|
LOST DOG: What to Do and How to Prevent Lost Dogs
Lost your dog? Don't panic, there are many resources out there that can help you bring back your beloved pet. Over the last few years, many web sites on the Internet have popped up that allow you...
Go to Web Site
|
|
|
|
Lost Dog?
What to Do When Your Dog Gets Lost
Lost your dog? Don't panic, there are many resources out there that can help you bring back your beloved pooch.
Start At Home
First, make sure your pet is not stuck somewhere in your home or on your property. Check every crevice, every closet, behind appliances, in vents and drains, crawlspaces, look everywhere, no matter how small, and then look again just to be sure. A curious dog or a dog chasing something can wander into and get stuck in just about anything.
Ask The Neighbors
Your dog may have run onto the neighbors property and got stuck somewhere, ask your neighbors to check their homes and ask permission to check out their property as well. Tell your neighbors to keep an eye out for your dog. Make sure you have a picture of your dog with you when you walk around your neighborhood talking to neighbors, so they know what to look for.
Put Up Flyers
Next, put up some flyers with your dogs picture. Put them on poles around your neighborhood and within about a 1 mile radius. Anyone who would have found your pet would call you once they see a flyer with your phone number. You may consider offering a reward as well.
Local Organizations
Don't forget to call or visit all the local organizations that take in pets. This includes the local Humane Society, ASPCA branch, any rescue organizations, animal shelters, vet hospitals as well as the local department of transportation and animal control offices. Sadly, if the local department of transportation has your dog, it's likely been found on the side of the road deceased. However, it's better to know than to keep wondering what happened to your dog.
Newspaper
This is an old school method, but works sometimes. Simply place an ad in your local newspaper or local circulars lost and found section. Many newspapers allow free notices of lost things, so it may not cost you anything at all.
Craigslist
While the newspaper may take a few days to get your ad in the paper, you can hop right online and post an instant ad in the lost and found section of your local Craigslist. Most cities and larger towns have their own section on Craigslist where local people can place ads for free.
Community Bulletin Boards
Make sure a flyer is posted on the bulletin board of your local library, post office, schools, community center, laundromats and any other stores or businesses that have a bulletin board.
ID Tags:
We definitely need dog identification tags for our beloved pets especially during these times when there is a need for dogs to be licensed in the appropriate manner. Pet identification is a major means of diminishing the instances of stray dogs loitering and bringing potential damage and other problems in the streets. One important use of pet identification tags is security, meaning a visibly tagged dog is a clear indication that it has an owner and not a stray dog.
Dog identification tags are in many different forms and shapes. One very popular form is via personalized tags such as the rabies tags, license tags to name a few. For those who are not familiar with such tags, there are information or important data that can be found in these tags. The most common information and data are the pet owner's name and phone number. If in case, your pet gets lost or goes astray and somebody who is well meaning happens to encounter it, contacting you will be easy. Or perhaps he can turn over your dog to the appropriate officers and they will be the ones to communicate with you.
We can have dog identification tags made in fashionable materials and in a variety of bright colors. The more popular ones can be had in metal and plastic. There is also a type of pet identification tag that is reflective and comes with the collar. This way, one can spot a dog with tags even in poorly lit areas. In these modern times, not only dog tags are available to help identify animals. There are now electronic devices such as microchips that are available and just as efficient. Such devices can be embedded inside the body part of your pet, usually the area around the ear. Information found on the microchips can be retrieved with the use of specialized computers.
Websites
Over the last few years, many web sites on the Internet have popped up that allow you to post an ad looking for your dog. They are free to use, so you might as well post on all of them. Some of the big ones are FidoFinder, FindToto, Pets911 and DogDetective.
