Cats and Birds information on net.

How to protect your dog or cat and what to do

if it has strayed or is lost or stolen.

My local newspaper recently published an article about a frequentflier cat named Felix that escaped from its cage and flew 179,000 miles in the cargo hold of a Pan Am Boeing 747. Felix's owners were located from the baggage-claim records and reunited with their lost pet. This is certainly a heartwarming account about a lost pet, but not all such stories have a happy ending. Mrs. Bowman, one of my elderly clients, was moving to a new neighborhood. With her cat Taffy in her arms, she lost her balance and fell on the sidewalk in front of the new house. Luckily, Mrs. Bowman was not seriously injured; however, Taffy escaped into the bushes by the house and has not been seen since.

Taking Precautions

A few simple steps may help you reduce the chances your pet will end up like Taffy, either lost or stolen.

* If your pet stays in an outdoor run or fenced yard, check to make sure that gates and fences are secure. If it resides in the house, keep doors closed and windows screened.

* If your pet is frightened by company, parties, fireworks, or thunderstorms, take extra precautions during these occasions to ensure that it feels secure.

* Join a neighborhood crime watch, and advertise your membership on your fence and home.

* Do not allow your dog outside its yard unless it is on a leash. Cats can also be trained to wear a leash or harness; start training them when they are kittens. And teach cats and dogs to come when called by name. Your dog should respond to the basic obedience commands of heel, stay, and sit.

* Have your pet neutered or spayed to reduce its tendency to wander.

* When transporting your cat, use a cat carrier. Dogs may travel in a portable kennel if they have not learned proper automobile etiquette. Never invite theft by leaving your pet unattended in an automobile.

Tattoos, Credits Cards,

and Computer Chips

Adequate pet identification will reduce the chances of your pet's being stolen and aid in its recovery if it is lost. All pets should wear an identification tag engraved with the owner's name, address, and telephone number.

The Bark Alert and the Meow Alert cards are interesting variations on the identification tag. They look like credit cards and attach to your pet's collar. The cards contain an individual identification number and the 1 -800-BARKUSA telephone number. Owners supply pertinent information and six telephone numbers to U.S. Pet Protection. The 800 telephone number is manned 24 hours a day. A lost pet will be boarded if the owner cannot be contacted.

The injectable computer microchip is another recent innovation in pet identification. A chip the size of a pencil lead is injected directly into the muscle of the animal. Information on the chip can be read with a device similar to those used by airport security. The information about the animal is registered on a computer at the AVID (American Veterinary Identification Devices) company headquarters. This method of identification is currently used by many zoos to protect valuable exotic animals, including birds and reptiles. AVID markets the identification chip through veterinary clinics and humane societies. For information write AVID, 3179 Hamner Avenue, Norco, CA 91760.

Tattooing, like injecting the microchip, is a permanent, painless means of pet identification. An identification number supplied by the registry is tattooed on the belly or inside leg of the cat or dog. The animal also wears a tag calling attention to the tattoo. This ID method has worked well in cases of animal theft, Goldie, a blonde Labrador retriever destined for research at a famous medical clinic, was traced back to her owner 350 miles away when a veterinary technician found the tattoo and called Tatoo-APet (1-800-828-8667). The founder and executive director of Tatoo-APet, Julie Moscove of Brooklyn, New York, claims a 99 percent recovery rate overall for the 16 years the company has been operating. Tattooed pets can also be registered with the National Pet Registry (1-800-255-5726) and the National Dog Registry (914679-BELL). Tattoo fees vary, from $20 including registration to as high as $50 without registration. Shop carefully and ask questions.

Taking Immediate Action

Karen Green, a pet detective and co-founder of Pet Finders company in Amarillo, Texas, recommends taking the following steps if your pet comes up missing: Contact all animal shelters, humane societies, and veterinary clinics in the area and give them a description of your pet. Place an ad in morning and evening newspapers. Notify radio and TV stations that offer lost-pet announcements. Check with neighbors. Place posters in a 20-block radius of your home. Posters should be easy to read, and they should offer a reward of as much as $200 if the animal is exceptionally valuable. If possible, put a large photo of the pet on the poster, along with information on where the loss occurred, height, weight, collar and spay or neuter status. To help lost-pet owners get off on the right foot, Karen sells The Pet Finders Reward Packet, containing a typeset poster, booklet, and tape with instructions.

# posted by Medical Information : 3:26 AM