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Out of five million family pets reported
missing every year, as many as two million are stolen. The majority of these stolen pets end up at research institutions because
the multi-billion dollar animal research industry creates the supply and demand market for stolen dogs and cats. Pets are
also stolen for savage dog fights and the cruel training associated with it. This is a profitable big business because of
illegal gambling. Please take precautions to protect your beloved companion from tragedy.
Prevent Your Pet from
Being Lost or Stolen
Top
The following guidelines help reduce the risk of a lost or stolen pet:
If your pet stays outside
on a run or in a fenced yard, make sure the gates and fences are secure. If your pet is indoors, keep doors locked and windows
screened and secure.
Invest in a good ID tag for your dog and outdoor cat collar. Include your pet’s current
rabies vaccine tag and your phone number: “If lost, please call…” Some animal educators do not think it
is wise to include your pet’s name on the collar.
Take extra precautions during thunderstorms, parties or
fireworks because some pets become frightened by the noise.
Initiate or join a neighborhood crime watch and invite
your neighbors to do the same.
Don’t allow your dog or cat to go outside its yard space without a leash
or harness. At minimum, your dog should be taught the basic commands of sit, stay and heel.
Have your pet spayed or neutered to reduce the tendency to wander in search of a mate.
Always use a carrier to transport your cat. Dogs may travel
in a portable kennel if they are accustomed to car rides.
Finding Your Missing
Pet
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Use the following steps to find your missing
pet:
If you suspect that your pet was stolen, immediately contact your local law enforcement agency.
Place posters in a minimum of a 20-block radius of your home and offer a reward. If possible, put a large photo of your
pet on the poster along with information on where the loss occurred, height, weight, and age of your pet, collar, spay/neuter
status and your phone number.
Again, some animal educators believe it is unwise to include your pet’s name
on the notice because knowing the name makes it easier for a thief to capture or control your pet. On the other hand, calling
your pet by name will assist anyone trying to help the animal. Please do what feels right to you.
Post a description
of your pet at www.thelostpets.com and check back often.
If your companion animal has a Home Again computer chip, or equivalent, notify the organization where you registered your pet.
Call all area animal shelters, humane
societies, veterinary clinics, kennels and pet food stores that have a Lost and Found board. Give them a description of your
pet and post a lost notice on any public service bulletin board such as the ones you find in coffee houses.
Visit
shelters many times because they handle thousands of pets and may fail to recognize a stray from your description.
Place an ad in your local paper and check the "found pet" ads every day. Notify radio and TV stations that offer
lost pet announcements.
Contact your highway department to check on dead animal removals. Yes, this is a tragic
possibility, but isn't it better to know?
Learn more about HR594, the Pet Safety and Protection Act at
The Humane Society of the United States.
A
few years ago I found a Siamese cat under the bush in front of my house. She was exhausted and hungry. The cat was wearing
a tag with a phone number. After I fed her and calmed her down a little, I called the number and the young lady in question
drove to my house to take her beloved kitty home.
This story is most amazing because the woman had moved the week
before from my neighborhood. Cats often become attached to places more than bonding with people—and the Siamese had
walked almost five miles in search of her old home!
The person had made the mistake of allowing her cat outside
unattended before kitty was comfortable with the immediate surroundings of the new location. We should always keep a cat indoors
for at least a week after a move and then let her out on supervised visits for another week before allowing the cat to be
on her own. Of course, keeping our cats indoors is best for overall health, safety and longevity, but that is a matter of
personal choice.
My little story had a happy ending because the cat was wearing a tag. Not all stories finish
so well. Please take care now to prevent heartache later.
Sources for this article and links:
My favorite tip from Pet Education: Dogs and cats have keen noses. Place your pet’s
blanket outside your house so that your pet can recognize the smell of home.
Caring for Pets During Disasters:
Every year, animal shelter and rescue groups scramble to rescue pets separated
from their owners during floods and natural disasters. Storms, wildfires, and other natural disasters can strike swiftly and
with little warning. Please visit the links below for tips on protecting your pets against danger:
HealthyPet.com: Caring for Pets During Emergencies
VeterinaryPartner.com: Planning for Your Pets in Your Will
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