We all love animals and we adore our pets. They become part of the family and we treat them with care and love. So, when one of our pet pals turns up missing it is a huge hit to the heart. We do everything we can to search for them. Scouring the neighborhoods and painting the area with posters of their beautiful faces. It can be a terrifying event for our pets and for our families. It doesn’t have to end in tragedy and it also doesn’t have to occur at all. There are ways to prevent a loved one from losing their way and also steps to ensure they make it home safely. Here are 6 tips to keep our furry friends safe at home.
- Be Responsible
Having a pet takes responsibility in feeding, bathing, and caring for them. Being responsible for our pets is the first step to make sure they don’t get lost. Know where your pet is at all time, keep them in your line of sight anytime they are out of the house. Avoid long periods of your pet having to be alone so they won’t suffer boredom or panic from being left. In a fenced yard, make sure it is dig proof and all weak spots are tended to. When out for a walk, it is important to keep your pet on a leash and never leave them in a car unattended or tethered outside of a store while you “just run in.” Someone could easily take them or they could get loose and take off.
- Collars
There are so many adorable collars and harnesses for our pets, so be sure they aren’t just for looks. Always keep an ID tag on your pet’s collar that has current information on it. Using the Figo pet identification tags and system is a smart way to keep info current. Also, dogs and cats in particular are notorious for squeezing out of their collars. Find a collar or harness that fits properly on your pet to make sure they don’t find a way out of it or it falls off. This doubles as a safety measure to avoid them from getting snagged on something and causing physical harm.
- Leashes
I know my dogs love to run in open spaces and they have a lot of fun running around in the park. But, this can be a big mistake that could lead to disaster. They could catch sight of a bird or squirrel and take off without care and be gone before you know it. Keep a leash on them every time you are out of the house and also be careful taking off a leash when going from the car to the house. Just in that small amount of time, your pet could run off before you have time to stop them.
- Microchips
In our family, we have quite a few pets that are rescue animals from the shelter or some that were just simply abandoned. A permanent way to ensure they always have identification is by implanting a microchip. It is as small as a grain of rice and lasts the lifetime of your pet. Though, it can only be effective if the person who has found your pet owns a microchip scanner, which only animal control and other shelters usually do.
With the Figo identification tags, however, the tag is on their collar and all someone needs to do is log on to ifigo.com and enter your pets ID number. All your information and your pets information will come up. They can easily contact you and bring your pet back home.
- Travel Safely
We are a traveling nation and of course our pets are going to come along with us. A lot of pets dread flying and if they have a chance to escape, they probably will. SO, when you bring your pets with you on a flight, be sure they have a secure crate that also has all your information labeled on it. It is a good idea to have your pet’s Figo tags available in case there is a mix up on the plane or at the airport, which we all know is quite probable.
If you are traveling by car, take steps to keep them safe also. Always keep them on a leash when out of the vehicle. If they get loose in a strange place it makes it exponentially more difficult to find them and they also won’t know their way back. NEVER leave your pet in a locked car, unattended, without any AC. That rule applies while traveling and anytime.
- Training
Our pets are incredible creatures and highly intelligent. The other way to ensure they stay safe and free from danger is training. Teach them a return command for anytime they get a wild hair and decide to go running. Also, before they get that wild hair, use the sit, stay, and heel commands to be sure they don’t jet off in the first place.
Our pets are a huge part of our lives and we all want them to be safe at home. Though, a pet getting lost or stolen is a threat, there are these tips to help avoid that disaster. Training our pets to stay near, being responsible for our pets, getting them the proper collar and leash, and registering them with their Figo identification tags on their collar are all ways to keep them from getting lost. No one wants to lose their pet and it’s a heartbreaking feeling when we find that they have come up missing. Using the proper preventative measures and keep our furry friends in the family for a long, long time.
Be sure to check out the Figo Pet Insurance along with the Pet Identification, there are so many ways that Figo offers to help keep our best friends and furry family members safe.
This post was sponsored by Figo and written by me. All statements and opinions are 100% my own.
