"According to the National Council of Pet Population Study & Policy and the National Humane Society, a family pet is lost every two seconds in North America. The organizations also report that more than 10 million pets are lost each year and one out of three pets will be lost during its lifetime. However, only one in 10 pets is found.”
Earth Heart is sponsoring a summer contest to raise awareness of Pet Safety. As we mentioned in our last post, more pets are lost on July 4th than any other day of the year. And July 5th is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters. Unfortunately less than 20% of pets will find their way back home from a shelter.
Even the most loyal pets will run from fireworks. Maybe your pet has never run away - as pets age their hearing changes, and noises that didn’t bother them in the past can suddenly become a problem.
A few reminders from Earth Heart, PetHub, Sunny-Dog Ink and John Paul Pet:
1) Keep your pets calm – create a safe space, exercise them early in the day, and use a natural calming product like Canine Calm.
2) Keep dogs on a leash – bolting from a car is one of the biggest factors on July 4th. It’s not just about the hours of 8 pm to midnight when the big fireworks displays are happening. We’ve all heard a firecracker go off in a parking lot unexpectedly, or a neighbor setting a few firecrackers off in their yard. That’s all it takes for your pet to become a statistic.
3) Make sure your pet IDs are up-to-date – don’t rely just on a microchip; your pets should have a tag as well. Here are some facts from PetHub.com:
* If the vet or shelter does not have a universal scanner your pet’s microchip may go undetected.
* The microchip can migrate and not be detectable.
* The information on the microchip is not up to date with your contact information. (Depending on the brand of microchip it can take anywhere from 24 hours to 2 months to update your microchip information.)
4) Be sure to have a Pet First-Aid Kit (PFA) – assemble your own or purchase ready-to-go kits from Sunny-Dog Ink. Be sure to replenish items as they are used up or expired. Also consider taking a pet first-aid class from a certified instructor.
5) Keep pet wipes in stock – these can be helpful for cleaning up messes and odors from head to toe when traveling.
In honor of Lost Pet Prevention Month, Earth Heart has partnered with Pet Hub, Sunny-Dog Ink and John Paul Pet to give away products for your pet’s safety.
Donated by Sunny Dog Ink:
Week 1: Pet First Aid for Kids book
Week 2: Dog First Aid & CPR pocket guide
Week 3: Cat First Aid & CPR pocket guide
Week4: Set of Choking/CPR laminated posters
Donated by Earth Heart:
Each week: Canine Calm and Guard Well 2-ounce mists
Donated by Pet Hub:
Each week: Gold Paw ID tags and mobile subscription
Donated by John Paul Pet:
Each week: Tooth & Gum, Ear & Eye, Body & Paw Pet Wipes
Submission Terms:
- Submissions start July 1 and end August 1.
- Share a photo or video - it can be dogs on a leash, a photo of your cat with a tag on his/her collar…anything that shows how you are keeping your pet safe. We will be posting some of our favorites, so give your pets their 15 minutes of fame!
- Post your photo or video in the comments section of our Facebook announcement here.
- You can also email your pet safety photo or video to contest@earthheartinc.com.
- At the end of each week, Earth Heart will randomly select one (1) winner from submissions received that week via Facebook post or email.
- You can post something new each week. If you have more than one pet or more than one example of Pet Safety, please submit them. The more, the merrier!
- Winners will be notified by email no later than July 15, 22, 29 and August 5, and prizes will be mailed to each winner on receipt of mailing address.
- All photos and videos submitted become the property of Earth Heart Inc. for use in educational or promotional purposes, including the right to post those submissions on Earth Heart’s website and social media accounts.
- Open to residents of the USA and Canada.
