Puppy Lost in North Myrtle Beach Fire -- It was a
heartbreaking image: A small, black puppy stood lost among the charred
rubble near his home Thursday.
Two days later, 10-month-old Onyx
was reunited with his owner, Donna Finley, one of the people he helped
save as a wildfire spread through the Barefoot Resort community early
Thursday morning. The wildfire would go on to destroy more than 70
homes and 20,000 acres in North Myrtle Beach and Horry County, while
continuing to burn late Saturday.
"He's my hero," Finley said
Saturday. "I don't know if we would have made it out of there without
him. He was the one who woke us up. We barely got out of there in
time."
Those first words send chills up my spine whenever I see them. Imagining that somehow my pups get lost or I am separated from then without being able to find them is one of my worst nightmares. I have tried to cover all contingencies, but sometimes you just have to do everything that you can think of and then move forward. I realize that not every story has a happy ending like this one, so here are some things that I have done that help slant the odds in my favor.
Always have tags on your pet's collar. I even have tags on my dogs' Gentle Leaders as well as their regular collars.
Microchip your pet. If a collar is lost, that means there is no tag for identification. If your pet is found and she has a microchip, your information will be read from it and you can be contacted. The micro-chipping organization will also help by notifying other pet owners in your area so that they can assist in the search.
My dog Sable had a microchip plus had her number tattooed on her stomach. I don't think people do that much anymore. Still, you never know.
Have your vet check the "read" on the microchip once in a while. I know it is unusual, but Sable's chip migrated down her shoulder once and needed to be redone. If she had become lost, it might not have been read.
Take pictures of your dog. Not just face on, but cover all sides including her belly and feet. Do this especially if there is any color difference on the pads of the feet or freckles on the tummy.
Keep several copies of the pictures and store one set with a friend. Keep one set in
your car. Send the pictures to a friend (via email) who lives in another area of the country in case there is a natural disaster in your area and your things are lost during it.
Here is an article that has many more great ideas on what to do if a pet is lost and how to prevent a pet from being lost. I hope you never need to face this situation!