If your pet comes up missing

The Today Show on NBC had an interesting segment on pets as prey this week.  Theives are no longer stealing the animals to use in puppy mills, but are instead holding them hostage and charging a ransom for
their return.  While I haven’t heard of anyone in this area having their dog kidnapped for ransom, I have heard many stories about dogs disappearing from fenced yards, never to be seen again.  The
discouraging part about this is the story is always the same.  These aren’t dogs that jump the fence or burrow under when the opportunity arises, but instead were in the fenced yard while their owner ran to
the store.  Upon their return home their beloved family member is gone.  And they remain missing, never to be a part of the family again, except in spirit.  The Today Show offered the following tips to help prevent this from happening to you:

   * Never leave your dog unattended in a yard as they may become potential targets of dognappers.
   * Keep gates and doors to your home locked.
   * Never leave your dog unattended in the car, even if it is locked.
   * Never leave your dog tied up outside of a store or restaurant.
   * Protect your dog by making sure he is wearing ID tags and has a tattoo or microchip. A microchip is a permanent form of id which is slightly larger than a grain of rice placed just under the skin by a
veterinarian. It is encoded with an unalterable code that can be read with a scanner. This is one of the best ways to identify your pet and make them more likely to be recovered. For more information on
microchips go to www.akccar.org (the AKC Companion Animal Recovery program) and www.HomeAgain.com.
   * When you take your dog for a walk be sure to keep them on leash so they can’t wander off.
   * Be vigilant and aware of people watching you or your dog, stay in well lit areas, and keep a cell phone handy at all times.
   * If someone approaches you to ask about your dog, don’t divulge details, especially not the purchase price of your dog or where you live.
   * If purchasing a dog via an advertisement be careful you are not buying stolen goods. Ask for some proof of ownership such as American Kennel Club registration papers, Veterinary records or microchip
registration.
   * If your dog has been stolen post flyers with a current photo of your dog throughout your neighborhood and at local pet businesses such as Veterinarians, pet stores, groomers and training schools. You can
also list your lost dog online at www.DogDetective.com.

If you have a moment visit www.FidoFinder.com to vote for Randolph County Humane Society as your favorite shelter.  The votes could help us win a $1,000 donation from the website to help the animals in our
shelter.  They start the voting over at the beginning of each month, so if we don’t win this month there is always next month to try again.  The dogs will appreciate your kindness and the benefits it provides.