The following is for informational purposes only and does not replace the need for veterinarian care and advice. If you have any questions or concerns about the health of your pet, seek veterinary care.
Losing a pet can be one of the most terrifying experiences. We can do everything right; close doors and windows, put up fences, keep them inside, and accidents still happen. Studies report that up to 1 in 3 pets will go missing each year. That is a frightening statistic for those of us that love our pets. The good news is that there are ways to improve the odds that, if the worst occurs, your pet will get home safely.
Microchips:
When you adopt or buy a new pet, oftentimes they already have a microchip. If they don’t have one, consider having one placed since these are shown to be highly effective in reuniting lost pets and their owners.
Microchips are small chips inside a glass cylinder and are approximately the size of a grain of rice. They are implanted just under the skin, usually between the shoulder blades of the pet. This can be done while the pet is under anesthesia, such as when they are spayed or neutered, or while the pet is awake and at the veterinarian’s office. The needle used to implant the microchip is slightly larger than the ones used for routine injections. There is a minor amount of discomfort but most animals tolerate it well.
The chip is detected using a scanner. Veterinarian offices, shelters, animal control officers, and even some rescue organizations carry these scanners. When the scanner is passed over the spot where the microchip is below the skin, the number assigned to that chip is displayed and can be entered into a database to find the name and phone number of the owner. It is vital to keep your pet’s microchip information updated. If you move or change your phone number, be sure to update it with the company so you can be reached if your pet is lost.
There are downsides to microchips including a small risk of an adverse reaction and the chip moving. Also, these chips cannot actively track your pet so they rely on someone finding the pet and having it scanned.
Trackers:
With the improvement of technology, more options for tracking pets have emerged such as GPS and Bluetooth trackers. Some people opt for something like Apple Airtag, Samsung SmartTag, or Tile. There are also now a variety of GPS collars for pets. These allow you to track your pet in real time, hopefully allowing you to find them quickly. Some allow you to set zones and send an alert if the pet ventures outside that. The options for these trackers are endless and need to be researched so you can get exactly what you need and want from what you purchase.
The downside to this option is the necessity of an outside system. All of these trackers rely on something such as Bluetooth or cellular networks. The accuracy will vary based on that and can negatively impact if the pet is found or not. Also, many require a subscription to work and that cost can be a deterrent to many owners.
Collars and Tags:
Call them old fashioned or outdated but sometimes the simple solutions work well. There are a couple of options here. You can purchase an engraved tag with information for someone who finds your pet such as your name and phone number. This can be hung on your pet’s collar. The other choice is a collar with the information sewn into it.
The downside of this is that all of these can fall off, be ripped off, or fade which make them useless. The best way to use these is as a supplement to something more reliable such as a microchip.
If your pet does get lost, act as quickly as possible:
Dogs will often respond to their names (or favorite words like “treat”) being called or the sound and smell of food or treats. Walking through the surrounding areas calling to them, shaking treat bags, or opening a can will sometimes be successful.
Cats will sometimes respond to their names, although less often than dogs. Food can be attractive though, especially smelly foods such as wet cat food, tuna, or treats.
In all cases, alert your neighbors to be on the lookout. But also go outside your neighborhood. Speak with local shelters veterinarian offices, groomers, and rescues. Lost pets often end up at places like this and if they are aware, reunions can sometimes be quicker. If your pet is gone for longer than a day, revisit places like shelters daily.
Use social media. Posting early and often can greatly increase the amount of people looking for your pet. Be sure to give the area where they were lost, all the important information (their name, your name and contact info, etc.), and pictures of your pet. Also remember that some people aren’t online, posters around the neighborhood can be very useful as well.
There are also now organizations that will help with the search. There are local and national organizations that can be found online. Some of them have great success but do your research to ensure you are hiring a reputable company.