It’s a big, scary, world out there for cats and dogs who are lost and alone, far from home. And even though you may think your pet would never run away – never be one of the lost ones cowering in an alley or running across a busy street – the sad fact is that it can happen to any pet.
Millions of dogs and cats are taken to animal shelters as strays each year – but only about 60 percent of dogs and 3 percent of cats who end up at SCRAPS are reunited with their owners.
Why? Because their owners failed to put identification on their animals. Yet even the most responsible pet owners can be accidentally or unexpectedly separated from their pets.
Many agencies across the country celebrate Tag Day on the first Saturday in April each year: to encourage all pet owners to tag and micro-chip their companion animals. Pet care is about more than providing food, water, and shelter. Pet care also includes licensing and micro-chipping your pet – and is something to keep in mind on Tag Day and every day as a pet owner.
Tips to make every day Tag Day:
- Make sure your pet wears a collar with a current rabies tag, and city/county license. Include a contact name, address, and daytime and evening phone numbers.
- Keep your pet’s license and micro-chip current.
- When moving or traveling, place a temporary tag on your pet with the phone number of someone who knows how to reach you.
- Remember that even indoor pets need tags. Many strays in shelters are indoor pets who escaped and got lost.
SOURCE – SCRAPS release, April 2016
