Grades: 3-4

Dogs and Cats

Dogs and cats, like people, are curious animals. Unfortunately, that curiosity and desire to explore everything can take them into unfamiliar territory. Pets with identification tags and/or a microchip are more likely to be reunited with their owners than pets without identification. The goal is to educate families on raising animals responsibly.

Start by downloading the lesson handouts (pdf) and printing them out. They include fun games, puzzles, and quizzes to help your child learn.

Where can I get a license tag?

Your local humane society sells them and some communities sell them as well. Call the police station and ask about how to get your identification tag. These tags need to be renewed every year for a small fee.

Is there any other kind of identification tag I can use?

Yes, many veterinarians are endorsing a microchip implant that codes specific information about your pet. The microchip acts like a license below the surface of the skin. The implant is painless and cannot get lost like a license on a collar. Once the chip is scanned, information about the pet is listed on a computer. However, if no veterinarian or animal shelter has a scanner in your area, the license collar is a better choice.

Tattooing is also used to identify animals. Some dogs are tattooed on the ear or the groin area. The tattooed number or code is recorded and used to trace the pet in the event that it gets lost. Some animals are both tattooed and micro chipped!!

What are some other ways you can prevent your pet from getting lost?

• Keep your dog on leash or in a fenced in yard when you are outside playing.
• Keep your cat indoors. Indoor cats are much safer.
• Never let your animal outside alone, especially in a new or strange place.

So, what do you do if your pet is lost?

Write a story about your pet and submit it to the local paper and radio station. If you have a picture, copy and post it around the community (post office, shopping centers, telephone poles and vet clinics) along with your detailed description.

Your story should include:

• Your pet's name and kind of animal (dog or cat).
• Your pet's markings (black with brown spots), and distinguishing characteristics (heavy, thin, white paws, purrs loudly).
• You also want to mention the animals temperament (friendly, shy, sweet, frightened), as well as the place you lost or last saw your animal.
• You also should provide your phone number.

What to do when searching for a lost pet:

• Look around the neighborhood. Ask people if they have seen your pet and carry its picture with you. Let them know that it is missing and how to notify you if they see it.

• At night: drive around slowly; some animals may recognize the sound of your car.

• Call your veterinarian. If your pet is wearing a rabies tag, the tag can be traced to your veterinarian who can help reunite you.

• Visit your local animal shelter as often as possible. Many animals look alike and only you are able to positively identify your pet. Calling is not as effective because the shelter accepts animals all the time and the workers with whom you speak may not know the "new" animals.

• Watch the "Found" ads in the newspaper. Respond to any ad that remotely sounds like your animal. A white Bichon Frise could be listed as a "gray mutt."

Conclusion

It can be very upsetting to lose your beloved pet. To increase your chances of recovering your pet, it is recommended that you outfit your animal with the proper identification tags. If possible, get your pet tatooed or microchipped (this greatly increases your chance of recovering your lost pet). Remember to use all the resources mentioned above in the search for your pet. Placing a "lost' ad in the local paper, calling your veterinarian as well as shelters, and putting up signs, is the best course of action when trying to find a lost pet.