The Advantages of Underground Dog Fences
Too many dog owners know the heartbreak and helplessness that you feel when you can't find your precious pooch. Whether they dug under the fence or managed to slip out a door or window when you were not looking or whether they have run off after a rabbit or bird, never to return. Worse, what if you can't put up a physical fence in your neighborhood, whether because of local laws or lack of funds? You might consider getting an underground dog fence. Here are some of the advantages to installing and using an underground dog fence:
Less Work
Since an underground dog fence does not require a huge physical fence, stacks of wood, bricks, stones, cement or anything heavy, there is much less labor involved in installation and configuration.
Views
Have a beautiful view of the lake, a river, forest, landmark or some other pleasant view? You need not worry about your view being blocked with your underground dog fence. There will be no posts, boards or chain link blocking your views. Your views will stay completely intact. In addition, with a typical underground fence, the only physical marks it leaves may be some small flags that identify the fence and let your dog know how far they can go.
Flexibility
Since an underground dog fence does not require a great amount of labor or materials to construct, you can much more easily move the borders of the fence should you need to. Perhaps you installed the fence too far or too close to your home, you are still able to change the fence borders without having to take down any physical fencing.
Training
Underground dog fences do require some training with you and your dog to get yourself and your dog acquainted with how it works. This training will help you and your dog work together better and use the fence to your advantage.
Cost
While an underground dog fence is not cheap, by any means, it is no where near the cost of installing a physical fence around your backyard. In addition, you may save time and money by not having to go out looking for your lost pet again.
Peace of Mind
Most of all, an underground dog fence gives a dog owner peace of mind. You can let your dog out into the yard without having to worry about them getting away.
Choosing the Right Dog Toys For Your Dog
Dogs and puppies love dog toys, but how do you know what toy is right for your dog? With so many choices available, from plush toys, to tennis balls, to rubber toys, the right choice isn't always obvious.
First, consider the size of your dog. A large dog certainly requires a different toy than a small dog, for instance. One of the most important points to consider is that all toys you buy should be of a size that your dog can't swallow. Even large dogs may accidentally swallow a ball that is too small for their mouth, especially if the dog is running and playing with the ball in it's mouth.
Another point to consider is how rough your dog plays and it's energy level. Is he or she a real strong chewer? Then stronger, more dense toys will be needed. Or does the dog simply like to cuddle with a toy? Then a soft, plush doll type of toy would be the answer.
Safety should be your first concern when choosing dog toys. Read the label carefully. What is the toy made from? Are some parts toxic? Sometimes, inner parts of dog toys are made of toxic materials, so it's important that you keep an eye on the dog while playing with this type of toy. If the toy falls apart or is chewed apart, you need to take the toy away and throw it in the trash.
If you're in the habit of leaving your dog for long periods each day, consider a toy which will involve activity for your dog, such as a toy that bounces funny, makes noises or has a treat hidden inside. These toys will keep your dog occupied while you're not at home.
When you give your dog a new toy, make sure to remove any labels, price tags, bows, ribbons or packaging. These can cause your dog to choke.
Often, the simplest toys will keep your dog the most occupied and happy. Consider a thick, strong rope that's tied into a knot on one end. Dogs can spend hours trying to unravel this type of toy.
You'll also want to rotate your dog toys, for instance, if you give your dog some new toys for Christmas, then put the old, summer toys away for a while. Variety is good for your dog and rotating toys will help to keep their attention.
Rubber toys are good choices for dogs, they tend to last a long time, resist damage and resist bacteria and have a bounce that can keep a dog's attention for longer periods of time. Watch out though, as a strong chewer can break off a piece of rubber and they can choke on it. Once a rubber toy has broken apart, throw it away.
Take the time to inspect your dog's toys once in a while, and throw away any that look too dirty or that look like they may be falling apart. It's also a good idea to wash your dog's toys in a mild dishwashing soap when you can.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lydia Quinn -- Underground Dog Fence Atlanta is a local business owned by a family of dog lovers that specializes in installation of Atlanta underground dog fences. Visit us at: http://www.atldogfence.com/
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2003 - 2012 URL.biz. All rights reserved. |
|
