Monthly Archives: October 2014

10 Things To Do If Your Pet Is Lost

Nearly one in five lost pets goes missing after being scared by the sound of fireworks, thunderstorms or other loud noises, according to a survey by The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. And, while losing your pet can be a traumatic experience for both you and your pet, have hope as 93 percent of dogs and 75 percent of cats reported lost are returned safely to their homes, according to another survey.

If you do lose your pet, here are 10 top tips to help reunite you with your furry friend as quickly as possible:

  1. File a lost pet report with every shelter and animal control office within a 60-mile radius of your home and visit the nearest shelters daily, if possible.
  2. Get the word out to all veterinarians in the area. Sometimes people pick up a stray and drive it to a distant clinic.
  3. Walk or drive through your neighborhood several times each day. Enlist friends and family to help. Hand out a recent photograph of your pet and your contact information.
  4. Speak with your neighbors. The more people know you have lost a pet and that you are desperately trying to find your pet, the more people will call you if they see a loose animal.
  5. Place flyers in the neighborhood and public places. To avoid scams, when describing your pet, leave out one characteristic and ask the person who finds your pet to describe it.
  6. Post about your pet on all pet recovery web-sites and services. Sites such as Craigslist.org,  TheCenterForLostPets.com and FidoFinder.com broadcast your missing pet quickly.
  7. Consider a lost pet recovery service. There are numerous lost pet alert services that will contact homes, veterinarians, shelters and animal control organizations for a reasonable fee.
  8. Place food and water outside your home. Your pets may return to your home when they get hungry or thirsty. Consider placing food in a humane pet trap to capture them.
  9. Tell everyone you see about your pet and ask them to keep their eyes open. The more people you alert, the greater the chance someone will recollect seeing your pet in their area.
  10. Don’t give up. Be aggressive in your search, get lots of help and get the word out right away. You need those early hours to put up posters and start your search.

Remember, Puppies Are A Responsibility

Remember, Puppies Are A Responsibility

It’s Puppy Awareness Week, and all of those oh-so-adorable pictures on your Facebook news feed has inspired you to get a pup of your own. Not so fast. Before committing to years’ worth of responsibility, take a step back to consider what you’ll need, if and when you do choose to get a puppy. Here are some of the basics.

 

Pick Up A Crate For Your Puppy Training!

There’s a very good chance that, when you pick your new puppy up, he or she will not be house trained — and he or she will not be neutered or spayed, either. This is a relatively normal struggle, and you can make your life a whole lot easier by using a crate to housetrain your puppy!

While these are necessarily tools for the first couple of months, that doesn’t mean it’s okay for you to neglect house training your new puppy — and it especially doesn’t give you a free pass when it comes to getting he or she neutered or spayed. The importance of spaying and neutering your pet can not be stressed enough. If you are wondering when to spay your dog, the best time is as soon as you can, and definitely before sexual maturity at roughly six to 12 months of age. Take your new puppy to an affordable spay and neuter.

If you plan your puppy’s arrival when there is sufficient time to socialize and housetrain it, your puppy will learn faster and more likely grow into an adult dog you’ll enjoy. If your area offers puppy classes, they are a great way to socialize your new companion and help it learn some basic commands.

 

Don’t Forget Chew Toys

Before bringing your new dog home, have ready the necessary accessories such as a collar and leash, ID tag, food, and water bowls. Provide your dog with a variety of toys to prevent him from playing with your socks and shoes, your morning paper, or your child’s favorite doll. Get some toys that you and your dog can play with together, such as balls and plush toys, and some things to keep him busy when he’s alone, such as chewies or rope bones.