November 2010: Pet Safety Tips and Micro-chipping
Thanksgiving is
quickly approaching; for more on pet well-being over the holidays, see: http://www.canine-clippers.
Recently, when
my panicked cat got her head caught in a plastic ring that stores bottles in
packs, I was reminded of how curious pets and wildlife are at risk of being
trapped by discarded containers. Animals are also attracted by the lingering
food odors and can find their heads or necks easily ensnared, so please be
extra careful when discarding these containers.
“My Scottie
refused to go for a walk with a friend of the house, but she would joyously
accompany any stranger who drove a car.” ~ Mazo de la Roche ~
The other day I
saw a sign posted that a neighbor’s German Shepherd
and Golden Retriever are missing. Because both were trained, and compliant, to
never venture past their invisible fencing, they’re owners are sure they were
stolen, which means someone had to trespass onto their property to take them.
Any dog found outside its property is considered a stray and, rather than
criminally stolen, becomes far more vulnerable to being ‘legally’ picked up.
Along with
stealing a dog because a thief wants the pet for him/herself, or to collect a
reward, there can be other reasons more lucrative and frightening. The pet
might be unique in some way, or a desirable breed to sell to someone else or,
worse (but less frequently), sold to a lab or used as ‘bait’ in training dogs
to fight. (To read more valuable FAQs about dog theft, visit http://www.k9pi.com/id81.html)
In the past,
the only identification dogs ‘wore’ were tags attached to a collar, and
possibly a tattoo. But, as collars are easily lost and tattoos fade, other
tracking devices are now readily available. Until recently, because of a lack
of a scanning system common to all, some vets were hesitant to recommend micro-chipping.
Microchips present a life-long guarantee that, should your pet be lost, your
name and contact information are available to veterinarians and shelters. Now
that all vets & shelters can scan through Universal Scanning, there’s less
fear of a micro-chipped pet ‘falling through the
cracks’.
Micro-chipping
is done by your vet at a cost of about $50. The best time to do this is during
spaying or neutering, but, since the chip is injected just under the skin, it
can be done at anytime. As
soon as your pet is micro-chipped, be sure to register on-line with the
manufacturer; if a pet isn’t registered, or pertinent information isn’t
updated, your pet can’t be traced. For
more information, visit: http://www.avma.org/issues/
Owners are
still encouraged to provide collars with tags in case the pet is found by an
individual who can call right away. A pet with tags is far more likely to be
returned and avoid the trauma of a shelter.
Also available,
though more expensive, are GPS tracking collars (not to replace
micro-chips). These are used more often with valuable hunting dogs that are
more likely to ‘follow their noses’ and stray away from their pack and owners.
One distributor can be found at http://www.zoombak.com/
Following are
some additional tips to keep your dog safe from being lost or stolen:
v Never leave your dog
unattended. Don’t tie a dog to a post, even while running into a shop to grab a
coffee. It takes just seconds to untie and lead away a trusting dog.
v Be sure your yard is securely
fenced with a closed gate and that your dog can’t escape by digging or jumping.
v Even with secure fencing,
don’t leave your dog outside while you’re away from home.
v Establish a buddy system with neighbors so that
you have an extra set of eyes watching out for your pets and property.
v Don’t leave your dog in the
car longer than a few minutes and be sure the doors are locked; the weather not
hot and windows are open enough for air, but not enough for your pet to jump
out or for someone to reach in.
v For everyone’s safety,
never allow your dog to roam freely.
If you’re shopping early for the
holidays and looking for a cute, inexpensive gift or stocking stuffer, check
out the book: The Twelve Dogs
of Christmas: http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-
Please
feel free to call Linda Law, Owner & President of Featherle and Canine
Clippers, with any questions about appointments, policies, employment, etc., at
540-854-0046.
Linda, along with all the staff
at Featherle Pet Care and Canine Clippers, wish everyone a safe and Happy
Thanksgiving!
Our
All three
locations need permanent groomers and bathers, as well as temporary seasonal
help. See locations listed below if you, or anyone you know, is interested.
~ Written by Rebecca Nilson ~
703-378-9500; featherlepetcarechantilly@
703-430-0414; featherlepetcaresterling@
703-221-3647; canineclipperschool@verizon.