Detroit-area pet theft on the rise this holiday season

According to the Discovery Channel, approximately two million pets are stolen each year, and only about ten percent of them ever return home.

In the metro-Detroit area, stolen dogs have become almost epidemic. For example, on Tuesday December 8 a six-month-old puppy was stolen in a well lit drug store parking lot when a thief smashed a car window. Detroit resident Valarie Weems ran into the store to make a single purchase and when she returned to her locked car, the Yorkie mix was gone. The day before, a two-month-old female Shih Tzu/Maltese puppy was stolen from the Novi Petland in broad daylight!

What you can do to protect your pet:

• Keep your pet indoors, especially when you are not at home. Don’t leave pet alone in your yard.
• Remember that indoor cats live longer, safer lives.
• Properly identify your pet with a collar and tag, and microchip.
• Enroll your pet’s microchip, photo, and contact info with a national recovery service.
• Maintain up-to-date licenses on your pets.
• Keep recent photos and written descriptions of your companion animals on hand at all times.
• Spay and neuter your pets. Fixed animals are less likely to stray from home.
• Be aware of strangers in the neighborhood. Report anything unusual such as suspicious neighborhood activities or missing pets to the police and animal control.
• Keep your pet on a leash whenever you go outside.
• Do not tie your pet outside a store to wait for you.
• Never leave an animal unattended in a car.

If you have any information on either of these stolen pets, or to protect yourself today, please call 866-699-FIND (3463).

Contributed by Jessica Staton.

Find your lost pet, protect yourself

Technology, including microchip identification, email, and even social networking sites, have all been successfully employed to help search for and return missing pets. However, while the internet, by providing a quick and easy means of far-reaching communication, can help bring a pet home, it can also help opportunistic individuals prey on others who are in the unfortunate situation of having lost a pet. When a pet escapes or is stolen, many pet owners are desperate to do whatever they can to make sure their pet is returned safely back home. If you have ever had a pet go missing, you know what an awful experience it is without having to worry that someone may try to take advantage of your plight. Fortunately, there are some basic precautions that you can take to help prevent yourself from falling victim to a scam artist who can make the situation even worse.

Since we have been working to help reunite lost pets with their families, there have been a growing number of different organizations offering various means of helping you to find your pet. While many of these businesses provide a legitimate service which may be able to notify others in your area more quickly and efficiently than you can yourself while protecting your personal information, others are fly by night operations, and the worst may not even provide the service they claim to. How can you tell that a company is legitimate, trustworthy, and has results worth the investment that you will make by subscribing to such a service?

A happy Fourth for you and your pets!

The vast majority of pet owners already know that our pets don’t tend to take the same enjoyment that we do in the festivities surrounding holidays like the Fourth of July, fireworks in particular. Reactions to the loud noises and inexplicable bursts of light can range from your cat hiding under the bed in a state of inconsolable terror to the dog barking incessantly until she’s exhausted. In fact, the Fourth is when we see some of the highest numbers of missing pets each year. So what can you do to help prepare your pets for the Fourth and keep them safe?

Behaviorist Donna Fournier says that ideally, if you have some time to prepare, you can begin desensitization training as she describes in the article, Helping your dog overcome a fear of storms. In a pinch, you may also wish to ask your veterinarian if a sedative is appropriate to help manage your pet’s anxiety. No matter what your pet’s reaction, your response is going to be very important as well. If you are overly indulgent or coddling toward your pet, you may help to reinforce the fearful behaviors you are seeing. On the other hand, if you become upset or take a negative approach to potentially bothersome behaviors like pacing or barking, you may just be giving your pet further reason to feel threatened. Try to set an example and show your pets that there is nothing to fear through your calm and confident attitude.

Pets and children

The following article was written by Donna Fournier for PetKeyBlog.

As an 8 year old child, I can remember begging my parents for the cute little bunny in the local pet shop. I promised that I would take care of the bunny, feed him, clean the cage, and play with him every day. And I meant that with all my heart. However, the reality was I was off playing Hide-and-Seek with friends, riding my bike in the neighborhood, reading a book, or simply watching TV on a rainy day. My mind drifted away from bunny-care to homework, chores, friends, and other such things. Before long my bunny, Cinnamon, was my mom’s. He responded to her, came to her when she was outside near his hutch, took food from only her, and was fearful of everyone else in the family. I was crushed; Cinnamon was supposed to be “mine” and he hated me. At 8, I just wasn’t responsible enough to care day in and day out for another life form. This was such a valuable lesson; one that has stayed with me throughout my 20 years in working with animals. What I learned then is that even the most responsible, well-meaning, “mature”, caring child isn’t able to be consistent and responsible enough to be the main caregiver. Children have much to explore, learn, and seek while growing up, and it’s not uncommon for even the most mature child to slip on consistency.

What made me think of Cinnamon and my failed attempt at responsible animal care in childhood was the news story out of England of a 4 year old child “bathing” his week old puppy in the toilet and flushing him down. This sparked the old debate; at what point do you bring a pet into your home when you have children?

Are you and your pet ready for summer?

The following article, “Summer-time Dangers” is being republished with permission from it’s author, Donna Fournier.

With Summer finally here, there are some dangers new and old pet owners alike need to be aware of. Wanting to spend time with our pets and bring them along on your outings is normal. Part of the reason we have pets is to enhance our lives, so why shouldn’t Fido and Fluffy come along?

With these warm days, people naturally become more active and spend more time outside, the natural temptation would be to let your dog stay in the yard. This, however, is not a good idea. Dogs and cats can get dehydrated just like we do, and can be more susceptible to it, as they have no sweat glands to help keep them cool. Certain breeds of dog and cat have a more difficult time when the temperatures rise; Pugs, English Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Brussles Griffons, Affenpinscher, Boxers, Shih Tzus, French Bulldog, Japanese Chin, Pekingese, Shar Pei, Burmese, Himalayans, and Persians, to name a few; because they are brachycephalic (having pushed in faces), they have a harder time moving air when its hot and/or humid, therefore making it harder to maintain their body temperature. So if you have one of these breeds, pay special attention to their body temperature on these hot days; avoid long walks unless it is in the cooler part of the day, and keep plenty of water available.