Losing your pet can be a stressful and highly upsetting event even at the best of times, but when you are abroad or on holiday, it can be even more of a tragedy. One of the main disadvantages of losing your pet whilst away from home is that you only have a limited amount of time to find them. Also, if you are not one hundred per cent familiar with the area you are visiting, you might not know the best places to begin your search.

Finding help

The first thing you should do when you realise that your pet has gone missing, is return to the place that you last saw them and ask any possible witnesses if they have seen anything. It is also advised that you notify a police officer, who will be able provide you with information about local kennels and animal shelters to which your pet might have been taken. If you are in a city or a large town, you might also be able to acquire the services of a “pet detective.” These are trained professionals who specialise in finding lost or stolen animals. Although this may seem like a drastic measure, it might be just the step you have to take to ensure you get your beloved pet back before your ferry ride or flight home.

Preventative measures

Although it isn’t possible to guarantee that your pet won’t go missing while you are on holiday, there are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk. If you have a dog, you should ensure that it is always on its leash when exploring areas in which they could easily run away and gets lost, for example woods. Also, at night, make sure they sleep in a room or area in which they cannot possibly escape. There are also a number of steps you can take to ensure, should the worst case scenario occur, that finding your pet again is much easier. The most obvious of these is to ensure that your pet is always wearing a collar with its name and your phone number on it. This way, if somebody finds it, they will be able to contact you easily. Also, it is possible to install a “tracking device” on your pet, so you can pinpoint its location should it leave your sight.

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