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It’s one of the most tragic things that can happen to a pet parent: a beloved dog or cat goes missing.
Countless dogs and cats are lost each year, with some sources citing around 10 million in the U.S. alone.
Fortunately, if proper identification and search techniques are used, there is a good chance you will find a lost pet. An ASPCA survey of 1,000 pet-owning homes found that 93 percent of lost dogs and 74 percent of lost cats were recovered.
You may have read in the news this week of a happy reunion of a missing pet with its owner. A woman in Albany, NY., was searching for her lost 15-year-old Dachshund and inadvertently came across a movie crew. Her dog “Blue” had been found by none other than two-time Oscar winning actress Hilary Swank! Swank made sure the two were reunited by personally delivering Blue.
Not everyone will be lucky enough to have a celebrity find their missing pooch. The APSCA survey found the following on how the lost pets were recovered:
- Forty-nine percent of dog guardians found their dog by searching the neighborhood, and 15 percent of the dogs were recovered because they were wearing an ID tag or had a micro-chip.
- Fifty-nine percent of cat guardians found their cat because it returned home on its own; 30 percent found their cat by searching the neighborhood.
- Only 6 percent of dog guardians and 2 percent of cat guardians found their lost pets at a shelter.
From these findings, it is clear that visually searching for a lost pet in the neighborhood or immediate vicinity as soon as possible is critical. (Like the woman in New York!) This can be supplemented by hanging posters and using Internet resources.
Identification tags and/or microchips also improve the odds of success. And you should check with the local animal shelter.
We at Pugpalooza hope none of our readers ever have a pet go missing. They belong by your side, making each day brighter!
Until next time,
Hugs and Pug Kisses,
Candy
Sources and Links:
How Many Cats And Dogs Are Homeless In The Us – BikeHike (cyclinghikes.com)
New York Woman Finds Lost Dachshund — in Hilary Swank’s Lap | Entertainment News | US News
How Many Pets are Lost? How Many Find Their Way Home? ASPCA Survey Has Answers | ASPCA
Lost Pet Statistics – Lost Pet Research and Recovery
Photo by Wade Austin Ellis on Unsplash
