Reuniting
lost pets with their owners is one of the most rewarding things
animal shelters do. But it does not happen often enough. While
most people think that it could never happen to them, losing a
pet happens much more frequently than they realize. Last year,
more than six million lost family pets entered our nation's animal
shelters.What makes this reality most unfortunate is that only
16.6% of dogs and a pitiful 2.1% of cats go back home! The rest
are either adopted into new homes or euthanized to make room for
the continual influx of unwanted and stray animals arriving at
our nation's animal shelters.When shelters are struggling so hard
to find homes for millions of truly homeless animals, it is unfortunate
that they cannot reunite these lost pets with their families.
Especially when you consider that the ticket home - an ID tag
- costs so little.
Fairfax County Animal Shelter
is asking pet owners to please put a personal ID tag, rabies tag
(required by law for all pets), and license
tag (required by law, for all dogs over four months old),
microchip, tattoo, or any device on their pet to better help shelters
identify and return lost pets. If your pet has a tag with your
address and name on it, they will most likely be given a ride
home instead of to a shelter.
Remember that it is not just
dogs that need ID. While tagging pets is easy and simple to do,
it's something too rarely done for cats. There's controversy as
to whether it is safe for cats to wear collars continuously. With
a well-fitting collar, cats are totally safe from harm. Cats need
ID tags as much as dogs---even more so when you consider the 2
percent return-to-owner rate!
Please help us spread the word!
More animals with tags means that
more animals will make it home again. And with fewer lost animals
taking up shelter space, truly homeless animals will have a greater
chance of being adopted!
Give your pets the gift of love!
Give them ID!
And help save lives!
Please don't take a chance
by assuming only other people's pets get lost or will ever need
help! Even the most responsible owners experience unexpected circumstances
which cause pets to accidentally stray, becoming lost or injured. |
