Pets
-1 out of 3 pets will be lost in their lifetime.
-30% more pets become lost during July 4th-6th.
-An average of 14% is returned to their owners after the holiday.
-An average of 30 to 60 percent is euthanized after the holiday, due to not being able to be identified, because owners fail to update their information.
There are several steps to help you make sure your pet is not a statistic!
Microchips
Micro chipping your pet is a necessity! Micro chipping is not a tracking devise, but a way to connect your pet to you. Make sure your pet’s microchip is registered to you and your information is updated. We recommend doing this on a yearly basis. A pet with a microchip has a 52% chance of returning home safe! There are several variants that keep pets from being returned to you: Incorrect/disconnected phone numbers, unregistered microchips or a microchip with different information from the manufacture’s information.
Dog Collars
Wearing a collar with updated tags is needed. You do not know how many times we have found lost pets with a tag that was not updated! A tag should have your name, phone number(s) (cell phone preferred), address and if there is any medical alerts. We must remember a collar and tags can be lost or removed, making them the second needed form of ID.
Dog Training
Dog training goes beyond a well obedient pup! Teaching your pup the basic trigger verbal comments, such as “sit”, “stay” and “come” can be crucial if your dog got away from you. Have you ever seen a dog run and the more you run to try to catch it, it thinks it is playtime and runs away? If your dog does not come to you by command, you run the risk of not seeing your dog again, if it gets lost. We find most people do not know this, but there is a Command and Control Law for Boone County, meaning you must have control of your pet by command at all times.
Our home’s exterior is subject to all the elements. Keeping check on fences, gates, drainage areas and overgrown vegetation will help minimize losing a pet. Cats and little dogs can squeeze through fence slats. A dog can dig where vegetation has grown, and it is not visible. Dogs that would not normally jump a fence might do so, if they were scared of fireworks. Our yards can be a gateway for escape, so keep a close check. During July 4th holiday, keep them inside!
Keep a leash handy. A dog or cat on a leash is not 100% that they can’t get away from you, but does keep them controlled. There is a Leash Law for the City of Columbia and with good reason. We do know dogs have gotten away even on a leash…it happened to us, and our dog was hit by a car. Even with all the right intentions, accidents do happen!
Lastly, always buckle up your pet when riding in a car! Do not strap in any pet in the front seat, even in a crate. The air bag will shatter a crate and kill a pet upon impact. The back seat or back compartment in an SUV is the safest place for your pet. This also decreases any distractions to you while driving. If a car crashes at a speed of just 25 MPH, an unrestrained dog can be projected forward at the force equal to 40 times its weight! (According to the National Safety Council) www.ncs.org
Black Paw 101: Keep your pet records undated yearly!
Bobbi Wilson, CPPS