Diary of a “Lost Dog”:

This past January I experienced the longest five seconds of my life, I thought I had a lost dog on my hands. I fastened a leash on my French Bulldog. I took him out of the car. Then, I turned back to the car to grab something. Then I noticed that the leash was not connected to my dog.

I yelled “Oh no! Jameson!” I whipped around to find him so close behind me that I almost tripped over him. He was standing there like it was no big deal. He couldn’t figure out why I was smothering him with hugs.

One-third of pets will get lost in their lifetime. Even more startling, 10 million pets get lost each year. That’s larger than the population of New York City.

Due to lack of microchipping and proper identification, 90% of these beloved animals will never return to their humans.

There’s no way around it, those stats are freaking scary. There are things you can do to prevent your pup from becoming a statistic.

1. Microchip your dog and register him here.

This is possibly the most important thing that you can do for your best friend. If you have a lost dog, rescuers can identify your pup, and you, via a unique identification code. They’re not only helpful for lost dogs, they can also help to return stolen pups to their rightful families. Make sure you keep your microchip records up to date with your current address and phone number.

2. Keep tags on your dog at all times.

Many pups don’t wear collars indoors. If you have a bolter, then your BFF could end up out in the wilderness with no way to tell the world where they live. An accurate dog tag, with your contact information, will help good Samaritans contact you if they find your pup.

Remember, 90% of shelter pups don’t find their way home because rescuers can’t track down their original family.

3. Make a DIY dog collar.

There are options for identification other than dog tags. Some of us really can’t handle the clanking together of those things! Sewing your phone number onto a collar is a simple way to let other humans know how to find you if your pup gets lost. Using a bright contrasting color will also help people see your number without getting too close to your dog. This is super important if you have a skittish pup who may run when strangers get too close.

We all know that accidents happen. Even the most vigilant parent can lose their pup. These prevention tips will help you reunite with your BFF if the worst happens. And remember, the faster you find your pup, the safer he’ll be. Here at PetCenter, we make sure that ALL of our puppies are properly microchipped and registered for identification with Petkeys. We also offer a wide variety of pet tags, as well as collars, leashes and harnesses!