This would ensure that if the animal was found, the finder would know to whom it belonged. Nowadays, however, there is a growing trend among pet owners to fit their pets with a microchip implant, which allows them to be identified by kennels and animal shelters and returned in the quickest time possible.

How do microchip implants work?

Microchip implants are tiny electronic devices that are placed under the skin of pets – commonly dogs, cats, rabbits, horses and birds. The microchip works as an identification tag for the animal, containing a unique ID number, which is also given to the owner, and can be found using an electronic scanner. If a lost animal is found by a kennel or animal shelter, they are “scanned” for a microchip. If a chip is found, the shelter will then be able to establish who the owner of the pet is and return them in the quickest possible time. Not only does this save a lot of stress for the owner, but it also saves the shelter the costs of housing and feeding the lost pet.

Advantages of using microchips in pets

In addition to helping reunited pets with owners in the quickest time possible, microchips have also proven to be useful in the cases of animal ownership. For example, if there is a dispute over the ownership of an animal, for example if it is alleged that said animal has been stolen, the relevant authorities will be able to use the microchip to determine who the animal’s owner is. Also, if a pet has been neglected or cruelly treated, police will be able to identify the owner of the pet and bring them to justice.

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What are pet detectives?

Pet detectives are people or organisations who specialise in finding lost or stolen animals. Although to many, the idea of paying for someone to investigate the disappearance of a lost dog or cat may sound foolish, many pat detective companies employ people who specialise in animal behaviour, which helps them track stray animals. Some companies even employ people with police experience, which is beneficial for those who believe that their animal has been stolen. Normally, such organisations charge a fee for the retrieval of animals, but there are some people who will offer their services for free to those who don’t have the necessary means to pay, or for those who are unable to search for their animals themselves due to age, illness or a disability.

Common situations in which pet detectives are required

Many people will consider hiring the services of a professional pet detective to be excessive, and it is certainly the case that many missing pets that are found are tracked down by their owners. This is especially true of common pets such as cats and dogs. However, more exotic pets, for example snakes, are not so easy to find as they have different survival patterns to domesticated cats and dogs. Also, in the case of animals that have been stolen, pet detectives are trained to implement sophisticated investigation methods, deal with ransom demands and, if necessary, make use of DNA testing equipment to prove the ownership of a pet. Most pet detective agencies can be found in the phone book or online, and would be happy to provide pet owners with all the information they need, including quotes, via their customer service desk.

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Vaccinating your pets

It is strongly recommended that you vaccinate your pets at any early age. In the case of puppies and kittens, they are protected against most diseases by their mother’s milk, providing that the mother has also been regularly vaccinated. However, this protection doesn’t last long after they have stopped being nursed, and they will need to be regularly vaccinated to help keep their immune system strong. Puppies should typically be vaccinated at around eight to ten weeks, while kittens should be at nine to twelve weeks. However, smaller pets such as rabbits should be vaccinated from six weeks of age. The initial course of vaccines will consist of two injections. After this initial course of injections, your pet should be vaccinated every twelve months, or as you vet sees fit. It might be the case for some older animals that they need more regular vaccinations as their immune system slowly begins to deteriorate. Also, if a particular disease is prevalent in your area, your pet may need more regular injections.

Typical vaccinations for dogs and cats

Different animals require different injections, and it is important to know exactly what your pet needs. Of course, your vet will be able to clarify this for you, but it is also useful to have a knowledge for yourself. Dogs, traditionally more vulnerable to disease than other animals, should be routinely vaccinated against canine parvovirus, canine distemper virus, leptospirosis and infectious canine hepatitis, amongst other things. If you are planning on taking your dog overseas, they will need to be vaccinated against rabies. Alternatively, if you intend on placing your dog in kennels while you travel, they should also be given a “kennel cough vaccine.” This is to protect against infectious diseases such as parainfluenza virus and bordetella bronchiseptica. Like dogs, cats also have a number of dieases they need to be protected against such as feline infectious enteritis, feline herpes virus, feline calicivirus and feline leukaemia virus.

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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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How does GPS work?

There are a number of wireless GPS device you can fit onto your pet’s collars to ensure that you always know where they are if they go missing. Once the device has been fitted, you can track your pet’s movements via the internet or even on your mobile phone. The technology works in the same way as the GPS device in a car, with satellites being able to detect exactly where your pet is and where it is moving to. This is especially helpful if you lose your pet in an area you are unfamiliar with, for example, while on holiday. Some devices even alert you when your pet leaves a designated area – for example, your garden or a certain distance from your home. This is particularly useful if your pet sneaks away during the night and you wouldn’t otherwise find out until you checked on it in the morning.

Other advantages

In addition to providing your with information about where your missing pet is located, many companies who provide GPS devices for pets also offer a number of other services to help you retrieve your lost pet. These services range from vehicles hire to medical services if they are required. Again, this is particularly helpful for those who lose their pets while on holiday, or in an area where they don’t have access to their own car or local vet.

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