Having to post a “Missing” sign around the neighborhood or on social media is every pet owner’s worst nightmare. Here’s how to get your four-legged friend home quickly.
KEEP ID UP TO DATE
The most important step happens before your pet goes missing: Make sure they’re wearing proper identification at all times. Every pet, even an indoor cat, should wear a well-fitted collar, says Josh Cary, national director of the American Humane Rescue Team. Cats in particular should wear a quick-release or) — just be sure to keep the battery charged. As a backup, every pet should have a microchip from a veterinarian’s office or a shelter, Cary says; research shows that the rate of safe return home is two and a half times higher for microchipped dogs and 20 times higher for cats with microchips than for those that don’t have them. Keep your address and contact information updated both on your pet’s collar tag and in the microchip database, and store a few clear and current photos of your pet on your phone. That will help confirm that they’re yours if they get picked up by others.
