Hi this is something I wrote that I thought might be helpful for locals and in general! Hope you never need to read it
The Lost Pets Epidemic in Chicago -
Losing a pet is undoubtedly one of the most heartbreaking experiences a person can have...Here are a few tips that may help before (or after) this tragedy strikes:
1. DON'T LEAVE PETS UNSUPERVISED OUTSIDE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME- Pet theft is on the rise! This is no joke! Pets are regulary stolen to be used as "bait" for fighting dogs or picked up for laboratory testing!
2. "Chip" your pets- Most pets either from a breeder or shelter already come with an AVID chip implanted under their skin; if they do not, but this is an option, spend the few dollars to have it done, that way if your pet is ever lost, they can locate YOU and return your pet!
3. In Chicago, Post pictures of missing pets in Chicago on PetServicesReview.com- There is now a message board to help reunite owners and lost pets on our web site. It is free, so please utilize it.
4. Keep non-emergency police numbers of nearby communities handy in your car- I just xeroxed a page out of my local phone book myself! This way if you are ever driving, and happen to see a lost pet cruising the area, you can call the authorities. The sooner a call gets put it, the better the chance of that pet being retrieved. It takes virtually no time or effort (since you probably have your blue tooth in your ear anyway) and it could make all the difference to a devastated family!