Lost Pet Prevention Starts With Leashes & Collars
Check your leashes! Like everything else, leashes sometimes need to be replaced – especially if your pup thinks it’s a chew toy! Check the latch regularly to be sure the spring is operating properly, and examine the entire leash for damage.
Always leave your pets collar on. When in an unfamiliar environment, it’s safer to leave your pet’s identification tags on at all times…just in case.
If your dog is a “Houndini” use a harness. One of the benefits of using a harness is that it can provide some extra security for your dog. It’s a lot harder for a pup to wiggle out of his harness than it is for him to slip his collar.
Be mindful of how you hold the leash. Dog walking takes dexterity! You’re juggling multiple leashes, a handful of treats, and a full waste bag in search of the proper receptacle – it’s easy to get careless with your grip on the leash.
Start with a collar that fits correctly. A properly fitted collar should be snug around your dog’s neck, allowing just enough room for you to slip two fingers underneath. Collars that are too loose can slip over your pet’s head if they suddenly shift into reverse.
For pet’s in the car, there’s a proper order to things.
When you’re ready to leave, put your pet in the car, fasten his seatbelt or put him in his carrier, and then remove his leash. When you arrive, reattach his leash and then remove him from the carrier or unbuckle his seatbelt.
What’s good for the car also works well in the hotel.
Clip your dog’s leash on before you open the door of your hotel room, even if it’s just to put out your “Do Not Disturb” sign or to ask housekeeping to come back later.
Don't rely on your dog's recall.
Your dog may come to you every time you call him in your backyard, but with new sites to sniff and friends to make, his recall may not be as good away from home.
Never chase a lost dog.
It may encourage your dog to keep running. Stop and think – if you can take a few quick steps and grab the leash, do it. However, if your dog is running away from you, the best thing to do is stop, drop to the ground, and lie there.
If your pet somehow does become lost while you’re traveling, you’ll have a much better chance of getting them back if you’re prepared.
Make sure your pet’s ID tag is up-to-date and has a phone number where you can be reached while you’re traveling. PetHub QR Digital Pet ID Tags include an online profile of your pet, so you can update your contact information for every trip you take, as well as provide medication requirements, personality traits, and vaccination records for your pet.
Have your pet microchipped, so he can be identified if his collar breaks and his ID tags are lost.
Carry a current photo of your pet or setup an online profile for him, so you can easily make “Lost Pet” posters.
Reach out to every shelter, dog pound, and veterinarian in the area to inform them that your pet is lost.
If you have friends or contacts in the area, ask them to share the information about your pet with their social media network.
Originally posted April 2017