National Lost Pet Prevention Month: 5 top tips for keeping your pet safe

July is National Lost Pet Prevention month and serves as an important reminder that, as pet owners, it’s our responsibility to make sure our pets stay safe. 

As pet parents and animal lovers, here at Animal Friends, we want to provide you with our top tips to help prevent your dog or cat from getting lost…

Get them microchipped

If your pet gets lost and isn’t wearing a collar, a microchip could increase the chances that you’ll be reunited with them. 

Microchips contain a number that corresponds to your details, which are stored on a central database that can be accessed by a vet, warden, or animal charity. Thanks to having immediate access to important information (like your name, address, and telephone number), authorities can contact you if your pet is found.

Remember: It is compulsory for dog owners and cat owners to get their pets microchipped. 

Secure your home and garden

Dogs and cats who are found without their owners can sometimes be mistaken for strays. So, it’s important to keep your property safe and secure, to reduce the risk of your pet being able to escape.

Any fencing needs to be free from holes that your pet can fit through, and tall enough to stop them from jumping over. This includes making sure there’s no garden furniture close enough for them to get a leg-up!

For indoor cats, it’s especially important that your home stays secure – since they can easily become lost if they’re not used to the outside world. Keeping doors and windows closed, or on a latch, can help to keep them safe and sound inside of your home. 

Additionally, a catio (an outdoor space usually attached to a house that indoor cats access through a window) will allow your cats to experience the outdoors in a controlled environment.

Find the right collar

It’s a legal requirement for a dog to wear a collar in public places – and that collar must contain your name and address. Having a collar on your dog helps to make it easier for others to find your contact details if your canine companion was to get lost.

Your dog’s collar needs to fit comfortably around their neck, without being too loose or too tight. As long as their collar fits correctly, your dog shouldn’t be able to slip out of it – which is important if they were ever spooked while out on a walk. Find out how to ensure your canine companion’s collar fits them properly, by visiting our article about dog collars and harnesses.

Cats are a little trickier, since some collars can cause injuries if they ever get stuck while out and about. Quick-release collars are designed to come undone if your cat finds themselves caught. Cat collars also allow you to add your contact details to them, so your cat can be easily identified and returned to you if they stray too far from home.

Get them spayed or neutered

Getting your cat or dog spayed or neutered not only prevents overpopulation, but can also help reduce the chances of them getting lost. 

Unneutered male dogs and cats tend to instinctively seek out females on heat, meaning they might wander too far from home and struggle to find their way back. Neutering your pet takes away this instinct, hopefully preventing any straying in search of a mate!

To learn more about spaying and neutering, you can visit our articles about:

• Spaying dogs.
• Neutering dogs.
• Spaying cats.
• Neutering cats.

Pay attention

Paying attention may seem like a simple rule, and might be something you already do, but it’s one of the most important steps when keeping your pet safe.

If you have a dog, you should pay attention to them and their surroundings wherever you go – especially while exploring unfamiliar locations.

Likewise, it’s helpful to be aware of your cat’s whereabouts throughout the day, or learn their routine, so you know where they roam and when to expect them home.

What to do if your dog is lost

If you've lost your dog, there are a number of things you should do to find them as quickly as possible, including: 

• Contact your dog’s microchip database and inform them that your pet is lost.
  • This will help stop someone from being able to change your dog’s chip details.
• Contact local vets, kennels, rehoming centres. and Local Authority Dog Warden.
  • Someone might have found your dog and brought them in to be cared for.
• Ask around your neighbourhood and in local shops, pubs, and cafés.
  • A neighbour might have seen your dog but not know who they belong to.
• Post a description of your dog on local Facebook groups or missing pet websites, such as Dog Lost.
  • Be sure to include any distinguishing features.
• Visit places that are familiar to your dog (e.g. the local park).
  • They might show up at an old address or on a favourite walking route.
• Act quickly, to give yourselves the best chance of a reunion.

What to do if your cat is lost

There are a few things you can try to encourage your cat to come home if they’ve gone too far or for too long:

• Stand outside and shake a box of their favourite biscuits around the time they usually come home.
• Leave some of their favourite food on your doorstep and listen out for their miaows.
• Try leaving their bedding or favourite toy in your garden or outside your home.

If none of the above strategies work, you could try:

• Searching all the small spaces in your home and garden.
  • Your cat may have gotten stuck!
• Talk to your neighbours or local delivery drivers.
  • They may have seen your cat and should be able to check their properties for you.
• If your cat is microchipped, contact their database company to tell them your pet is missing.
• Contact local vets, catteries, and rehoming centres.
  • Someone might have found your cat and taken them in to be cared for.
• Post a description of your cat on local Facebook groups or missing pet websites.
  • Don’t forget to include any distinguishing features.
• Should you have moved house recently, follow the above steps in the area you’ve moved from – to make sure your cat hasn’t just gotten confused.

Do you have any top tips to prevent your canine companion or feline friend from getting lost? If so, please share your dog or cat safety advice with fellow pet parents on our Facebook or Instagram pages!