National Lost Pet Prevention Month is a reminder to look at the everyday moments when pets may be more likely to slip away. A door may stay open while you carry something inside. A guest may not know how to close the gate of your home. A pet may get scared in an unfamiliar place.  

These everyday moments can create unexpected risks.  

In many cases, pets get lost during small, everyday moments unusual situations. The goal is not to worry about every possibility. It is to notice where your pet may be most at risk and prepare before something happens. 

Start With Identification

If your pet gets lost, identification can make it easier for someone to contact you and reunite you with your companion. 

Start with the basics: 

• Make sure your pet has a collar with an ID tag. Stop by our location at 11 River St. to get yours 
• Include your current phone number 
• Check that your pet’s microchip information is up to date. If you’re not sure if it is, you can visit us at 11 River Street to have your pet’s microchipped scanned. 
• Update your details if you have moved, changed phone numbers, adopted a pet, or change your emergency contact
   

Microchipping provides permanent identification, but it only works well if the information is accurate. Taking a few minutes to check your pet’s details now can make reunification easier if they are ever found. 

Toronto Humane Society offers microchipping services that can help pet parents add a basic layer of protection. an extra layer of protection.  

Look for Escape Routes at Home

Pets can sometimes leave their homes unintentionally, often through small openings or during everyday activities.  

Walk through your home and look at it from your pet’s point of view. If doors open often, windows have loose screens, or gates and balconies are easy to access, take simple steps to secure them, such as using a baby gate, repairing screens, or checking that those outdoor areas close properly.  

Pay extra attention before guests arrive, during moves, or when contractors are at home. These are moments when doors may stay open longer than usual, and pets may be harder to watch. 

A quick home check can help you fix small risks before they become bigger problems.  

Plan for Loud or Stressful Moments

Some pets are more likely to run when they are scared. 

Fireworks, thunderstorms, construction, traffic, alarms, and unfamiliar visitors can all be overwhelming. A frightened pet may bolt through a door, hide in an unsafe place, or pull away during a walk.  

If you know your pet reacts to loud sounds or sudden changes, set up a calm space before the noise starts. Choose a room or area away from the door, open windows, balconies, or busy hallways. Here, you can put water, bedding, and one or two familiar items like toys.  

Neutering Your Cat Helps Reduce Roaming

Neutering can help reduce roaming behaviour in male cats, making them less likely to wander in search of a mate, attempt to leave home, or linger near doors and windows. Studies have found that neutering can reduce roaming behaviour up to 90%, which can lower the risk of a cat becoming lost.  

If your cat has not been neutered, Toronto Humane Society offers neuter services. Along with supporting your cat’s long-term health, neutering can help reduce roaming behaviour and keep your cat closer to home.  

Know What to Do if Your Pet Goes Missing

Even with preparation, pets can still get lost. Knowing what to do ahead of time can help you act quickly.  

Start close to home: 

• Search in your home, yard, building, and nearby streets. 
• Call your pet’s name and listen carefully 
• Check with your neighbours immediately, asking them to keep an eye out and check their garage, sheds, yard, etc.  
• Check hiding spots, stairwells, garages, bushes, and areas close to where they were last seen. 

Then, contact local animal shelters, veterinary clinics, and animal control agencies. Share a recent photo, your pet’s name, a physical description, microchip number, if available, the last known location, and your contact information.  

You can also share the same details in community groups, pet recovery websites, social media channels, and flyers. Make sure to include a clear photo, description, contact information, and where your pet was last seen.  

If a stray pet enters Toronto Humane Society’s care and a Toronto family can’t be identified right away, they may be posted on the Toronto Humane Society stray website. 

Take One Step Today

Small steps like these can make a difficult moment easier to handle. 

This July, use National Lost Pet Prevention Month as a reminder to prepare before something happens. A few minutes today can help give your pet a better chance of being reunited with you if they are ever lost.