This month’s blog is to inform you about the importance of microchips and how it would be useful for your senior dog to have one. I’m going to break this month’s blog information down into a couple of different points so stick with me because knowledge is power.
The Myth: OLD PETS WONDER OFF TO DIE
I believe this myth was started a long time ago for several different reasons: owners would like to believe the dog was doing them a favor and saving them the pain of saying goodbye. This releases the owner from having to find their missing dog that is probably off suffering somewhere. This was a way of thinking when responsible pet ownership was different and better options were not available so, let’s educate ourselves as responsible pet owners and DO BETTER!
If you read the article, I hope it is an Aha! moment and we can stop spreading this myth so that our older or sick dogs can say goodbye with the dignity and peace they deserve.
Busting the myth only brings us to the point of ok, so what can I do to help prevent my senior dog from becoming lost? If you are noticing a difference in your dog’s behavior, it is always a good idea to get a vet visit scheduled to determine if the behavior is coming from a health issue. Keep a closer eye on your dog. If the dog’s hearing or eyesight has become impaired, they may wander off unintentionally and become lost very quickly. If your pet isn’t already microchipped, consider the benefits of having your dog microchipped. It might seem pointless to consider microchipping a senior dog but it really is an inexpensive, reliable solution to help prevent losing your dog. What is a microchip and what is its purpose? A microchip is about the size of a large grain of rice and is injected under the dog’s loose skin between the shoulder blades. The microchip is a unique identifier that gives off a radio frequency once scanned. Once registered, the information on the microchip is the pet owner’s contact information. A microchip is not a GPS tracking device. As a foster mom of senior dogs, I have had several occasions when my senior dog has wandered off just following their nose but calling them back was not an option due to hearing loss. We would be walking together but when they would realize they had gone too far or lagging they were unable to see me because of their poor eyesight. I even had one lose her balance and roll down a hill and couldn’t get back up the hill to find us.
There are many reasons any dog ends up in an animal Shelter but when senior dogs are found as strays and brought in, when the owner comes and claims the dog they will commonly say, “I just thought they went off to die.”. And unfortunately, some never get claimed just for that same reason. Don’t let that be your beloved companion.
Chastity Crowder, Fospice Mom and Board President