Good Morning Everypawdy and TGIF !
Another week in February is over and it has brought us a very important day and that is Valentines Day.
It is a day that we spread love all over the world, spoil ourselves or our partners or pets with love and special gifts, so what are you going to spoil your pet with ?
February 14th is also Pet Theft Awareness Day which is meant to call attention to the importance of pet identification methods. It is a day to show how much the presence of an animal can enrich a family and also the responsibility that goes with it. It encourages those with pets to take steps to ensure the animal’s security and their own peace of mind.
In 1988 it was started by the Last Chance for Animals organisation, Pet Theft Awareness Day is aimed at educating animal owners to keep their pets safe from thieves. With almost 2 million pets being stolen annually in America the threat is real. That is why it is so important to have pets microchipped, wear a tag with all your information as it will be easier to find your pet if G-d forbid it is stolen.
Below is a list of tips on how to keep your pet safe.
Tips on what to do if your pet is stolen.
Other important tips
- Keep your dog indoors when you’re not home. Outdoor dogs should be kept safely behind a locked gate. It only takes a couple of seconds for a thief to steal your pet from your yard.
- Walk your dog on a leash.
- Keep cats indoors. Indoor cats live safer, longer, healthier lives.
- Make sure your pets has a collar with an I.D. tags, and licenses. Microchips are also very important also.
- Report suspicious neighborhood activities and/or missing companion animals to the police and animal control.
- Keep recent photos of your pets.
- Spay and neuter your companion animals. Fixed animals are less likely to stray.
- Please do NOT tie your dog up outside of restaurants, coffee shops or stores, and never leave any animal unattended in a car.
- Please do NOT use “free to good home” ads to rehome your pet, they can fall into the wrong hands, if you cannot care for your pet anymore contact rescue organizations in your area.
PREVENT PET THEFT BEFORE IT HAPPENS! Report any suspicious activity, or animal cruelty and neglect to your local police department and animal control office.
On this note we would like to wish all our friends Happy Valentines Day, we hope you have a wonderful day filled with love BUT also please keep us pets safe,
With a woof and love from Layla
Those were good tips for such a scary subject. Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us and thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
Brian Happy Valentines Day from us to you and thanks for the Blog Hop. Yes they are scary but we unfortunately need to remind people also although I hate doing it. Take care and be safe
Happy Valentine’s Day little Layla – I hope you are enjoying a wonderful day with your mom! Thanks for the tips to stay safe – it would be absolutely devastating to have a pet stolen. It’s good to have current pics – just in case. And to always monitor the whereabouts of your pets!
Thank you Rebecca and Happy Valentines to you too. I so agree with you we have to keep our eyes on our pets at all times as they are our fur kids.
Happy Valentines Day Layla and Mum! Thanks for sharing these helpful tips. I live in the USA and never knew that statistic! Two million pets stolen per year is crazy! I’ll be sharing your post.
Hi Kamira and Happy Valentines Day to you too. It is horrific the statistics and upsets me so much that pet theft is so high rate wise and that we have to keep reminding people to keep their pets safe, be safe and thank you for sharing
Thank you for this post! This is a huge problem in Ontario as well. It makes me so angry that fighting rings and others with such cruel intentions steal beloved pets. Even though I live on a farm (and perhaps I am jaded), I will not let my dogs out of my sight. I will be sharing your post tomorrow for Pet Theft Awareness Day.
Sadie It makes me sick also and it is so sad that we have to remind people all the time, I am petrified that someone would try steal Layla that I watch her like a hawk, be safe
Pet theft is so horrible. Especially that often the stolen dogs meet a dark end, such as being used as bait dogs for dog fighting. So so terrible.
It something that frightens me the most and that is why I watch Layla like a hawk when we out especially in parks and she is off leash. I agree with you the endings are always dark – be safe
Happy Valentine’s Day! Thanks for these important reminders to help prevent pets from being stolen. And the tips for what to do if your pet is stolen.
Happy Valentines Day Beth and my pleasure, we need to remind people unfortunately to keep their pets safe
These are great tips! I had no idea that there was a Pet Theft Awareness Day, however, I’m glad that there is. It’s surprising to me that so few people are talking about the risks of pet theft. I know, around here, it has been on the rise recently which is a HUGE concern. We’re super careful with our pets and don’t take any unnecessary risks. I can’t imagine going through that… My heart goes out to any owners facing this type of heartbreak.
I am also surprised not many talk about such an important topic, I watch Layla like a hawk like I am sure you do as it is a huge concern, take care and be safe
I like your list of safety tips, although we have outdoor cats here and they live long and happy lives. I know that in the UK right now there is a lot of dog stealing going on and it’s a nightmare for pet lovers. I hope the thieves get caught and punished in a HUGE way.
So do I and dog theft is growing all over the world unfortunately – cats can be outdoors if they are monitored and that way safe – stay safe and thank you Marjorie