April 23 - National Lost Dogs Awareness Day

Happy National Lost Dogs Awareness Day! Each year on April 23, this day increases awareness concerning missing dogs and to celebrate reunions.  

  

Through networks of shelters, veterinaries, social media, and other media sources, many lost canines and families reunite.  

This day is an opportunity to learn more about prevention and networking. There are preventive steps to take to prevent your family pet from going missing. Some of these preventative steps also help return Fido (or Flike) to you if he does go missing. 

Preventative steps to take: 

• 
  • Keep your dog secure. Whether on a leash or a fenced yard, your dog is less likely to wander if it’s secured. 
• • Training is valuable. Dogs who have been trained either by a professional are less likely to go missing. Most importantly, they learn recall commands, but formal obedience training offers owners valuable information that can lead to a better relationship between pet and owner. 
• • Always supervise your animal. Dogs, especially expensive purebreds, can be stolen even from a fenced yard. 
• • Tags and microchipping help with the recovery of a missing animal. These steps must be completed when you first receive your new family member. Tags are inexpensive, but dogs can slip a collar. Many pet adoptions sites will hold microchipping events for a fraction of the cost, and the price is coming down all the time. It’s essential to keep the information on the microchip or tag up to date. It is only as useful as the information listed in helping recover your pet. 
• • Spaying and neutering reduce your pet’s likelihood of wandering off in search of a mate. Additionally, it eliminates the chances of unwanted offspring should your dog wander off unexpectedly. 
• • Keep records up to date on your animals. That includes photos, vaccinations, and those valuable tags and microchips as well. 

Taking action if your pet goes missing: 

• 
  • Contact your local shelters and vets. Provide them current information regarding your dog, including a color photograph. 
• • Walk your neighborhood. Let your neighbors know as you search.  
• • Post notices in neighborhood grocery stores, gas stations, and coffee shops. Go to social media and post your pet’s info in local community forums.  
• • Check advertising websites. If your dog was stolen, you might recognize the description from the ad. Contact the police if you think your dog was stolen. 

Take steps to protect your pet. Develop a plan. If you’re a dog owner, share your experiences using #LostDogAwarenessDay. 

  

HISTORY 

  

Lost Dogs Illinois and Lost Dogs Wisconsin directors Susan Taney and Kathy Pobloskie created National Lost Dog Awareness Day in 2014 to increase awareness and help prevent animals from going missing. They also promote celebrating the reunions. 

  

#LostDogAwarenessDay 

@LostDogsIllinois 

@findfido 

@nichecinema