Being a pet owner is a truly rewarding experience that some people miss out on. However, for those of us who are pet owners, we understand all the benefits of pet ownership, and we relish in them. This also means that we deal with the downsides of being a pet owner, and chief among these downsides is the fear of your pet getting lost. As someone who has both a dog and a cat, I can attest to the fear losing your pet (even briefly) can bring.
This is why it is important for pet owners to be cognizant of the ways they can keep their pets from getting lost. As the owner, your pet relies on you for their safety and well-being, which means you have to be prepared to carry out this task efficiently. Here are some simple ways you can keep your pet safe, and keep them from getting lost:
1. Choose A Gate Relative To The Size Of Your Pet
All pets are made different, some love the outdoors, and some don’t. Usually, the kind of pets that don’t enjoy roaming the great outdoors are not at risk of getting lost. On the other hand, pets like dogs and cats (who are inquisitive by nature) will surely run around outside any chance they get. It’s part of the reason we love them so much. However, since it is our responsibility to take care of them and keep them from getting lost, it is always best to have a gate or fence, which is relative to the size of your pet.
Ideally, if you have a small pet your fence should take this into account, and vice versa. The purpose of having a perimeter fence in place is two-fold. First, it keeps your pet secure and safe and prevents them from running around in unchartered territory. Second, it helps keep wild animals and other predators out, which also keeps your pet secure in the long run.
If you have a pet that can get over large obstacles easily, factor this into your gate selection. When the concern is a pet that can dig its way out, make sure that the base of the fence itself is securely grounded.
2. Improve Your Front Door Security And Exit Points
Some pet owners learn the hard way about just how smart their pets can be. It usually takes a pet getting lost for pet owners to realize that pets actually pay close attention to things, and they learn. This is why it is important for pet owners to improve their front door security to prevent their pets from letting themselves out of the house.
This same concept can be applied to windows and other auxiliary access points that pets might take advantage of. Essentially, you want to secure these points to reduce the possibility of your pet letting themselves out of the house when no one is looking.
Most pets are naturally curious creatures, so an open door or an open window is simply an invitation to explore the world outside. By improving the security of your front door and installing more complex and robust door locks, you will make it much harder for your pet to unwittingly escape and get lost.
3. Microchip Your Pets
As someone who has both a cat and a dog, I can attest to the importance of microchipping. It is pretty much a fact that most pets will go missing at one point or another. I don’t say this to be cruel or to scare new pet owners. I am simply pointing out a very likely possibility. Now, I think there is a fine distinction between missing and lost.
In my opinion, lost implies that there is a slim chance of ever seeing your pet again. However, a missing pet that is microchipped is not lost, it simply has to be picked up at a different location. Microchipping ensures that even if your pet is able to make it past your safeguards and other safety mechanisms, there is still a way to find them and bring them home.
4. Train Your Pets Accordingly
Another great way to keep your pets from getting lost is to train them. As we all know, most pets are extremely intelligent creatures, and in most cases that is a good thing. Training pets can be exceedingly challenging, but if it is done the right way the results are truly rewarding. Keep in mind that training methods vary based on the pet in question, so as a pet owner you have to attentive and understanding of your pet.
For instance, teaching a dog some helpful commands will help them understand certain things that shouldn’t be done. Over time, you can eventually teach your dog not to run out of the house, or out of the yard. It is not an easy process, and it is one that requires a great deal of time and patience. However, it is extremely rewarding because it means your pet will remain safe within the walls of your home.
Final Thoughts
If you have a pet, then you most likely love them and this means that you will want to keep them safe at all times. Sometimes keeping them safe means keeping them away from things they think they might enjoy, like frolicking in the open yard for hours on end.
As a pet owner, following some of the safeguards listed above will help prevent your pet from getting lost. In addition to these measures, constant vigilance and a loving hand will go a long way to keep your pet present and out of harm’s way.
