Ways to Keep Your Pet from Getting Lost


Dog walker, pet sitter, and pet care in Pflugerville Texas Ruff House

Pet Loss Prevention Tips Courtesy of Texas Ruff House

A lost pet is every owner’s worst nightmare. We have seen that one of the biggest issues in returning a missing pet to their home is the lack of proper identification. Without pet identification, dogs and cats are much less likely to be reunited with their owners. This is why the team at Texas Ruff House in Pflugerville, TX wants to remind you to review your pet’s identification methods and make any necessary updates.


There are multiple ways to protect and recover your pet. The key is to make it as simple and easy as possible.

Dog walker, pet sitter, and pet care in Pflugerville Texas Ruff House
Step One: Keep your pet's ID tag up to date.

The first barrier of protection is a well-fitted collar with a legible and up-to-date ID tag. The tag should include a working phone number that you can be best reached at. The phone number should be in large print and easily read by anyone. Avoid putting extra sayings, information, or décor, just stick to the most important details.


This is because when someone finds your dog or cat, there is likely a short window within which that person can help, depending on their time, comfort level, and ability to contain your pet. You want to make it very easy for that person to contain your pet, look for the tag, read it, and contact you within minutes, all without your pet escaping. Regularly check your pet’s ID tag to make sure the information is not worn off or outdated. 

Dog walker, pet sitter, and pet care in Pflugerville Texas Ruff House
Step Two: Register your pet's microchip annually.

The second barrier of protection is a microchip, this is the last step in identifying a dog or cat. When the microchip is scanned by a vet or shelter, it transmits a unique identification number connected to your contact information. In order for it to work, the microchip must be registered with a national pet recovery database and get renewed regularly, there is usually a small annual fee associated with that. It’s a small price to pay in case your dog or cat goes missing and is found without a tag or collar, which can fall off or get removed at any point while your pet is loose.


Again, it’s critical that you keep your contact information in the database up-to-date. You can also include both landline and cell phone numbers for you and anyone else in your household who is responsible for your pet. You don’t want to miss a call telling you that your companion has been found! During your annual visit to your veterinarian, ask your vet to scan the microchip to make sure it’s properly scanning and connecting to the correct information for you.

Dog walker, pet sitter, and pet care in Pflugerville Texas Ruff House
What to Do When Fido Goes Missing 

If your dog or cat should end up in a shelter, don’t wait around to be contacted, visit the local shelters yourself throughout Pflugerville and the surrounding areas of Round Rock, Georgetown, Hutto, and North Austin. Keep in mind that shelters are very busy, and volunteers try their best, but things can slip through the cracks and your pet’s microchip MIGHT not always get checked upon arrival. So even after you make your round of phone calls to all the shelters, go there in person just to make sure that your pet is in fact not there. 

 

What do I do if I find someone else's pet?

On the flip side, you may be wondering what you should do in the event you find someone else’s loose pet and you can’t easily identify them (the dog or cat may be missing their tag or collar entirely, they won’t permit you to touch them near their neck, or they simply run away from you). There are several ways that you can help:

 

1. First off, do not chase the animal! Note the location where you found the pet, as they most likely live within one to two miles from the area.

 

2. Try to get a photo of the pet’s face and body if possible, and at minimum note their physical appearance (color and markings, breed if any, size, young/adult/senior, etc.).

 

3. Post in your local Facebook groups an announcement with as much information as possible: the time, location of cross streets, direction the animal took off running to, appearance, etc.

 

4. If the pet allows you to take them with you, bring them to a pet store, veterinarian’s office, or shelter and ask them to use their microchip scanner so that the pet’s owner can be contacted.

 

5. While you wait to reunite the pet with their owner, contain them, if possible, in a crate, fenced-in yard, or garage depending on the animal. But be careful, if they escaped before it’s likely that they will try to escape again.

 

Dog walker, pet sitter, and pet care in Pflugerville Texas Ruff House
Any effort you make to help a pet reunite with their owner is above and beyond and will be much appreciated. It’s OK if you don’t do all of these steps because you are uncomfortable, safety should always be a priority. Our team at Texas Ruff House in Pflugerville, TX is here for you and you can always call us for help if you ever find yourself in such a situation.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Pet Sitting vs Boarding, which is right for you and your pets?

How do I stop my dog from pulling on the leash?

Be on Alert for your dogs! Toxic-Algae has returned