National Lost Pet Prevention Month (NLPM) is a national awareness campaign to reduce the number of pets that go missing annually. Before getting a pet, it’s essential to research and ensure you’re prepared to take care of one for the rest of its life. It also includes creating a plan for keeping your pet safe if it gets loose.
July is National Lost Pet Prevention Month, so it’s an excellent chance to implement some tips that can help keep your pet safe. This post will examine some of the best tips to ensure you keep your pet protected.
The Number Of Pets Lost Each Year
According to the ASPCA, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, roughly 10 million pets are lost annually. And while some of these pets will find their way back home, many others will end up in shelters or on the streets.
Top Tips To Make Sure You won’t Lose Your Dog
A lost dog can be heartbreaking for the owner. The amount of time and effort to find a lost dog is overwhelming. To prevent this from happening, you can take steps before losing your dog. These tips will help make sure your dog can be found:
Microchip Your Dog
If your dog is out and about with you, it’s easy to keep track of him. If he gets lost, it’s essential to have a way to identify him. A dog microchip is implanted under the skin in your neck area. It contains information about you and your vet, so anyone who finds your dog can get in touch with you.
Get A Collar With Dog ID Tags
While microchips are great for identifying your dog, they’re not foolproof. If someone finds your dog and takes him straight to the vet without making any effort to find you first, they may never realize that there’s a chip that needs scanning. A simple collar with ID tags attached provides an extra layer of protection against this by providing contact details for you and your vet on the collar itself.
Teach Come and Stay
It’s best to train your dog to come when called and stay where you leave them. If your dog is a runner, this is particularly important. You can also teach your dog to sit or lie down in one spot until you return.
Keep Your Dog On A Leash
Leashes keep dogs safe and secure by keeping them close to their owners and ensuring they don’t run into dangerous situations. Leashes also help prevent dogs from getting lost or stolen by keeping them close to home.
Secure Your Yard and Home
Dogs are curious pets who love to explore their environments. Still, there are dangerous things in our yards like poisonous plants, dead animals, and other hazards that could harm or kill our pets if they get into them. Keeping your yard clear of these dangers will keep your dog safe and happy!
Make Sure To Spay Or Neuter
This is a significant way to safeguard your cat or dog doesn’t run away from home. If you have an intact male and he gets loose, he may be attracted to females in heat which could prompt him to fight with other males or roam far and wide searching for a mate. This is why it’s so necessary to spay or neuter your pets as soon as possible.
Pay Attention
Make sure you’re paying attention when walking your dog so you know where they are at all times. This will further prevent them from running off or getting lost in the first place!
As a dog or cat owner, you have every reason to take your position seriously. Your responsibility is to keep your pet safe, happy, and healthy. If you are one of those conscientious owners that keep their dogs on the leash in public spaces and call them home when they stray too far- you’ll never need these tips. But suppose you’ve ever lost a dog or reside in an area outside urban communities. In that case, there’s an excellent chance that your dog may wander off at some moment. If so, consider carrying out some of the ideas above!