An unlatched gate, a door left ajar, a short distraction. It doesn't take much for our pets to slip away and wind up lost. It's every pet owner's greatest fear, but there are a few easy things you can do to help make sure your pet always finds their way back home.
Council is sharing this information to help local pet owners know what to do if their pet gets lost, and what precautions to take to help keep your furry friends safe.
Step one - Get your pets microchipped
All puppies and kittens need to be microchipped before they're sold or given away. But depending on your pet's age and where you got them from, they might not have one.
If your pet gets lost, it's a big help if you know their microchip number.
Check with your vet, breeder, or rehoming organisation if you aren't sure. You can also take a look at any paperwork to see if it's listed.
Step two - Registration
Under NSW law, every dog and cat needs to be registered with up-to-date owner details on the NSW Pet Registry.
If you get a new pet, give one away, or just move house or change your phone number - it's important to jump online and quickly update your pet's details. You can also use the Pet Registry site to mark when your pet has gone missing, when they've been found, and more.
Visit https://petreg.nsw.gov.au to check your details. You can also contact Council for offline options.
Step three - Collars and name tags
It may be a bit old school, but there's a good reason pet name tags and collars have stuck around so long-they work. A collar and tag with your phone number is, cheap, simple, and it really does help if your pet gets lost.
These days, there are even high-tech options with location tracking and alerts available.
Step four - What to do if your pet is lost
If your pet goes astray, keep calm and take action to put the word out.
Call us on 1300 345 345 so our rangers can be on the lookout.
Check your local community Facebook groups to see if anyone's spotted your pet. Make a post with photos and details so your neighbours can let you know of any sightings.
If your pet is picked up and taken to the pound, Council's rangers will keep them warm, safe, and fed until we can reach you to organise collection.
That's why it's important to make sure your details are up to date.
If we don't know who to call, or we've only got an old number, it can be hard or impossible to find a lost animal's owner.
Take the time to make sure your pet can always their way home.
