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Ithaca … Ginger is a beautiful adult lab mix was found wandering the streets all alone. She was brought to the Tompkins County SPCA with no tags or a microchip, nothing that might identify her or reunite her with her owner. An all-around terrific dog who is especially gentle with children, Ginger is now looking for a second chance, a new family to call her own. For Ginger, and the hundreds of strays who find their way to the shelter every year, the Tompkins County SPCA is joining the American Humane Association in celebrating Tag Day on April 1st.

Tag Day is a nationwide campaign to encourage all pet owners to microchip or tag their companion animals. This effort gives animals like Ginger a voice to find her way home.

Whether it is lost or stolen, losing a pet is an agonizing experience. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, approximately 1 million dogs and 584,000 cats enter animal shelters in the United States every year as strays, yet only about 16% of dogs and 2% of these cats are ever reunited with their owners.

The reason is shockingly simple -- too many owners fail to put identification on their pets to ensure their safe return home. Yet, even the most responsible pet owners can experience unexpected circumstances that cause pets to accidentally stray and become lost or injured. This is especially true during summer when windows and doors tend to be open. Whether you choose tags, tattoos, or a microchip, it is imperative to keep your information up to date. It could mean the difference between life and death for your best friend.

All pets need to wear collars with city licenses, rabies vaccination tags, and personal ID tags. The tag should include the owner's name, address, and telephone number (day and evening) and the pet's name. If you are traveling, put a temporary tag on your pet with the contact information of someone who knows how to reach you. Tag your cat even if you never let it outside. It could slip through an open door and easily become lost in the neighborhood.

Free identification tags for your pet may be obtained from the Tompkins County SPCA by sending your pet’s name, your name, address, and phone number along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to: ID Tags, Tompkins County SPCA, 1640 Hanshaw Road, Ithaca, NY 14850

If your pet does become lost, don't delay. Take the following steps to help bring your companion animal home to safety.

  • Act fast!! Don't waste days hoping your pet will come home. The sooner you begin your search, the better the odds of finding him.
  • Search your neighborhood or area where your pet was lost and let people know she's missing. You may want to offer a reward. Call your pet's name and check any places she could have become trapped, such as in basements or garages or under vehicles. A lost pet often will hide during the day, so be sure to go out again at night with a flashlight and call for her. Sometimes a can of food can lure a hungry and scared pet to you.
  • Check with your local shelters every day. Don't just call -- also visit the shelter to search for your pet. Many animals are difficult to describe over the phone, and only you really know what your pet looks like.
  • Use your pet's photo to make "lost pet" signs. Put them up in your neighborhood and in post offices, libraries, pet supply stores, veterinary offices, and grocery stores. Inform your veterinarian and groomer that your pet is lost in case they receive a call.
  • Place ads in local newspapers and offer a reward in case someone found your untagged pet and was thinking of keeping her.
  • Watch the found ads. Respond to any that might be close to your pet's description. A week of wandering the streets can make white pets look drab gray, and the ad's description might not exactly fit.

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