Lost Pet Prevention Primer

Every summer, there’s a major increase in lost pets. The good news is that it’s often preventable with a little forethought.

Learn the easy way! Avoid these common mistakes to reduce the risk of losing your pet.

1. Faulty fence. Make sure your fence is secure and the gate is closed when your dog is outside.
2. Noise nerves. Many pets are frightened of loud noises such as fireworks or boisterous parties. To escape the sound, they may go to extremes like jumping the fence. Keep your pets securely inside when it’s too loud for comfort outside.
3. Slack collar fit. Secure your pet’s collar correctly. You don’t want it uncomfortably tight or so loose they can slip out.
4. Pet sitter mistake. Prepare your pet sitter by filling them in on your pets’ behavior. If your dog loves one of your neighbors or gets extra excited to see the mail carrier, tell your pet sitter. It will help them anticipate a sudden dart toward the door. Give your sitter the contact information of one of your neighbors or a community member who can help if your animal becomes lost. Make sure your sitter knows what to do if your pet goes missing.
5. Kid overpowered. A child may not be strong enough to keep control of a scared or excited pet that suddenly wants to zoom. Be there to help take over if your pet makes a break for it.

Avoiding these mistakes can help you avoid heartache, but there’s no way to predict every possibility. Make sure your pet is microchipped with up-to-date contact information. They should wear a collar with an ID tag and a rabies tag at all times, especially outside.

Register your animal on Petco Love Lost, a website that allows people to post found and lost pets. If your pet goes missing, mark them as lost.

Make sure you have pictures of your pet, especially their face and distinctive marks, with your family members in your home.

Here are instructions on what to do if you lose your pet.

Here are instructions on what to do if you find a lost pet.

To learn more and hear from our shelter’s admissions manager, watch our video Lost & Found Pets.