A Guide to Keeping your Dog Safe

Dog theft and loss have sadly seen a significant rise over the last two years. You only have to scroll through social media to see too many families seeking help to be reunited with their four-legged friends and expressing the grief in their best friends being missing. New GPS technology and microchip legislation are helping to give peace of mind to many dog owners. But are you doing all you can to keep your pooch safe?

If a beloved pet goes missing it can be an incredibly distressing time for owners. There are a number of things that owners can do to help protect their pet from thieves as well as procedures they can follow if an animal is taken or missing.

Microchipping and Tags

In April 2016 it became a legal requirement for all dog owners in England, Wales and Scotland to get their dogs microchipped. Microchips are not a replacement for ID tags on collars – legally all dogs need to have both. Having clear identification details on your pet means it can be quickly reunited with you should it get lost. Remember to make sure your details are always kept up-to-date and to replace ID tags as soon as possible should anything change.

Tag engraving is a service offered by Pets Corner and team members will be more than happy to go through what should be included on your pet’s tag to better the possibility of identification and reunion. It is recommended that the owner’s surname, the first line of address and postcode, as well as contact telephone numbers, be included in the information.

GPS Pet Trackers

Dog trackers fit your dog’s collar and use GPS signals to provide live tracking information 24 hours a day – microchips and tags will help reunite owners with their pets but they can be used to ‘find’ a lost dog. This is why we love that there is now the technology to be able to track pets’ whereabouts. They are ideal when you are out and about on walks or simply want to monitor your dog’s activity. Here at Pets Corner, we stock the DOG TRACKER NANO. A fantastic little device that enables owners to track activity, walks and exercise.

Further Tips to Help Keep your Dog Safe

Never leave your dog unattended in the car or tied in a public place. If leaving them on their own when out and about is unavoidable it is best to leave them at home.
Always keep them in sight when out walking. Train your dog to have good recall skills if they are to be off lead, if following their nose is just too tempting for them it is best to keep them attached to you using a long line lead for safety.
Desensitize your dog to everyday sounds as best you can, this will help reduce the chances of your pet being startled or scared and potentially running away when out and about.
When getting your pets out of the car always ensure they are attached to you by their lead before jumping out.

What to do if your dog is lost or stolen

If your dog is stolen, then inform the police immediately. They take all crimes very seriously and will issue you with a Crime Reference Number. Regardless of lost or stolen, you should contact your local authority dog warden service, local vets, any rescue centres and The Petlog Reunification Service to make them aware your dog has gone missing. Share photographs and information about when and where your dog was last seen with as many sources as possible. Posting details on social media and encouraging others to share, contacting the media, as well as internet-based search organisations, will all improve your chances of reuniting with your four-legged family member.