TYLER, Texas — This time of year, thunderstorms occur frequently and can cause fear and anxiety in our pets.
“Sometimes in Texas it happens so quickly and you’re at work and suddenly there’s a storm,” founder and president of the SPCA of East Texas, Deborah Dobbs, said.
There are several things pet owners can do to ensure their animal’s safety during and after a storm. Starting with making sure their fence is working properly.
“You know with the winds or tree falls, you know from too much rain, then it can take your fence down,” SPCA of East Texas Dog Adoption Director, Dawn Adams, said.
Along with checking your fence make sure there is contact information on your dog or cat’s collar.
“So you want to make sure your yard is secure, your fences and gates are working well,” Dobbs said. “But the other thing that is so easy and so important is to purchase a small collar and a small tag with your number and your dog’s name."
Dobbs says even indoor pets need collars just in case something happens and wind up outside. However, Dobbs say the best thing is to get your pets microchipped.
“Microchipping is a small inserted object under the skin of the dog. Many of the dogs that I’ve watched get microchipped, they don’t even know that it's happening,” Dobbs said. “It’s painless, it lasts forever and that is another way that your animal can be scanned by an animal control officer or a veterinary clinic.”
If your pet is lost following a storm contact the SPCA of East Texas at 902-596-7722.