By Chris Nelson
La Plata County Humane Society
On any given day here at the La Plata County Humane Society, we receive around 10 to 15 calls about someone’s pet being lost. This can be a scary time for pet owners, and we want to help them find their beloved pet.
We take a detailed description and give recommendations for how owners can increase their chance of finding the missing pet. What is sad about most of these lost reports, besides the fact the pet is lost, is how many of the missing pets are not wearing a collar and tags.
A collar and tags are the best way to ensure that a lost pet gets returned to its family. Nationwide, 95 percent of pets that are wearing tags when they are found get returned. The opposite is true for those that are not wearing tags, with 95 percent not getting back to their family.
This is especially true with our feline friends. At least 99 percent of missing cats, and cats that come to our shelter, do not have on a collar and tags. Many cat owners are afraid to put collars on them for fear of them getting stuck on a fence or tree branch. This can be avoided by getting a “break away” or an elastic collar. These collars will allow a cat to slip out, and thus reduce the chance of choking or being stuck. You can also get identification tags that will clip on to the collar, thus avoiding the danger of a hanging tag getting stuck on something.
As for dogs, not only should they be wearing an identification tag, but all dogs living in La Plata County are required to be licensed and to be wearing their license. The license can be purchased here at the shelter and is one more way of getting your lost dog returned to you. Having a license can also get you out of a ticket if your lost dog is found by Animal Protection. Often, dog owners will say the dog doesn’t wear tags because the jingling noise is irritating. The solution for that is rubber silencers that slip over the tags, or a pouch that attaches to the collar with the tags inside.
A permanent means of identification for your pet is a microchip. This is a small chip injected under the skin by your veterinarian. If your pet is brought to the shelter or a veterinary hospital, it can be scanned, your information can be located and your pet returned to you.
It really doesn’t matter which method you choose, just make sure your pet has some kind of identification. It is the best way to make sure they get back to you.
Chris Nelson is director of Animal Services at the La Plata County Humane Society. Reach him at chris@lpchumanesociety.org.
