Pet thefts are on the rise nationwide, and now the Humane Society of the United States wants to remind pet owners of precautions you can take to keep your pets safe.
"The Humane Society of the United States urges pet owners to be aware of where the animals are at all times," said Inga Fricke, director of sheltering and pet care issues for The HSUS in a press release. "Losing a pet is a devastating experience and we urge people to take these extra precautions to ensure the safety of their pets."
- Never leave your pet outside alone. Your pet should be safely indoors at all times, and should always be within your sight or earshot when outdoors.
- When outdoors, your dog should be in a securely fenced yard. Pets who normally stay near home can become frightened, or enticed to leave by an interesting sight or smell, and may not be able to find their way home - they may not be technically stolen, but are gone nevertheless.
- Regularly check to ensure that fences are closed before allowing your dog outdoors, and regularly check for holes in or under the fencing that a dog could slip through.
- Never leave your pet tied outside a store or alone in a car. Someone might think your pet has been abandoned, and take her away in an effort to keep her safe.
- Make sure your pet is wearing a collar and ID tag with your contact information included. It is a good idea to microchip your pet, and clip the tag that identifies the microchip company and ID number on her collar.
- Report a missing pet immediately to police and animal control authorities, and ask your neighbors to help search for her.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WOWK. All Rights Reserved.
