It is naturally incredibly distressing when one of your pets goes missing, as they’re such big parts of the family and it can be very scary not knowing where they are or if they’re safe.
As upsetting as it might be to contemplate a time when this might happen, it’s important to think about it in order to ensure that you can act swiftly and appropriately if the worst hits.
First of all, get in touch with your pet’s microchip database immediately and report them as missing. With Petscanner, you can use our dedicated app and mark your pet as missing, which will notify all other local users.
You’ll also receive instant notifications if your pet’s microchip is scanned, with details of where they were scanned and the ability to contact the scanner, all at a press of a button.
Once this is done, get in touch with local vet surgeries, animal hospitals and rehoming centres so they can be on the alert. It can also be useful to keep an eye on local social media sites and community groups, as people often post about locally found pets on such platforms.
Another option is to use the Animal Search UK service, which features an animal matching database to help link animals up with people who have registered their missing pet on the site.
And, of course, it’s all about awareness so don’t hesitate to head outside and put flyers up with pictures of your pet and your contact details. Check your insurance policy as it’s possible that you will be covered for the costs, including advertising and rewards.
Some pets are perhaps more likely to go missing than others, such as cats that are allowed to roam freely outdoors… so it’s always worth microchipping all your animals just in case they do make a bid for freedom at some point.
This makes it far more likely that your pet will make it home – and you could seriously regret it if you forgo the microchip.
