How to keep your pet safe……

Traditionally we have kept pets to provide a little extra security for us, but now the tide is turning a little and pet theft/loss is becoming more frequent. With a bit of common sense and pre-planning it should be possible to keep your pet safe well and healthy.

You’ve invested in your pet, so invest a little extra and have it micro chipped. Especially important for dogs and cats. Micro chipped animals are not easy to sell on because they can always be traced back to their owner. Puppies can be micro chipped at birth – but this may depend on the size of the breed. The chip is about the size of a grain of rice.
Costs average between £10 and £30. Microchipping is a one-off process and lasts for life. Your fee covers the cost of the microchip, insertion into the database and implanters time. Vets, welfare centres and training clubs offer this service. Be sure to question what company the microchip will be registered with you will need to know for future reference.
Once your pet is micro chipped, you and your pet’s details are stored in a database along with the microchip’s unique 15 digit code. When a missing pet is found, an authorised user (vet or dog warden) will scan the pet revealing the microchip’s unique code, and contact the microchip company. The microchip company will perform some security checks before releasing your contact details to the authorised user – so that your pet can be reunited with you!

Should your pet go missing:-

• Always call your Microchip provider to tell them that your pet has gone missing. Then the microchip company should send out alerts to local vets and dog wardens on your behalf. You should also search your neighbourhood immediately, leaving the description of your missing pet and your contact details with as many people as possible- pet shops, post offices anyone with a notice board. Remember to speak to any postmen, or other service personnel that cover a wide area.

• Call your vets, local animal warden and local police station (non-emergency number)..

• Place Lost Pet Posters everywhere you can - local shops, vets, lamp-posts, restaurants, superstores. Be sure to check the fly-posting regulations in your area.

• Contact your local radio station and newspaper and ask them to put out a message for you, place an advert on AdTrader - we do have a classification especially for this.

• Visit other Lost and Found Pet websites (petlog for example), and register your missing pet's details with as many as possible.

• Walk around the area the dog went missing with a lead, some treats and maybe the dog's favourite toy. The scents of all these things may bring your lost dog back to you.

• Do not shout your lost dog's name as this may make them think they have done something wrong and can scare them off.

• Don't give up - Those lost in an area, often stay around that area. Dogs that are lost from anywhere other than home, often return to the exact spot that they went missing from. A lost dog could return at any time, the same day or even months or years later

• Once you have found your pet again don’t forget to take down all posters and let everyone know that you are happily reunited.

It might also be worth considering whether or not your garden is dog napper proof, don’t leave the dog tied up outside shops etc, be aware of strangers taking unusual interest in your pet.
Pet owning is fun and good for both of you, with a little bit of care and for thought you should both remain safe and well.