Prevent lost pets

Have you ever had a pet go missing? I have, and it’s brutal. Maybe you jump straight to heartbreak or perhaps you go right to panic. But the emotions don’t stop there: guilt, anger and blame are right behind.

If your pet goes on an unsanctioned “walkabout,” start the search immediately. Look at a radius of where they were last seen, check with neighbors and ask about garages, sheds, moving trucks, etc. Check with local humane shelters, veterinary clinics and social media groups. Call local animal control authorities and don’t forget old-school methods: make posters, knock on doors and do your best to hold it together.

The best thing you can do before your pet jumps the fence or slips through a cracked door is to get them microchipped. Microchips are about the size of a piece of rice, injected under your dog or cat’s skin, typically between the shoulders. They can be scanned by an external device, revealing a unique code that can be used to locate owners in a database. Unlike collars that can be lost, microchips are permanent. They are a data-proven, highly effective way to reunite with missing pets.

At the end of the day, animals are gonna do animal things. Don’t beat yourself up: focus on what you can do to bring your beloved creature home — and prevent it from happening again.

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In partnership with Willamette Veterinary Hospital

& Ark Animal Hospital

Josiah Moses, DVM

Eastgate Veterinary Clinic