wiggle out of it; however, it should not be so tight that it restricts breathing. The collar should be adjusted so that you can slide one or two fingers underneath it. Harnesses are also great for walking pets and are more secure.
- Maintain an up-to-date file on your pets with all of their identifying information, including unique markings, coloring, size and weight, photos, and tag and microchip numbers.
- If you have lost or found an animal:
- post flyers in the area the pet was lost/found;
- contact local veterinarians, shelters, and animal control departments to inform them of your situation;
- contact the appropriate pet organizations and seek out the appropriate databases to link a pet to its owner
- utilize community resources such as town bulletin boards or online forums to spread the word
Found a pet and know their microchip number? Use the links below to locate the database.
www.petmicrochiplookup.org
www.checkthechip.com
