Please share this information. It just might save a dog or cat’s life.
What better way to say I Love You to your pet on Valentine’s Day than to be sure he or she is protected from theft?
Pet Theft Awareness Day is meant to call attention to the importance of pet identification methods. It is a day for considering just how much the presence of an animal can enrich a family and also the responsibility that goes with it. It is a day that encourages those with pets to take steps to ensure the animal’s security and their own peace of mind.
Launched in 1988 by the Last Chance for Animals organization, Pet Theft Awareness Day is aimed at educating animal owners in keeping their pets safe from thieves. With almost 2 million pets being stolen annually in American alone, the threat is real. Two options are to have pets micro-chipped or tattooed
5 tips to protect your pet from theft… and what to do if you’re a victim
Due to the ever-changing economy and the pet business becoming increasingly more lucrative, the scary truth is that pet theft is on the rise. Just as you wouldn’t leave a young child outside unsupervised, the same should go for your pet. Don’t forget to show your furry companion how much you love them by keeping them out of harm’s way.
Follow these 5 important tips to protect your pet from theft:
1. At home, keep your pets supervised at all times. Think twice before letting your cat roam freely around the neighborhood or tying your pup to the tree in your front yard.
2. Running an errand? Leave your pet at home. Although walking your dog while tackling your daily chores may seem like you’re accomplishing double-duty, the reality is that it only takes a few seconds for a dog-napper to take off with your pet.
3. Follow the same rules for pets of all breeds and sizes. Although purebreds and small dogs are the most desirable to a thief for obvious reasons, big friendly dogs or mixed breeds can be just as easily lured into a get-away car waiting nearby.
4. Spay or neuter your pet. February is National Spay and Neuter Awareness Month and the ARL has been sharing the many health and behavioral benefits of the low-risk procedure. Another perk? Spayed or neutered pets are much less desirable to thieves, since they can’t be bred.
5. Microchip your pet. It only takes a second for a thief to remove your pet’s collar, making them very difficult to identify should they turn up at an animal shelter or hospital. Quick and painless, microchipping your pet is extremely important to ensure that you and your pet are reunited.
If you find yourself in a situation where you think your pet was stolen:
· Immediately file a report with your local police department and animal control.
· Contact your pet’s microchip company, as well as local animal shelters and hospitals to see if your pet has turned up.
· Post fliers around your neighborhood, especially in public spaces and businesses, with your pet’s photo, name, breed, color, weight and any distinguishing characteristics.
· If you offer a reward, ask for a very detailed description of your pet and how they came into that person’s possession. If you suspect that you are being scammed, call the police.
· Monitor newspaper ads and online postings to look for any that might fit your pet’s description.
PREVENT PET THEFT BEFORE IT HAPPENS! Report any suspicious activity, or animal cruelty and neglect to your local police department and animal control office.
Pet Theft Do’s and Don’ts
· DO educate family, friends and neighbors about pet theft, especially each year on Feb. 14th – Valentine’s Day – Pet Theft Awareness Day.
· DO keep your dog indoors, especially when you’re not home. Outdoor dogs should be kept safely behind a locked gate.
· DO walk your dog on a leash.
· DO keep cats strictly indoors. Indoor cats live safer, longer, healthier lives.
· DO provide your pets with collars, I.D. tags, and licenses. Speak with your veterinarian about tattooing and microchipping.
· DO report suspicious neighborhood activities and/or missing companion animals to the police and animal control.
· DO keep recent photos of companion animals.
· DO spay and neuter your companion animals. Fixed animals are less likely to stray.
· DON’T leave companion animals unattended in your yard. It only takes a few seconds for thieves to take them.
· DON’T tie your dog up outside of restaurants, coffee shops or stores, and never leave any animal unattended in a car.
· DON’T allow your dog to be visible from the street.
· DON’T use “free to good home” ads to place your companion animal. If you can no longer care for your pet, contact the local humane society or animal rescue for help.
For the Geeks (And Everyone Else)
Statistics tell us up to 2 million pets are stolen each year and that 1 in 3 pets will go missing at some point in their lives. What we may not realize is that less than 20% of dogs and 2% of cats are ever returned home. Where do these dogs end up? In unimaginable places, from research laboratories to puppy mills, from dog fighting rings as bait dogs.
What can you do to insure the safety of your beloved pets? Here are some tips from my favorite pet ID company, PetHub.com.
PetHub is a company of tech geeks who love helping animals. Founder, Tom Arnold, left Microsoft to figure out a way, using the most advanced technology, to better the statistics of reuniting lost pets with their owners. They came up with a truly revolutionary pet ID tag. They’ve really upped the game, too, because over the last three years, an analysis of hundreds of dogs and cats recovered through the PetHub lost pet recovery system showed that a whopping 96.7% are home in less than a day, and 35% in just 2 hours or less! That is a great example of really making a difference!
Here’s what the PetHub ID tag does:
· the first to utilize a QR (Quick Response) code on a pet ID tag that links to a unique, easy to update online profile of your pet
· a GPS locator system for lost pets. When the QR code is scanned by a smartphone, the location of your pet is pinpointed
· a 24/7 Found Pet Hotline, the only one to offer this as a completely free service
· an NFC Chip, the same technology as the microchip will be embedded into your pet’s ID tag
· the newest is the “Signal,” a Bluetooth-enabled tag that connects to a free smartphone app, and features a remote LED light and range finder (between 150-500 feet, depending on the model of smartphone). This combines with their existing QR code, web profile & 24/7 call center.
· their Pet Protect360 (www.petprotect360.com ), where you can get a DNA “genetic paw print” that can be used as a pet theft deterrent
Sources for this article:
Bark and Swagger http://barkandswagger.com/pet-theft-awareness-day-learn-protect-pets
Days of the Year https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pet-theft-awareness-day/
ARL Boston https://www.arlboston.org/pet-theft-prevention/
LCA Last Chance for Animals http://stolenpets.com/
