As every good parent knows, keeping your loved ones safe isn’t always easy. Being proactive is the most responsible thing a parent can do to keep their loved ones safe. In the event that your pet should accidentally wander off, get lost, or run away, one of the most important things you can do to protect their safety and wellbeing is to invest in the process of pet licensing.

 

Sadly, many pets that end up in shelters or as strays wandering the streets once belonged to a loving home. Somewhere out there, these pets have families that miss them greatly. For many, losing a pet is like losing a loved one, and it is a loss that takes a long time to overcome. These lost pets face the risk of being picked up by animal control and possibly euthanized and are at the mercy of all the dangers that come with living on the street.

Pet licensing is important because it helps reunite families and bring wayward animals back to their loving homes. It also helps keeps rates of rabies and other infectious diseases low by requiring that each licensed pet over 4 months of age be vaccinated.These pet licenses hold personal pet information, as well as how to get in touch with the pet’s owner if necessary.

 

Many people mistakenly believe their pets are safe and secure simply because they’ve been trained not to leave the property or have taken some other protective measure. However, even the most loving companion will embrace the opportunity to run and enjoy the great outdoors whenever possible, especially puppies and larger, more energetic breeds of dogs. Unfortunately, it is all too easy for the pooch to become disoriented and make a series of wrong turns that lead to danger. This case is especially true for breeds not known for scent tracking and a well-developed sense of direction.

 

In addition, some pets are expert jumpers and excel at showing off their natural agility, so simply installing a fence isn’t enough to ensure that your beloved family member will never go missing. Frequently, animals end up becoming lost because they bolt away from their owners, often as a result of perceived danger or in order to chase another animal that presents a challenge. Many are found with their leashes and collars still attached.

 

A license is simply an extra measure of safety, one that prepares you for a reasonable course of action should the worst-case scenario occur. Because your pet’s safety is a top priority, getting a pet license is a way to show your love and devotion for your pet’s wellbeing.

 

The process of licensing your pet is actually a remarkably simple one; in fact, the toughest part is figuring out where to go to complete the process. Depending on where you live, licensing for both dogs and cats may be a mandatory part of pet ownership, while other areas only require licensing for dogs. If you’re wondering where to go in order to get your pet’s license, simply typing the name of your city or county into your favorite search engine followed by "pet licensing" is likely to yield results. Another alternative is to contact your veterinarian or pet care provider, who will be more than happy to help you complete the process. If you’ve just recently adopted a puppy or a kitten, the information will be given to you with your new pet’s paperwork.

 

In order to have your pet licensed, you must complete the license application and have it approved. In addition, you must have certification that proves your pet is up-to-date on his or her rabies vaccinations, and that he or she has been spayed or neutered. If you’re new to pet ownership and need a helping hand getting all of this accomplished, simply finding a helpful veterinarian is an easy, one-stop solution that will make certain your pet is safe, healthy, and fit to be licensed.

 

In most areas, a pet’s license must be renewed each year. This is to make to certain that all information is kept up-to-date, as well as to ensure that your pet’s rabies booster vaccination is current.

 

Licensing your pet is a simple and easy process, yet one that all too many pet parents overlook.

 

To further enhance the safety and wellbeing of your furry friends, a microchip and a pet ID tag can add more layers of protection if your pet ever wanders off, and can make a world of a difference in reunification. High-tech tags, such as PetHub’s Digital Pet ID Tags, have a QR code or an NFC chip embedded in that tag that when scanned by any smartphone displays your contact information, as well as critical pet data, such as your pet’s license and rabies ID. This information will allow animal control or a Good Samaritan who finds your pet to contact you, reuniting pet and owner fast.

 

In the end, a pet license, microchip, and ID tag will help keep your furry as well protected as possible.