Do you have a pet and you want to know what you have to do so that it does not get lost? What are the most frequent avoidable causes for which a pet disappears? What can we do and how can the most effective measures be carried out to prevent your pet from leaving and never returning?
Nobody would like it to happen ... but it can happen. And it is that 90 % of the losses of a pet occur due to easily avoidable carelessness on the part of their well-intentioned owners.
Finding out that your dog has disappeared is the beginning of a devastating experience. But ... is it possible to anticipate all the scenarios in which your pet gets lost?
Not.
The only thing you can do is increase the chances that your pet will stay safe with a series of very simple recommendations to put into practice.
The simple steps that will prevent your pet from getting lost
You may have heard a thousand ways to protect your dog, but the reality is that there are only a few tips to follow to protect your dear friend.
Start with the basics: put up taller fences in your garden and put a name tag on it.
However, if you are looking to take your pet's safety one level further, then read on.
Secure your pet with a fence or leash
If you have a patio or garden, make sure it is well adapted to your pet. For example, most of the time a dog is lost, it is because the area was not safe enough or the animal was unleashed.
Even if you think your pet is well trained, the reality is that this does not mean that your pet cannot be lost or stolen.
Securely fence your yard or tie it down with a safety leash. If you opt for the first option, make sure that the fence is high enough so that it is impossible to jump over it.In addition, its depth should also be about 12 to 20 cm below the ground level, since your pet could dig and get out .
When you go out for a walk, always use a leash and never leave your pet unsupervised. Dogs are often robbed or injured on the rope itself when left alone on the leash.
Always supervise your pet
A lost pet is a pet that was not being supervised.
Taking care of your pet goes beyond just putting a simple fence in your garden. It means not leaving her alone for long periods of time while you're outside, or leaving her in the car for several hours while you do other things.
Much of the time, boredom itself causes your pet to run away.
Choose to arrange everything so that your dog feels safe and happy before you leave, or have someone take care of your animal while you are working.
Put a microchip
This small implant contains the essential information that will allow the veterinarian or the animal shelter to identify your pet just by using a scanner.
The reality is that hundreds of dogs disappear every year and are recovered thanks to microchip technology.
In case someone finds your pet, they can take it to a veterinarian or animal shelter to read the identification data stored in the microchip.
Sterilize your pet
Very few people are aware that an unneutered pet is more likely to wander in search of a mate.
In addition to its potential loss, if your pet is unspayed it is likely that it will reproduce and lead to more homeless animals.
Train your pet
Trained pets are less likely to end up in a shelter, because they have better behavior.
Get trained to train your pet and get valuable information about the maintenance and care of your animals that will be essential to prevent your dog from getting lost. In this way, you reduce careless errors and get your dog to obey a series of commands.
In addition to avoiding their loss, with training you can strengthen the bond with your pet, so it will be more difficult for them to get bored and decide to go in search of fun.
However, although even with training, many pets choose to follow their own instincts, communication with your pet improves with training. This can make the difference between a pet that plays with you and stays by your side, from which it is forever gone from your life.
Use an identification tag
A metal tag with identification must always include at least one contact phone number.
It's true that putting your name or address on the tag can be awkward, but this information is crucial if your pet is lost and someone tries to help you get it back.
Preserve vital information about your pet
It is recommended that you have some basic documents about your pet that you can consult at any time.
I mean your shot record and a color photograph. The reason? Very simple: if your pet disappears, you can go directly to these documents to ask your neighbors for help, shelter workers or the police. Everything is to return your friend to his home.
