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Health & Fitness

Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe As Spring Arrives Early

Warm weather tips to keep dogs safe

Because it feels like June outside, here's a few tips to keep pets safe...

Warm weather is unseasonably early this year. Humans and animals have "spring fever". As you're outside enjoying the warm weather with your dog, keep your dog leashed. It will keep her from getting lost. (Some cats, ferrets and rabbits will walk leashed.) Let's keep our pets safe. 

If you reside in Cuyahoga County you dog must be licensed. Be sure your dog is wearing a collar with dog license attached. Have an ID tag with owner's contact information and rabies vaccine tag attached to the collar. (Appropriate collar and tags should be worn by other pets too.)

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Your vet can advise you on the use of a microchip ID implant for your pet. 

Don't assume that if pet wanders from home and becomes lost that the pet will end up at a shelter in your municipality.

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Good samaritans may find your pet, but surrender it to a shelter or other agency not close to your home. Or, they may take in the animal thinking it has been abandoned. If your animal has gone missing, check with all the shelters and known rescue groups in your area. Use social media to spread the word and websites that allow posts of lost and found pets.

Always have a recent electronic photo of your pet and a description on file, just in case. Pulling this info together when you're upset is difficult.

If your pet becomes lost, license and ID tags can be instrumental in the safe return of your beloved pooch or feline. 

Be aware that dog napping is on the rise in the U.S. 

And, even in urban environments, there may be wildlife that pose a threat to pets, especially the small ones. Your city may have laws that don't allow pets to roam off your property. It's always best to keep a watchful eye on them at all times. 

During warm weather months there is an increase in abandoned animals. Be aware of dogs and cats wandering that do not have collar and tags, especially in parks or areas that seem odd to have a pet without an owner nearby. They may have been abandoned and are in need of rescue. Contact your local animal control. 

Abandonment, neglect and cruelty to animals is unlawful. If you witness anyone committing these acts against an animal, contact law enforcement immediately.

With recent record setting temperatures - please REMEMBER NOT TO LEAVE YOUR PETS IN THE CAR. Just a few minutes in a closed vehicle can be life threatening. 

It's always a good idea to have the phone numbers of your vet and local animal control officer stored in your mobile phone. When you're out walking your dog (or other leashed pet) its wise to keep your mobile phone with you in case of emergency or if you come across a stray or injured animal. (while walking in the Metropark in winter, my dog discovered a pooch hiding under leaves. She had been missing for 3 days. She was wearing tags and using a mobile phone to call the owner, he came immediately to the site to claim her - a tearful happy reunion.)

Even well behaved dogs may escape a fenced backyard or wander down the street and out of site with all the new scents of spring to sniff. Use these tips and keep your pet safe. 

The annual deadline to purchase licenses is January 31st each year. If your dog is spayed or neutered the 2012 dog license fee is $16.00. If dog is unaltered the fee is $20.00. After January 31, 2012 - those fees double.

Please "LIKE" Lakewood Dog Park/ Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park on Facebook. Stay updated on FLDP events and activities. Lost and found dogs may be posted. 

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