NATIONAL PET ID WEEK IS APRIL 18 -APRIL 24

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 10 MILLION PETS (ONE IN THREE) ARE LOST EACH YEAR.

TAKE A FEW MINUTES THIS MONTH TO CHECK YOUR PET'S ID STATUS. DOES YOUR PET WEAR AN ID TAG? IS THE TAG SECURELY ATTACHED TO THE COLLAR? IS YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE ENGRAVED ON THE TAG AND STILL LEGIBLE? YOU CAN PURCHASE ID TAGS VIA MAIL ORDER OR DO-IT-YOURSELF AT YOUR LOCAL WAL-MART.

RABIES TAGS HAVE THE NAME AND NUMBER OF YOUR VETERINARIAN ALONG WITH THE NUMBER OF THE TAG. LOST PETS CAN BE REUNITED WITH OWNERS BY TRACING THE RABIES TAG NUMBER.

MICROCHIPPING IS AN OPTION FOR PERMANENT IDENTIFICATION AND IS AVAILABLE THROUGH A VETERINARIAN. THE MICROCHIP, ABOUT THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF RICE, IS INJECTED UNDER THE SKIN BETWEEN THE SHOULDER BLADES OF YOUR DOG OR CAT. THE CHIP HAS AN UNALTERABLE ID CODE AND WILL LAST FOR THE LIFE OF THE PET. HAND-HELD SCANNERS ARE USED TO "READ" THE ID NUMBER.

ASK US FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM OF IDENTIFICATION.

SO, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOUR PET IS MISSING?

DEVELOP A FLIER WITH THE PET'S NAME, INCLUDING A CLEAR PICTURE, DESCRIPTION AND YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. MOST PETS ARE FOUND WITHIN A 2 TO 5 MILE RADIUS OF WHERE THEY WERE LOST SO START YOUR SEARCH BY WALKING AROUND THE AREA CALLING HIS NAME. PUT THE FLIERS IN MAILBOXES AND GIVE TO PEOPLE YOU MEET AS YOU WALK.

MAKE A BIG BRIGHT POSTER WITH FEW WORDS BUT A CLEAR PICTURE OF YOUR PET WITH CORRECT PHONE NUMBERS. IF APPLICABLE, WRITE "REWARD" IN BIG LETTERS AT THE TOP TO CATCH PEOPLE'S EYE.

VISIT ALL ANIMAL SHELTERS, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, EVERY 2 DAYS. INSPECT ALL AREAS OF THE FACILITY, INCLUDING THE AREAS WHERE SICK AND INJURED ANIMALS ARE KEPT.

CALL ALL LOCAL VETERINARY HOSPITALS IN THE EVENT SOMEONE BRINGS IN A FOUND ANIMAL. MOST OFFICES WILL BE HAPPY TO POST YOUR INFORMATION ON THE BULLETIN BOARD.