Did you know that July and August are the months where the most pets go missing? Everyone is outside more with their pets and holiday and travel plans are in full swing. Let's not forget the thunderstorm and fireworks factors either. There's a lot that can startle a pet in unfamiliar situations, so it is best to be prepared and try to prevent your precious furbaby from getting away from you.
Prevention
One of the best things to do for your pet is to get them microchipped with your information. Almost all shelters, veternarians, and rescues have readers to get your dog's family information. The average cost of microchipping your pet is $50 and this includes the injection and registration. You can have multiple people registered as the owner so that if you are not available, someone else can receive the call that your pet has been found. Already microchipped? Simply verify your information and have it changed, if needed, at no cost!
If you take your dog with you on trips or events, make sure you have a sturdy collar/harness with a leash that have pet identification attached. This identification should include your pet's name and your name and cell phone number. If you can engrave the identification on both sides, include a second contact just in case you can't be reached. This brings us to another important point... leashing your dog.
Even if your dog has excellent recall, dogs can be easily startled by loud noises especially in an environment where they are not familiar with their surroundings. The month of July is FULL of fireworks, so always keep your dog leashed when you are at events. Also, other dogs may not be as trained as your dog is. Having them on a leash allows you to keep control when there is a misbehaving or charging dog in the area.
If your dog is nervous around loud noises, having calming treats with you can be a huge help. Watch for signs of stress like panting, drooling and movements that indicate their anxiety is high. Ideally, you should leave the area if your dog is showing signs of stress, but if you cannot for some reason, calming agents can ease their anxiety until you can make a quick exit.
Finally, if you know that your dog isn't a fan of loud noises or large crowds... leave them at home. While you may want to spend time with them and have them enjoy the fun, they won't be relaxed or happy. During fireworks season, keep them in an internal room without windows, if possible. When severely frightened, dogs have been known to jump through screened windows and even glass doors. A fan, noise machine, or radio playing can also help to drown out noise, especially fireworks that are a distance from their location.
What do I do if I lose my pet?
If the unthinkable happens, call Animal Control for the area immediately! If they know the dog's name, it will be even easier for them to catch the dog if they see him/her, and contact you as soon as they have found them. Also, use your phone to do a quick search for shelters that may intake lost dogs and call them as well. If there are multiple places for drop off of lost pets, you want to make them all aware you are searching for your pet.
Contact your veternarian as well. I once found a dog that did not have any identification except for their rabies vaccination. I contacted the vet and told them that I had a lost dog with a rabies tag from their facility. Instead of dropping off the dog at Animal Control, I held the dog while they contacted the owners from their files and sent them to my home.
If you don't find your dog immediately, post flyers with your contact informtaion and the dog's photo in the immediate area. Also, post flyers near your home if you aren't too far away from home. Many times, dogs will start to make the trip back to their home if they can't find you. Making your neighbors aware that your dog is lost will help them know to watch for them if they come into the neighborhood.
Remember, prevention is always the key! So protect your pup today and enjoy the rest of your summer and festivities!