We've partnered with
PetHub for Lost
Pet Prevention Month to share some basics when it comes to keeping your pet
safe year-round and what to do if your pet is missing.
Dog Identification Basics
Collars
First and foremost, make sure your dog is wearing a collar. A good rule of
thumb is to make sure that you can put two fingers in between their neck
and the collar. If you can fit more fingers, you risk your dog being able
to wiggle out and run off leaving you in the dust. If you don't like tags,
you can always get
collars that have their name and phone number
on them for easy identification.
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| Jada's collar by The French Dog |
Microchipping
A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is typically implanted between the shoulder blades (although I have seen them migrate to other parts of the body after implanting). Microchipping is so very important just in case your dog doesn't have their collar on as this can be scanned at a vet clinic and it is connected to your phone number so you
can be contacted. Be sure you keep this up to date if your number gets
updated. You can get your dog microchipped at your local vet clinic or
even at
mobile vet clinics
for an affordable price.
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| Jada getting microchipped |
Tags
Tags are the easiest way to attach information to your dog so that you can
be reunited faster. It takes time to get a dog to a vet clinic to scan for
a chip, but can take minutes for someone to look at a tag for a phone
number. You want to make sure that the tag has your dog's name, your phone
number, and your address. If someone finds your dog and they see that the
address is nearby, they can quickly reunite them with you just in case you
don't pick up on your phone right away.
What I use:
In addition to being microchipped, I usually have three tags on my dogs, a
basic name tag with our address and phone number, their rabies tag, and a
PetHub tag
all held together with a
FreezeTag.
The PetHub tag is really awesome because you can scan the QR code on it to
see more information about the dog. This is great if your dog has a
medical issue or needs special care of any kind. PetHub also have QR
enabled cards, keychain tags, and crate cards to added security on the go!
My dog is lost, what can I do?
Signs
Start simple. Make signs in Microsoft Word that includes a full-body image
of your dog with "LOST DOG" in big bold font up top. Underneath, write the
dog's name, describe the dog's fur color, their gender, if they are spayed
or neutered, what they were last wearing, and any distinguishing features.
Be sure to write the location where the dog was lost and put a phone
number or two.
You can be fancy and laminate them with packing tape or a laminator, but
be sure to put them on all stop signs or intersections in the area. Other
places to hang up signs would be vet offices, gas stations, pet stores,
groomers, and any other nearby businesses.
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| An actual lost dog sign I've used |
Knock on neighbors' doors/Leave a note
It is highly likely that your neighbors might have seen your dog run
nearby. You can always go knocking on doors or post to neighborhood groups
online like NextDoor.
On the flip side, if you have found a lost dog I found this to be the best
method alongside putting up signs and posting online.
Drive around the neighborhood
Driving around the area with the windows down calling your dog as well as
squeaking their favorite toy can be a good way of finding them too. Be
sure to stop sometimes to listen for any barking.
Facebook yard sale groups
Yard sale groups are a great place to post about your lost dog or if you
found a lost dog. I would use the same sign you made in Microsoft Word and
post it to city and county-based Facebook groups. Also, if local vets or
groomers have a page this would be a good spot too.
Lost dog websites
There are a few websites out there where you can post your lost dog:
Call local vets, groomers, pet stores
Give your local veterinarians, groomers, and even pet stores a call. They
see many pets during the day and asking them to keep an eye out could be
the ticket to finding your pup.
Leave their bed or smelly garments outside
Some say that leaving their beds or some of your own personal laundry
outside can help them find their way back home. I say don't knock it til you
try it! Dogs have a way better sense of smell than us so it might work.
If you found your dog be sure to remove signs and follow up on any online
posts or businesses you called. Leaving them hanging isn't cool and I'm sure
they will feel relieved that your pup was found.
I hope these tips and tricks have been helpful whether you are looking for
additional ways to keep your dog secure or if you are looking for great ways
to find your lost dog.
Got any other tips or tricks? Please post them below!
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