Prevention - Lost pets - MyCommunityInfo.ca London

Lost pets

10. Prevention

The sad fact is many lost pets never find their way home. Here are some ways to keep your pets safe at home.

a. Indoors pets

Keep your pets indoors unless they're securely leashed or harnessed and accompanied by a responsible adult or older child.

It is especially important in the case of purebred pets, or any animal at high risk of theft, to ensure that they are never left outdoors unattended.

The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) has an excellent factsheet called "Happy indoor cats" that explains why cats and kittens are safest indoors and how to keep "Whiskers" happy inside the house. (Follow the links at the bottom of the page to read all of this four-page article.)

The Hagen Avicultural Research Institute (H.A.R.I.) has published a factsheet, "New Concept: Managed Flight, Not Wing Clipping?" describing a safe method of satisfying a bird's need for flight.

b. Identification

Be sure to equip your pet with a tag on a breakaway (safety) collar that includes your phone number, especially if your pet is allowed outdoors. See the CFHS site for info on microchipping or visit the PetLynx website.

Since safety collars (and the tags on them) can be lost, consider having your pet microchipped. Microchips are about the size of a grain of rice and are injected under your pet's skin - no anaesthetic is required. Your contact information is entered into a database that is accessible by most vets and shelters across Canada. (Contact your vet for details.)

Microchipping is especially useful in the case of purebred pets where the danger of theft is higher. The microchip is a permanent record and can help prove your ownership.

c. Licensing

Contact your local shelter to ensure your pet is properly protected with a current licence. (London shelters | Middlesex shelters.) "A licensed pet is a pet successfully reunited with its owner" (if the pet hasn't lost the tag!).

Next: Before you adopt »

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