Safety in the Summertime

Summertime is officially here; bring on the warmer weather and welcome in the Dog Days of Summer! 

While you are enjoying the longer days and warmer nights, you may also be more active with your dog as you seek out summer adventures together. The Animal Rescue League in Des Moines estimates that there is a 30-60% increase in stray animals coming into Iowa shelters during the summer. A few preventive measures can help to keep your pet home safe where they belong. 

Don’t forget to close the gate: With fireworks and summer storms on the horizon, there are many potential opportunities for your pet to be startled or scared when outside with you. Always make sure that your dog is wearing a collar with a name tag on it when outside, and be sure to check your fence gates to make sure they are properly latched after yardwork.

Check your pet’s microchip registry: A microchip for your pet is a crucial step in reuniting you with your pet should the unthinkable happen and they get away from home, so take a moment to verify that your chip information is up to date and active with your current phone number and address. If you adopted a dog or cat from Last Hope, your pet was microchipped and the information was registered to you at the time of adoption. If you need help verifying your chip on your Last Hope alumnus, please send us an email and we would be happy to help you with getting logged in to your microchip online account. For all other pets, ask your veterinarian for assistance or be sure to request a microchip at your next appointment.

Take a picture: Be sure to keep a current picture of your pets on your phone, and for those of you on Facebook, consider joining the local lost pets’ pages to help reunite lost and found pets in your neighborhood. 

Know who to call: If your pet does get away from you, be sure to contact animal control for your area, but also call the non-emergency police dispatch line for your city. Animal shelters across the nation have been overwhelmed with animal intakes and are short-staffed, so a message left with these agencies may take time for their employees to return. A non-emergency call to your local police force can help to provide a point of contact if a citizen calls to report a sighting, and can be a lifeline for after-hours needs when animal control is closed to the public. 

Keep them inside: Your cats should always be kept as indoor pets only, but be especially mindful of door darters in the summertime and keep a collar on your cat if they do try to escape your home frequently. Keep your dogs inside during fireworks activity and check local postings for when city-sponsored fireworks or celebrations are happening.

Accidents happen, but being prepared can be the difference between being reunited or not with your pet.