Pet Care
How To Prevent Losing Your Pet
Every year in Metropolitan Toronto, thousands of dogs and cats become lost pets. Many are never seen again by their guardian - a heartbreaking experience but one that you can prevent if you are careful. While accidents do happen, even to the most careful pet owners, in most cases a few precautions can spare you the sad experience of searching for your lost pet.
- Your pet should never have a vacation from his collar and identification tag, even at the cottage, or when traveling in your vehicle.
- Make sure your cat wears a tag containing your name and phone number on his collar.
Have your pet microchipped for lifetime identification at The Toronto Humane Society.
- Contact your animal control office to license your dog or cat and be sure to notify them of any temporary or permanent change of address or phone number.
- Always use a leash when your dog is outdoors.
- Never let your cat outdoors unattended. When your cat is outdoors, use a harness and leash.
- Do not leave your pet in the yard unless he is supervised. Remember, a fence will not confine a pet. Cats are wonderfully agile and dogs are amazingly adept at digging under fences that you thought were secure.
- A spayed or neutered pet is less likely to want to roam. In addition, your pet will not add to the problem of overpopulation - a problem too serious to ignore.
- Use a carrying case to transport small dogs and cats. Cats are quick and will respond to sudden noises or uncomfortable surroundings by jumping out of your arms.
- Never let a cat roam freely in a moving car.
- Each time you leave your home, and at bedtime, check to see where your pet is.
- When opening or closing doors leading outside, be attentive to your pet's whereabouts. Make sure your windows are securely screened. It would only take a few seconds for your pet to escape.
- If you leave your pet with a sitter while you are on vacation, impress upon your sitter the importance of supervising your pet.
- Look for breakaway collars at pet supply retailers. These collars are safer for cats, as they stretch if an animal becomes caught on something, thus preventing strangulation.
- When you move, take extra precautions. Unfamiliar surroundings cause stress in pets, so introduce your pet to its new environment gradually.
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