It’s the worst feeling in the world when you get home and your furbaby is not there to greet you. Whether they have escaped through the fence or chased after another animal or a well-meaning stranger has picked them up, there’s no way of knowing. Or is there…?
Owning pets is a huge responsibility, and their safety should always be your number one priority. It’s important to think ahead – what if Sheba gets lost? What would you have done to prevent it? We recommend that you make provision for that ‘what if’ now. Depending on your budget and the likelihood of your pet going missing, think about taking preventive steps on one of these three today: an identity tag, a microchip or a GPS tracking collar.
Identity tags
Identity tags are popular in the pet community. There are different types of identity tags, from engraved to instant tags where you add your pet’s name and your telephone number to the tag and attach it to your pet’s collar. If your pet goes missing or if someone picks up your wandering pet, the first thing they’ll do is check the collar and tag. If your phone number or address is on the ID tag, they can give you a call and reunite you with your pet as quickly as possible.
Regularly check your pet’s ID tag to make sure your contact details are clear and visible. The downside to an ID tag is that your pet might be involved in a scuffle and their collar and tag somehow come off. Then there is no way of identifying where your pet came from.
Microchipping
Microchipping is the ultimate solution for straying pets. It is highly recommended that each and every pet is microchipped since all SPCAs and most vets and animal shelters are equipped with microchip scanners. They scan all the stray animals that are brought to them – it’s the easiest way to identify where the animals come from.
If your microchipped pet goes missing, you can expect a phone call from a shelter or vet if your pet is found and taken to them. Thousands of pets go missing every year, but your chances of being reunited are greatly increased if your pet has been microchipped.
The microchip is a very small injectable marker, as big as a rice grain, that is implanted through a needle between your pet’s shoulder blades. Each microchip carries a unique code that identifies your pet. That code is linked to a database containing your name, address and contact details. Most veterinary practices and welfare organisations have scanners that read the code. When the code is entered into a computer database, your pet can be traced back to you. You can get your pet chipped at any veterinary practice or SPCA and they will literally be protected for life.
GPS collars
Know where your pets are at all times. GPS collars can be very handy, especially if your pet is an escape artist. A GPS collar works just like a normal GPS, showing you by way of a tracker app on your phone where the collar – attached to your pet – is at all times. The collar will send out an alert to let you know when your pet has left the yard and it will also help you track it when you are in the park. GPS collars help you find your pets in no time. While they are handy, GPS collars are only useful when they are on your pet. If your pet loses their collar, you’ll have no way of relocating them.
For real peace of mind, an ID tag, a microchip and a GPS collar all used in conjunction can go a long way to protecting your pet.
