Lost, Stolen or Missing Pets

I'm pretty sure that most pet owners have a constant fear of losing their pet. As the owner of 2 dogs and a parrot, our family definitely has concerns about our pets being stolen or getting lost.

I remember when we first got Lola, she flew outside the house and ended up in a tree. Luckily we were able to get her back (her wings were clipped) albeit Aaron was traumatized, and I'm sure he doesn't want to relive that moment.

Kiko has nearly gone missing twice already. The first time we were out for a walk and her harness came loose. The second time, she managed to open the gate to the backyard (she's smart like that). Luckily both times she didn't venture far and came back almost immediately.

It would be a travesty if we were to ever lose one of our pets. That's why we take so much precautions now. The backyard gate is double locked now and will be under lock and key. We always make sure that their harnesses are on just right.

Both our dogs will be getting microchipped, they always have their ID tags and collars on. They're also always being watched by one of the family members. Whenever the door is to be opened, Lola (if she is out of her cage) is taken into a room and closed in and only allowed out once the door to outside is closed.

I looked into some GPS systems out there for the dogs, however there's nothing on the market that appeals to me yet. Give it a couple more years and the technology will definitely improve. As soon as it does, I'll be one of the first in line to buy it!

What inspired this post was a news story about a woman whose dog was stolen. Her golden retriever Mobi, was stolen from her while she was shopping. She went into a store and tied the dog up outside. Moments later, a man allegedly untied the dog and walked off with him. This is absolutely horrrible! Mobi's owner takes full responsibility in that she shouldn't have left him outside unsupervised. I do agree with that, you wouldn't leave your children unsupervised at all! It's the same thing with a dog. They shouldn't be left alone while your shopping. Even if you're busy, leave them at home and take them for a supervised walk later!

Dognapping is a horrible thing. Having a black lab and a siberian husky does not make it better for us. They are on the list of most stolen dog breeds! We keep a vigilant eye on them.

Here's are 2 websites with some very useful information, I highly recommend that you check it out:
http://dogs.about.com/od/caringfordogsandpuppies/tp/lostandstolendogs.htm
http://www.doggiemanners.com/art_finding_stolen_dogs.html

Let's help find Mobi:
http://www.torontobarks.com/dogblog/view/missing-golden-retriever-mobi-needs-his-
daily-medications/