Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital 2009 / Hope for the Best, but...

Hope for the Best, but…
by Shannon M. Pecora, M.A.
Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital

            You may have a chain link or an invisible fence. Maybe you have a secure tie-out in your yard. Or you might only walk your dog in your own neighborhood with a firm grip on a quality leash. But no matter how safe we think we are, there is still the chance that someone, somehow will accidentally let the dog out, and he will get (gulp) LOST!
            Obviously, it’s not inevitable that every family dog will get out to freely roam around the community, but unfortunately, it does happen. That’s why the relatively recent development of the pet microchip is so important. We don’t expect that you’ll lose your beloved friend, but just in case you do, a teeny chip that your vet implants between the shoulder blades will carry your name, address, and phone number—even an alternate contact person. Shelters and most veterinary offices will be able to access this information via a handheld scanner. This helps facilitate a swift and safe return home.
            But you don’t have to rely only on the microchip to bring your dog back to you. Even the simple act of keeping an identification tag and a rabies tag on your dog’s collar at all times is great. If your neighbors find your friend a few blocks away, they won’t need a scanner to figure out where he lives. They may be able to just walk him right back home.
            If your pooch has been missing longer than the time it takes to drive and search the community a couple of times, you may consider posting “Lost Dog” signs. It’s a good idea to have a few recent photos on hand so that when you give out signs to your neighbors, local businesses, and nearby veterinary offices, people can know exactly what to watch out for.
            After canvassing the area, it’s time to get on the phone. You might think that some vets seem too far away for your dog to get to on foot, but remember that someone may have been able to get your dog into a car. Often, such people will take a loose dog to their own vet hospitals, even if they’re a bit out of the way. Additionally, veterinary offices are generally able to post some sort of information in their lobbies, spreading that information throughout their client bases. So call them, despite the distance.
            Remember also that Loudoun County Animal Control (http://loudoun.gov/animals) may be the first point of contact for someone who has found a roaming pet. They’re open six days a week (and they’ve recently started using Twitter!), and they should be able to identify your pet based on the dog license tag. That means you definitely need to keep your dog current and registered with the county! In Eastern Loudoun, call 703-777-0406, and in Western Loudoun, call 540-882-3211 to see if your dog has been picked up by an officer.
            In all these cases, it is helpful if your dog has had some contact experience with strangers—without you around. A Good Samaritan will certainly have the best of intentions, but intentions may not do any good if your pet is too skittish or aggressive to accept assistance. If your dog is just patient and social enough to let someone slip a leash over his head, you could be reunited much sooner. Talk to your vet or your dog’s trainer about these socialization skills. And remember to keep those vaccines and preventatives up to date! Good Samaritans, Animal Control officers, and veterinary employees want to feel safe handling your pet, and you want to make sure that he comes home healthy!
            It’s frightening to think that we could lose our precious pups just because the Meter Reader left the back gate open or we forgot to close the garage door after unloading the groceries. These are simple, unintentional events, but they could lead to a lot of heartache. So, definitely hope for the best that your family dog will always stick close to home, but also be prepared for the worst to happen.