Email

By Jackie Gately

Is your dog the one that neighbors greet by name when he arrives, tail wagging, at their back door? Or, is he that nuisance night scavenger, ripping through trash bags in search of a tasty treat? Perhaps your dog celebrates temporary freedom with a race through the brush and swamps of the backwoods. Despite best efforts to keep a beloved pet at home, most families experience the occasional escape. Whether often or infrequent, if your dog is loose, his safety is at risk.

There are many threats in an ordinary neighborhood. A dog that ventures off might fall victim to a speeding car. He may ingest poisons, like antifreeze in puddles, or rancid foods and household toxins in trash. Your dog could have a territory dispute with another dog, or worse, brawl with a wild animal. In cold climates, long periods in sub-zero temperatures might result in exposure or hypothermia. Small dogs are particularly vulnerable to frostbite. And finally, the most desirable of dog breeds are susceptible to dognapping, a trend which is steadily on the rise. The Missing Pets Bureau reported that a whopping 38% of missing animals have actually been stolen.

So, as a loving dog-owner, it makes sense to protect and retrieve your pet as quickly as possible. Taking steps toward making your dog a happy homebody is in his best interest. Here are a few tips:

• Walk your dog on-leash often to curb his wanderlust.
• Allow plenty of playtime with the family, which makes him feel like a “pack” member.
• Provide social interaction with other dogs.
• Invest in a physical or invisible fence to establish safe boundaries.
• Train your dog to respond to commands, like “come” and “stay.”
• License your dog with town authorities for easy identification.
• Attach a dog tag with contact information on his collar.
• Consider a surgical chip that identifies him to authorities.
• Have a recent photograph on hand should you need to post flyers.
• Equip him with a GPS pet tracking device that reports his position if lost.

If he does escape, notify neighbors, the dog officer, and local officials, particularly if you suspect theft. If he is not equipped with an electronic tracking device, scan the neighborhood on foot and by car with a treat in hand to lure him home. Contact animal shelters and vets if he goes missing for long. Post flyers around town to report him missing.

If you invested in a GPS tracking device, you will save hours of phone calls and worry. Simply activate the tracking device to locate your dog, and go “Fetch.”

Jackie Gately is a freelance writer and pet-lover. She can be reached at Jackiegately.wordpress.com.