Identification is Essential
by Anna Nirva, sunbearblogsquad.org
Watch for collars that are too loose or too tight, and that don’t have ID tags. Pets deserve better from their families. A roaming pet without identification is at high risk for being picked up as a stray and might even be euthanized. Roaming pets can travel long distances. Reasonably-priced ID tags are available nearly everywhere. Speak with the owners or just do it anonymously. You may save a life.
Why Not Provide Tags for Adoptions?
Shelters and rescues often provide microchips for adopted pets, but they are not visible to human eyes; scanners are needed. The specific microchip technology used can be a factor in linking pets to owners as well. And even if a microchip is identified, the owner information can be out of date, causing a whole new set of hoops for the current owner. Collar tags have some important advantages: they are immediately visible by neighbors, assuming the pet allows their approach. A roaming pet can be returned home without aid of animal control. Responsible pet owners provide BOTH microchips and tags.
Heartworms are a parasite that is transmitted from infected mosquitoes to dogs (and cats and other animals.) Heartworms are not contagious or transmitted to other animals. The infected mosquito bites and draws blood from one heartworm infected dog and then when it bite a dog that is not on regular monthly preventative, that dog is infected with heartworms. It takes approximately six months for a dog to test positive after they have been bitten.
When we accept a dog in to our rescue we very seldom know they are heartworm positive until we have confirmed on the dog, the shelter has done a work up which includes neutering the dog, giving the dog its vaccinations and a heartworm test. We find out when we go pick the dog up if the dog is negative or positive. On average, we treat 1-2 dogs per month for heartworms. The average cost for heartworm treatment is $100-150 for every 10 pounds the dog weighs.