That’s right!  It’s that time of year again!  The time of year when we all have an extra bounce in our steps.  The time of year when we move our clocks forward and lose that valued hour of extra sleep.  That time of year when we clean out the cobwebs and put our winter clothes in our attics.

A short checklist to help keep our dogs safe!

In addition to doing your spring cleaning, now is the time to make sure your pet has everything he or she needs to avoid becoming a lost dog statistic.  Taking just a few minutes to do these simple things will help your pet to remain with you, exactly where your dog belongs!

1. Check your dog’s ID tag to make sure it can be read easily and has your current contact information on it.  If the tag is worn or outdated, replace it with a new one.

1. Ensure your dog’s collar is in good enough shape to remain secure around your pet’s neck throughout the season.  If the collar’s strength has been compromised by wear-and-tear or fraying, purchase a new one.  We strongly recommend Martingale-type collars.

1. Make sure your dog’s collar fits comfortably around his or her neck whether it is a new collar or an old one.  In general, your dog’s collar is properly sized if you can fit two of your fingers between the collar and your dog’s neck when it is being worn.

1. Walk around your yard with your pet to see if your dog reveals any escape routes such as a hole in your fence.  Even if your dog doesn’t indicate a “secret” passageway to the outside world exists, continue to examine your fence for additional weak spots such as a corroded post, broken gate latch, or unsecured wire.  Make repairs as necessary to ensure your dog cannot get out of your yard.

1. Have your dog micro-chipped if you haven’t already done so.

1. Contact the company with which you registered your pet’s micro-chip to make sure your contact information is current.  If the company is equipped to store pictures, upload a recent photo of your dog to the company’s database.

1. Ask your dog’s vet to scan your pet’s micro-chip to make sure it is working and that accurate contact information is polled from the registrar’s database.

1. Examine the screens you have on your home’s windows for damage.  Replace damaged screens with pet screening.

1. Keep your dog’s rabies vaccination certificate, license number, and microchip information, including the name and telephone number of the company you registered the chip with, in a spot you will remember in case your pet becomes lost.  Keep recent pictures of your pet, a detailed, written description of your dog’s physical and behavioral characteristics, and the address and phone number of the animal control facility that is closest to your home in the same easily-accessed location.