3 Myths Pet Parents Tell Themselves

For as long as I can remember, I’ve grown up with pets. Throughout my life, I’ve had dogs, cats, hamsters, fish and rabbits. So, animals have always been a big part of my life. One morning, I woke up with a large snake (for a garter snake) coiled up at the foot of my bed. I’m here to tell you this was better than a double shot of espresso to wake me up. My heart was racing!

From these experiences, I’ve become a very loving and overprotective pet parent. Today, I’m a mom to two gray cats, which includes a Russian Blue named Theo and a Scottish Fold named Bear. Also, I’m a “pet-aunt” to two dogs; their names are Peanut, my brother’s Chihuahua, and Rouge, his Boxer.

We share a deep commitment to keeping our pets safe, happy, and healthy. Knowing, understanding, and responding to the following myths has helped our family be responsible pet owners. Knowing about the followings myths should help you as well.

Myth 1: My Pets Never Get Out

This is a very common assumption many pet parents make. If you are among those who think their pet will never get out of the house, think again. It happens to almost all of us at least once, which for many us is something closer to dozens of times or more. When my pet gets out, I go into uber-protective mode and I do whatever it takes to get him or her back. Common methodologies like clapping, saying you have a treat, or hoping to run fast enough to make a catch is rarely enough to reel-in the escapee. Remember my brother’s Boxer, Rouge? When he gets out, the only thing fast enough to gain on him is a speeding car!

Experts say the best way to locate a lost pet is with a new tag; it’s a mission-critical defensive implementation. Of course, the pet’s tag information must be kept current. At a minimum, this should include the pet’s name and your contact telephone number. Be sure this info is readable because wear and tear can scuff it up.

Myth 2: I’m Safe Because My Pet Has a Microchip

If you’ve had your pet microchipped, you’ve absolutely implemented a layer of possible identification. However, there are shortfalls with microchips that must be considered. Microchips are a potential resource if your pet has been found without a collar and the finder is nice enough to endure the work and costs necessary to determine if a chip has been installed. Relying on a microchip alone is not a great idea because accessing information from one takes a lot of time and requires specific equipment. The person finding your pet will have to go through the effort to confirm it has a chip, then take the found pet to a shelter or vet to have it scanned. The microchip route puts a lot of trust in an unrelated party, which makes this form of protection wishful thinking.

Myth 3: The Person Who Finds Your Pet Will Call

Waiting for someone to call saying they’ve found your pet can be an agonizing process of hours, days and sometimes weeks. I’ve been through several episodes of this; it’s truly painful.

Then, there’s the scenario of a call coming in, but you don’t take it because it’s from an unknown caller, which then launches a frustrating dance of phone-tag. Pet relocation is a situation where time is of the essence – especially if the pet has been injured.

Thanks to new personalized ID tag technology by Help4Pets that links your pet’s identification to a 24/7 call-service, your pet’s safety doesn’t need to be left to chance. Visit Help4Pets today to truly protect your pets. Your pets are your family. Don’t leave your family to chance.