Don't lose your pet on the road!

Even the most careful pet owner can lose a dog - especially in a strange environment; and even the most well-trained dog can become confused in a strange place and run-off. Cars back-fire. People yell. Thunder. Fireworks. Gunshots. Any of these things can spook your pet, especially in an unfamiliar situation or location. Your dog may always wear a collar with ID, but what if he becomes lost while you are in a different city or state? Also, two million pets are stolen in the United States each year. Many dogs are stolen by organized pet-thief rings and sold to research facilities, illegal dog-fighting groups or to be bred in puppy mills! Take a few simple steps before you travel with Fido or Fluffy for a safe return if you should become separated.

First things first: Always bring up-to-date health records from your veterinarian along with you in the RV. This includes vaccination records, proof of rabies vaccination and medications. If your dog should becomes ill, having these papers will save valuable time and you won't have to try to contact your own vet (maybe in the middle of the night). Though we have never been asked, a few campgrounds claim to require proof of vaccination. Always have an ID tag AND a rabies tag on your dog collar and never take the collar off your dog while you are on the road! If your lost dog is found in an area with an active rabies break-out, he could be quickly euthanized without this important proof of rabies vaccination! License your pet with your local agency and make sure to provide the animal control agency your mobile phone number too so you can be reached at all times - in or out of town. Take good photos of your pet and carry them with you in the RV. Even better, have digital photos of your pet on your computer hard drive or (if you don't travel with a computer) on a CD. The photos will be a great asset for showing to the local dog pound or if you ever need to make a LOST PET poster.

ID Tags: If Rascal is found while you are out of town, you don't want your phone to be ringing away - unheard and unanswered - at your stick house! Order an ID tag for your pet with your home AND mobile phone numbers. Or, if you don't travel with a cell phone (!) place your home phone and the number of a friend or relative on the tag. If you live full-time in your RV, it would not be a bad idea to have the ID tag read "In Local Campground" or something similar on the address area of the ID tag.

ID Chips: Your veterinarian can place a rice-grain-sized microchip under your dog or cats skin - between the shoulder blades. The microchips have a thin layer of protein which anchors the chip in place for the life of your pet. The chips have no moving parts or batteries and never need to be replaced, changed, removed or altered. The microchip is inserted with a needle and causes no more pain than a typical vaccination - so no anesthesia is required - and the procedure takes only a few seconds. Each microchip has a unique number imbedded and information about your pet can be instantly discovered by any veterinarian office or animal shelter (in the US or Canada) by using a hand-held scanner. Recently, standards have been adopted ensuring every handheld reader can recognize any microchip, but check with your veterinarian. The American Kennel Club also recommends a microchip for your pet's safety.

Microchip Services: The Humane Society is now using 24PetWatch, which was also recommended by our veterinarian. 24PetWatch allows participating pet owners to update their pet information on-line, so you can easily change your location or contact information. Your pet's medical records are always available, via their website - great during an out-of-town emergency. 24PetWatch also provides health insurance for pets. Home Again Pet Recovery Service is another popular option. Home Again provides basic pet/owner reunion services and offer a dog tag which will alert veterinarians and shelters that the animal has a microchip. You can also register any animal with a microchip through the American Kennel Club's Companion Animal Recovery Service for $12.50.

Smarter collars: There are several companies offering locating services similar to the microchip - but on your pet collar or ID tag. InfoCollar.com sells a collar, with a unique number and a photo of your pet. If found, anyone can get information about your pet via the web address printed on the collar. The InfoCollar number can be read from afar, giving the pet-finder an advantage if they do not wish to handle an unfamiliar animal. Several companies offer a tag with an identifying number and a constantly-monitored toll-free phone number. They keep a record of your contact information and contact you to give you the location of your pet. Pettags.com, Pet Buddy, Pet Squared, PetCo and FastTrac are just a few of the companies offering tags with tracking numbers. These tracking number tags usually have only the toll-free phone number and the unique tracking number, they do not replace a basic ID tag.

Pet GPS: For the ultimate approach, contact Global Pet Finder. For around $350 your pet can be outfitted with a GPS tracking collar. Over the internet, you determine the "boundaries" your pet should be contained within. If your pet leaves that area you will be continuously updated about the pet's location via the wireless device of your choice (Blackberry, cell phone, PDA, computer, etc.). The system is so sophisticated, it will even send your wireless device a signal when the battery on your pet's collar is running low and will also alert you if the temperature at your pet's location gets too hot or cold!

If you lose your pet: Your pet will be looking for you too, but reality tells us that less than 20% of lost pets are returned to their owners and the odds are much lower for stolen pets. The Humane Society recommends first contacting the local animal control agency (the dog pound) in your immediate area, and Pets911 or Pet Finder. If there is no shelter in your location, contact the local police department. And though we don't want to even think about the possibility, the police may be aware of an animal recently hit by a car. Always notify the police if you suspect your pet has been stolen. Show photos of your pet to fellow campers and people who walk their own dogs. Let the RV park office know your dog is missing - they will know if there is a butcher shop next door or if a family of raccoons is living in a nearby tree attracting your pet.

If you do need to place an ad in the local paper or make a LOST PET poster, put a photo of your animal, with a good description and a phone number. Experts suggest you leave out one identifying characteristic, so a person claiming to have found your dog would be able to describe this unique (secret) marking. If you are offering a reward, say so in the poster or classified ad - but DO NOT tell the amount of the reward. Believe it or not, there are nasty people out there, preying on your vulnerable state to make a few fast bucks. One common ploy is to call and say they found your dog in City A and are now in City B and if you wire them $500 they can arrange to have the dog shipped/flown back to you... or if you send them gas money, they will drive Spot back to you, etc. Do not fall for these tricks. If someone does call and say they have found your dog, and can describe your pet (and the secret marking) arrange to meet them in a public place for the exchange. If you stated there is a reward, give the hero cash. If the person is genuinely kind and they refuse the reward - do the right thing and make a donation to the local animal shelter in their name.

Hopefully these suggestions will give you peace of mind when you travel with your dog or cat and - if you are ever separated - your sweet pet will be returned to you as soon as possible.