Did you know that one pet ID isn’t enough when you face the odds of never being reunited with your dog or cat if it gets lost? Yes, it’s true. Here’s some of the data which will probably shock you.
First it shows that an estimated one in every three pets will go missing at some point in their lifetime. Then it gets worse. Less than 20% of dogs and 2% of cats will ever be reunited with their human family. Did you expect to read this or were you surprised?
Now let’s analyze what steps pet parents can take so that the chances improve.
One Identification Option
The first stop that most “owners” of a new puppy, kitten, adult dog or adult cat make is their local pet supply store. They want a visible identification for their recently acquired companion. So they buy a blank ID tag and use the retailer’s engraving machine. The instructions are really easy to follow. You type in the pet’s name, a contact phone number and anything else of importance.
That, of course, is a start, but what’s better than one pet ID? Two pet IDs! And here’s why. Let me ask all you pet parents this. Does your pet wear its collar and tag all the time? By that I mean all the time it is outdoors AND all the time it is indoors? Possibly not. For that very reason, the point I’m trying to get across is that a dog or a cat can “escape,” run off and go missing from any location, including the home.
A Second Pet ID
As I just mentioned, if your pet has a collar and ID tag but isn’t wearing it, one pet ID isn’t going to be enough to get him home. So now let’s look at microchips and scanning.
In recent years, the practice of microchipping pets has seen a significant surge because of one indisputable fact. Pet guardians now realize they have a far better chance of finding their pet if it has a chip rather than solely relying on one visible ID tag. Collars often get pulled off and tags can become detached.
Remember, microchip databases can be accessed 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Furthermore, it is usually possible to have a pet scanned at any time by going to an animal hospital during regular office hours. Also, emergency animal clinics are open at night-time, weekends and on holidays.
To Sum Up
Very obvious but often forgotten, it’s important to keep all ID information updated, particularly after moving to a new address.
And, to summarize, be responsible and take precautions. Protect your pet by using BOTH a visible ID AND a microchip ID. Because now we know that one type of identification alone just isn’t enough.
Together, let’s keep our precious pets healthy, happy and safe!
More must-read articles in this category:
All the steps to find a missing pet http://petpeevesunmasked.com/lost-pets-search-tips
Pet guardians forget that dogs have wild instincts and can easily run off https://petpeevesunmasked.com/dogs-run-away-because/
Chip scan 24/7/365 to get a missing pet back home http://petpeevesunmasked.com/take-lost-pets-here-for-microchip-scanning/
Also, if you’d like to read about the safety concerns of domesticated cats that are allowed to roam, please visit https://petpeevesunmasked.com/indoor-outdoor-cat-statistics/